Post by Michael Gray on Jul 17, 2008 16:12:15 GMT
For the second time in 6 days United progressed in a cup competition via the route of penalty shoot-out in a dramatic encounter in Culbokie. After 30 mins a United victory looked as likely as free voting in Zimbabwe the island side dominating and a goal to the good it seemed United’s run had been brought to a grinding halt. However a marked change in fortune in the second period saw the Dunnet side seize the initiative and grab a wonderful victory. Back arrived on the mainland sporting a big reputation as the top side in Lewis so United should not have been surprised by their powerful start to the game dominating the midfield area but the United defensive unit marshalled by John Skinner were managing just about to keep danger man Murray at bay. A Macleod inswinging corner after 15 minutes was the nearest anyone came in the early stages of the game as Gray misjudged the flight of the ball but James Skinner bailed his keeper out with a fine clearing header at the far post. In recent games James Murray has been in deadly form but he was having a quite afternoon until around the 18th minute when he burst passed MacIver and was brought down but referee Nicolson didn’t see it that way and waved away the loud appeals of the sizeable United support. But the game was being dominated by the Back midfield Mackay in particular was a standout with a great combination of quick feet and timing of his runs James Skinner and Lee Sutherland were working overtime to contain him however after 25 minutes he did create space to fire off a shot but Gray held on just inside his 6 yard box. The breakthrough when it came did so with more than a little controversy the hard working MacInnes linked well with Hall down the right allowing the midfielder to stand up a cross to the far post where Gary Mackay looked to have marked Murray but the pair clashed leaving Mackay prone on the ground the centre forward picked his spot from 8 yards with a fine header to leave the United camp fuming but perhaps on the balance of play no more than Back deserved. They should have doubled their advantage minutes later when Mackay burst free on goal from midfield but some assured defending from Grant Steven meant the midfielder couldn’t get a clean shot off and he struck it into the side net. Suddenly a sense of belief started to return to the United camp as from successive setpieces in the last 10 mins Tony Farquhar showed his aerial ability firstly to head just over from a Thomson freekick then to nod the ball down for Darren Mackay who beat J Macleod and cut the ball across goal before getting a kick in the head allowing Grant Budge to nip in and score only for the linesman to rule offside. Then keeper Macleod was at full stretch to turn away a James Skinner inswinging freekick after Murray had been fouled in the right back area.
Half time
Back 1-0 Pentland United
It was a far more purposeful United side that returned to the park after the break pressing the game much higher up the park and forcing the Back defence. Within 5 mins Farquhar had again found space to head another goalwards but Macleod held comfortably. At the other end Gray comfortably got behind a Hall effort after the midfielder spun in the box on a loose ball after M Macleod corner was partially cleared. James Skinner has a reputation for scoring spectacular goals but unfortunately a lack of games has probably left him a little rusty as he latched on a to a MacArthur clearance from a Thomson freekick wonderful control on the chest but the volley was wayward to say the least. The midfielder then followed that up with another wild shot after good build up play down the left from Darren Mackay. United then had an almighty let off when Murray bulldozed his way round Skinner with great use of his physical attributes and sent a delicate chip arching over Gray, which rebounded off the bar down to Hall and M Macleod who got in a terrible mess trying to put the ball in the net as Gray recovered and they eventually chipped the ball over the bar. Gray then was forced into saving at the feet of Mackay as the midfielder burst into the box and attempted to beat the keeper to the ball in the left back area. But United were getting stronger and Granty Budge just couldn’t keep his cross down after again Darren Mackay had done well down the left sending the ball into the box for right winger to attack at the far post. The equaliser duly came after 75 mins and it was debutant Ross Thomson who provided it a Gary Mackay free kick from right into the box saw keeper Macleod come a long way to challenge Farquhar and the ball fell perfectly for Thomson who produced a fine volley from 18 yards to level the tie. Granty Steven has been a rock this season but he very nearly blotted his copybook in the most bizarre of circumstances racing back to try and defend a long ball into the box he attempted to clear the ball away for a corner but his lob was a little to precise and it found the face of the bar with keeper Gray scrambling back to recover. There was still time in the final minute for Murray to produce another trademark turn and shoot at the near post but Gray via the outside of the post managed to smuggle away for a corner.
Full time
Back 1-1 Pentland United
United should have taken the lead in the opening minutes of the first period when James Murray picked out the run of Tony Farquhar who raced in on goal but his finish lacked conviction and Macleod held on comfortably. At the other end Murray was again off target with a header at the far post from a Hall corner.
