League

Thurso
Spectators: 6799 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1799, VIP seats: 0) Thurso United's Nigel McOwl started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. Nigel McOwl had several of the Banchory's defenders around him in the penalty area when he, after 10 minutes of play, received a pass and succeeded in some way to shoot a shot which went straight ahead into goal. This resulted in a 1-0 score and a disappointed Euan Caddell as he didn't even see the shot coming. After 17 played minutes Banchory got a freekick which was hit by Edmond Torry. Aiden McGruther didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Robert McNair went, in the 19th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-1 was the resulting score. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Nigel McOwl in the 25th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Euan Caddell saved Banchory from getting behind. Dean McEachin received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 32nd minute. Euan Caddell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. After 34 minutes, Eric McNeish mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Banchory and the Thurso United players grew even worse after the yellow card. 33 minutes into the game, one of Banchory:s players got tackled near the goal, and the referee blew for a penalty. After a rather tough play, Banchory's Ben Neal got a free kick in the 38th minute. Nigel McOwl received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 40th minute. Euan Caddell tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. If Dean McEachin had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 41st minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. The home fans were very happy to see their team leading 2-1 at half-time.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Nicol Pinkerton to make the kick off. Thurso United's Sam Kean got a good chance for a goal in the 52nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. The referee was alert and spotted a serious foul by Calum McRaith during the 55th minute. The player immediately received a yellow card. When Thurso United's Dean McEachin in the 56th minute got a chance for a shot 56th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye Banchory's goalie prevented a goal. In the 57th match minute, Banchory was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Robert McNair to maneuver through the defense. Robert McNair fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 59th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Aiden McGruther having to interfere. In the 60th match minute, Thurso United was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Tam Edgar to maneuver through the defense. Dean McEachin fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Euan Caddell having to interfere. Thurso United's Dean McEachin got a good chance for a goal in the 73rd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. If Sam McLeay had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 77th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 84th minute Nigel McOwl shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Euan Caddell saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. After 88th play minutes Robert McNair shot 2-2, a short shot which went by Aiden McGruther and just under the crossbar into goal. Thurso United's Aiden McGruther played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Nicol Pinkerton in the 94th minute of play. In the 97th minute Nigel McOwl shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Euan Caddell saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. The teams fought very hard right up to the final whistle. Both sets of players were happy to go away with a draw.