Post by Michael Gray on May 7, 2009 10:56:48 GMT
A much cooler night greeted the players on to the park for United’s 3rd leg in the County League adventure. United made two changes from the side that defeated John O’Groats the previous week due to the unavailability of Derek Manson and James Murray with Gary Bell and Brian Kenny returning to the side. Due to an injury to stand-in skipper Michael Steven, Tony Farquhar deputised for the deputy and led the side. The skipper decided to play up the gentle Ham Park slope with the wind at their backs hoping to make the most of the elements however for long spells it seemed as if that plan would back fire but two late goals alongside one mid way through the half gave United a decent half time lead. Rovers have been somewhat of a bogey team in recent seasons for United and even with a number of personnel changes from the corresponding fixture last year, which the visitors won 4-0 it was clear they would prove a difficult nut to crack and gave a good account of themselves. It was a sticky opening period as both sides eased their way into the game trying to accustom themselves to the challenging weather, United in particular were guilty of over hitting their passes allowing keeper Thomson a reasonably comfortable opening spell. Farquhar fresh from a hat-trick the previous week had a glorious chance after 15 minutes when Morris managed to latch on to a loose ball just in side Rovers territory and picked out his strike partner with a fine through ball Farquhar strode through and seemed to compose himself before picking his spot unfortunately for United that was to the right of the post and the chance was lost. Within minutes Garry Macleod had a similar chance again created by Morris perhaps at a more acute angle coming in from the right this time the shot went left of the left hand post. The deadlock was broken after 25 mins when Gary Bell who has been in great form with dead ball picked out Brian Kenny for the big centre half to power home a header from 8 yards to give the Thomson no chance. This was far from one way traffic the tricky Bremner down the right and Duffy down the left were giving the United defence plenty to think about and Duffy should have squared the match just after the half hour mark, Bremner released Coghill down the right and he swept in a great first time ball for Duffy to side foot passed Gray as the keeper closed him down but agonisingly for the visitors it drifted wide of Gray’s right hand post. This sparked United into life again and with 10 minutes left in the half they doubled their advantage again a set-piece was the source of joy, again it was Bell who fired the ball into the danger area Morris sent it goalwards and after a scramble the master poacher Lee Sutherland fired in via the underside of the bar to double the Dunnet's side advantage. With just minutes remaining in the half United made it three, good play from Steven Morris saw him cut in from the right and look for the top left corner but his shot was deflected away once again Bell was the source delivering the corner to the penalty spot where Morris headed back into the danger area and Lee Sutherland reacted quickly to add to his opening day goal with a fine headed effort again Thomson was left with no chance giving United a decent if perhaps slightly undeserved 3-0 advantage at half time.
Half time
Pentland United 3-0 Rovers
United tried to change formation at the start of the second half to make them a little more compact in the face of desperate weather moving to the aurthodox 4-4-2 system, however deputy manager Nicolson soon reverted back to the 3-5-2 as Rovers continued to hold the upper hand and Duffy missed another great chance after 55 mins when he burst in from the left to collect a Lyall through ball bending the ball passed Gray but again his effort drifted wide. The midfielder was not letting the opportunities affect his confidence though as he managed to create half a yard for himself on the edge of the box before firing one in that Gray grabbed at the second time of asking. United then started to make some head-way Farquhar missed another snip latching on to a through ball from Darryn Mackay he elected to attempt to finish with the outside of his right foot not a good choice as his effort flew high over the bar. Just after the hour mark United introduced Marc Begg in place of Gary Bell, the promising youngster took up his place on the left hand side fitting as his opponent Harrold is of a similar age and made for a tasty battle. United completed the scoring with just under 20 left this time a Darryn Mackay corner created havoc and Farquhar bundled the ball over from a yard out despite the best efforts of Davidson on the goal line. United introduced a further change almost immediately Garry Macleod was replaced by Darren ‘Despy’ Mackay I can see confusion reigning here so may resort to nicknames to differentiate between Daffy and Despy as the season goes on. The game actually became increasingly stretched then as both teams seem to accept the result was not in doubt but wanted to go for goals. Alan Sinclair had several forays up field and had Gray at full stretch to tip over a decent effort from 25 yards initially then from open play the central defender tried again from at least 5 yards further but Gray held on. Morris then missed a great chance himself when some good interplay saw Daffy release him down the left hand channel he seemed to compose himself well enough and struck the ball beautifully with his left foot but the effort rose steadily clearing the bar and fence. United made their final change with just over ten to play Gary Mackay suffering from a bit of cramp was replaced by Stevie Gray, Marc Begg moved to the right and certainly got himself involved not always to referee Munro’s liking. The game was played out in a competitive manner but neither team really threatened again of note and were probably glad to retire to the warmth of the pavilion by the end of the 90.