Half time – extra time
Back 1-1 Pentland United
Back were out the blocks quickest as the threat of penalties loomed large with Michael Mackay producing a fine mazy run but he couldn’t quite get the ball from out of his feet to produce anything more than a prod at Gray and the keeper held the ball on his 6 yard line. The final action of the game saw United miss another glorious chance when yet again Farquhar did superbly well win towering above the Back defence to bullet a header down to Darren Mackay just when it seemed the midfielder would win the match he snatched at the effort sending it high over the bar and so it would be settled by the dreaded penalty kicks
Full time – extra time
Back 1-1 Pentland United
Penalties
PU: Inrig scored
Back: Mackay scored
PU: Budge scored
Back: Murray scored
PU: Murray scored
Back: MacInnes missed
PU: Skinner scored
Back: Macleod scored
PU: D Mackay scored
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. R Thomson 4. G Steven 5. John Skinner 6. D Mackay 7. James Skinner 8. L Sutherland 9. T Farquhar (c) 10. J Murray 11. G Budge (W Inrig 110)
Subs not used
D Manson
G Mackenzie
J Budge
View from the goal
What a tremendous performance and great strength of character to come back against a very good and well organised Back side that we have the utmost respect for. We got a couple of calls against us on Saturday in their goal and getting one disallowed that could have disheartened us but we stuck at it and eventually turned the tide and in my opinion finished the game the stronger side. However there is no time for resting on the back of that result we now move to another difficult week of local football.
Half time
Back 1-0 Pentland United
It was a far more purposeful United side that returned to the park after the break pressing the game much higher up the park and forcing the Back defence. Within 5 mins Farquhar had again found space to head another goalwards but Macleod held comfortably. At the other end Gray comfortably got behind a Hall effort after the midfielder spun in the box on a loose ball after M Macleod corner was partially cleared. James Skinner has a reputation for scoring spectacular goals but unfortunately a lack of games has probably left him a little rusty as he latched on a to a MacArthur clearance from a Thomson freekick wonderful control on the chest but the volley was wayward to say the least. The midfielder then followed that up with another wild shot after good build up play down the left from Darren Mackay. United then had an almighty let off when Murray bulldozed his way round Skinner with great use of his physical attributes and sent a delicate chip arching over Gray, which rebounded off the bar down to Hall and M Macleod who got in a terrible mess trying to put the ball in the net as Gray recovered and they eventually chipped the ball over the bar. Gray then was forced into saving at the feet of Mackay as the midfielder burst into the box and attempted to beat the keeper to the ball in the left back area. But United were getting stronger and Granty Budge just couldn’t keep his cross down after again Darren Mackay had done well down the left sending the ball into the box for right winger to attack at the far post. The equaliser duly came after 75 mins and it was debutant Ross Thomson who provided it a Gary Mackay free kick from right into the box saw keeper Macleod come a long way to challenge Farquhar and the ball fell perfectly for Thomson who produced a fine volley from 18 yards to level the tie. Granty Steven has been a rock this season but he very nearly blotted his copybook in the most bizarre of circumstances racing back to try and defend a long ball into the box he attempted to clear the ball away for a corner but his lob was a little to precise and it found the face of the bar with keeper Gray scrambling back to recover. There was still time in the final minute for Murray to produce another trademark turn and shoot at the near post but Gray via the outside of the post managed to smuggle away for a corner.
Full time
Back 1-1 Pentland United
United should have taken the lead in the opening minutes of the first period when James Murray picked out the run of Tony Farquhar who raced in on goal but his finish lacked conviction and Macleod held on comfortably. At the other end Murray was again off target with a header at the far post from a Hall corner.
Half time – extra time
Back 1-1 Pentland United
Back were out the blocks quickest as the threat of penalties loomed large with Michael Mackay producing a fine mazy run but he couldn’t quite get the ball from out of his feet to produce anything more than a prod at Gray and the keeper held the ball on his 6 yard line. The final action of the game saw United miss another glorious chance when yet again Farquhar did superbly well win towering above the Back defence to bullet a header down to Darren Mackay just when it seemed the midfielder would win the match he snatched at the effort sending it high over the bar and so it would be settled by the dreaded penalty kicks
Full time – extra time
Back 1-1 Pentland United
Penalties
PU: Inrig scored
Back: Mackay scored
PU: Budge scored
Back: Murray scored
PU: Murray scored
Back: MacInnes missed
PU: Skinner scored
Back: Macleod scored
PU: D Mackay scored
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. R Thomson 4. G Steven 5. John Skinner 6. D Mackay 7. James Skinner 8. L Sutherland 9. T Farquhar (c) 10. J Murray 11. G Budge (W Inrig 110)
Subs not used
D Manson
G Mackenzie
J Budge
View from the goal
What a tremendous performance and great strength of character to come back against a very good and well organised Back side that we have the utmost respect for. We got a couple of calls against us on Saturday in their goal and getting one disallowed that could have disheartened us but we stuck at it and eventually turned the tide and in my opinion finished the game the stronger side. However there is no time for resting on the back of that result we now move to another difficult week of local football.