Full time
Pentland United 4-0 Rovers
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay (S Gray 78) 3. G Bell (M Begg 65) 4. G Steven 5. J Skinner 6. B Kenny 7. D Mackay 8. L Sutherland 9. T Farquhar (c) 10. S Morris 11. G Macleod (D Mackay 72)
Subs not used
Steven
View from the goal
Again not a fluent performance and we could have been punished for slack periods in the game but persevered through earned a solid 3 points against a relatively young Rovers side but with some good young prospects. Next up is Pentlands in what seems an annual Highland Cup match up as I stated before was impressed with some of their play in the season opener and I know they ran the Swifts very close in their next match so this will be a challenge and if we don’t react it will be a very short excursion in the Highland Cup this year.
Half time
Pentland United 3-0 Rovers
United tried to change formation at the start of the second half to make them a little more compact in the face of desperate weather moving to the aurthodox 4-4-2 system, however deputy manager Nicolson soon reverted back to the 3-5-2 as Rovers continued to hold the upper hand and Duffy missed another great chance after 55 mins when he burst in from the left to collect a Lyall through ball bending the ball passed Gray but again his effort drifted wide. The midfielder was not letting the opportunities affect his confidence though as he managed to create half a yard for himself on the edge of the box before firing one in that Gray grabbed at the second time of asking. United then started to make some head-way Farquhar missed another snip latching on to a through ball from Darryn Mackay he elected to attempt to finish with the outside of his right foot not a good choice as his effort flew high over the bar. Just after the hour mark United introduced Marc Begg in place of Gary Bell, the promising youngster took up his place on the left hand side fitting as his opponent Harrold is of a similar age and made for a tasty battle. United completed the scoring with just under 20 left this time a Darryn Mackay corner created havoc and Farquhar bundled the ball over from a yard out despite the best efforts of Davidson on the goal line. United introduced a further change almost immediately Garry Macleod was replaced by Darren ‘Despy’ Mackay I can see confusion reigning here so may resort to nicknames to differentiate between Daffy and Despy as the season goes on. The game actually became increasingly stretched then as both teams seem to accept the result was not in doubt but wanted to go for goals. Alan Sinclair had several forays up field and had Gray at full stretch to tip over a decent effort from 25 yards initially then from open play the central defender tried again from at least 5 yards further but Gray held on. Morris then missed a great chance himself when some good interplay saw Daffy release him down the left hand channel he seemed to compose himself well enough and struck the ball beautifully with his left foot but the effort rose steadily clearing the bar and fence. United made their final change with just over ten to play Gary Mackay suffering from a bit of cramp was replaced by Stevie Gray, Marc Begg moved to the right and certainly got himself involved not always to referee Munro’s liking. The game was played out in a competitive manner but neither team really threatened again of note and were probably glad to retire to the warmth of the pavilion by the end of the 90.
Full time
Pentland United 4-0 Rovers
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay (S Gray 78) 3. G Bell (M Begg 65) 4. G Steven 5. J Skinner 6. B Kenny 7. D Mackay 8. L Sutherland 9. T Farquhar (c) 10. S Morris 11. G Macleod (D Mackay 72)
Subs not used
Steven
View from the goal
Again not a fluent performance and we could have been punished for slack periods in the game but persevered through earned a solid 3 points against a relatively young Rovers side but with some good young prospects. Next up is Pentlands in what seems an annual Highland Cup match up as I stated before was impressed with some of their play in the season opener and I know they ran the Swifts very close in their next match so this will be a challenge and if we don’t react it will be a very short excursion in the Highland Cup this year.