Post by Michael Gray on Apr 28, 2005 9:03:21 GMT
United slumped to their second consecutive home defeat when local rivals Castletown gained a well deserved a 3-1 victory last night at Ham Park. It all started so brightly for the Dunnet men Nichol marginally off target latching on to a Brian Gray long throw that had the visitors panicking. In fact the home side had to wait less than ten minutes to make the break through a Gavin Bremner free kick was met by Brian Gray and his header back across goal was stopped by the arm of Macleod resulting in only one outcome. Brian Gray placed the ball on the spot and duly fired home for his third goal of the season. However instead of building on the lead United became sloppy with possession and were deservedly punished just after ten minutes Hamish Boyd failed to find Ryan Farmer and Niall Murray nipped in outpaced the sweeper before dispatching the ball past the rooted Gray to the delight of the travelling support. The frustration of surrendering the early lead was all to evident in United’s approach play there after poor passing and basic errors crept into their game as Castletown took enormous heart from the equaliser. Macdonald tested Gray with a low drive from 20 yards that skidded of the surface making the save a little more difficult. As per the norm in local derbies the game was played at a high physical tempo resulting in the match being littered with fouls and both Nichol and MacGill paid the price for their early discretions landing in referee Wheatcroft’s notebook after separate lunges. But it was the visitors who looked strongest against a side who perhaps were suffering from the effects of such a huge effort on Monday. United did try to respond and nearly regained the lead when Cook delightfully flicked a low Bremner corner goalwards but the ball was blocked away on the line and the home attackers failed to react quickest as the ball was hacked away. The movement of Morris and Welsh up front was giving the United defence plenty to think about and they linked up allowing the former a shot at goal but he was well wide after 35 mins. The wet conditions were making things a little difficult and keeper Gray caused panic when he mishandled what seemed to be a routine cross from Macdonald but he recovered to dive on the ball.
Half time
Pentland United 1-1 Castletown
With the elements now in their faces it was clear United faced an uphill struggle in more ways than one. The resolve the visitors had shown in the first half was every bit as apparent in the second as they came out the traps quickly again. But the game was still very much in the melting pot the home side trying to rally and after 55 mins Marky Nichol almost made the crucial break through Hamish Boyd flicked on a Brian Gray long throw but the normally deadly frontman lashed the chance over the bar after taking a quality touch on the chest. Minutes later Nichol outjumped the Castletown defence flicking on a Gray pass for Cook who unleashed a brilliant effort on the volley that just flew over from all of 25 yards. It was settling into a ding dong affair as both teams battled for supremacy Niall Murray did exceptionally well cutting in from the left but his shot just flew the wrong side of the goal and rippled the side net leading a few of the Castletown loyal into thinking it had gone in. However the same man turned provider after 65 mins picking the ball up on the left he cut in and picked out the run of Macdonald who beat the despairing lunges of both Sutherland and keeper Gray to net at the back post sending the travelling support into raptures. This stung the home side and they responded by throwing everything forward in the knowledge chances would come their way and Martin Cook was the width of the post away from levelling when he met a Bremner corner on the volley it looked to be goalbound until it crashed off the junction of post and bar. United tried to freshen up things introducing summer signing Bobby Thorburn at the expense of Russel Beattie who had again put in a decent shift but with little reward. Skipper Ryan Farmer was next to try his luck striding forward from his defensive post he let fly from 20 yards bringing out a good save from MacKechnie. However as always there is the risk of being caught on the counter and with just less than ten minutes left the game was killed and again it was that man Murray he skipped away from several challenges as he raced across the box before firing a shot goal wards that deflected of the outstretched boot of Baker and past Gray in the home goal. United never gave up though no matter how deflating the goal was and MacKechnie pulled off the save of the match touching an Inrig howitzer onto the crossbar but the game was up for United. In the final minute it could have got even worse Welsh skipped passed Thorburn and Gray made the mistake of leaving his goal but the striker after rounding the keeper couldn’t find the goal and the ball drifted away for a goal kick.
Full time
Pentland United 1-3 Castletown
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. M Cook 8. W Inrig 9. M Nichol 10. R Beattie (R Thorburn 72) 11. R Sutherland
Subs not used
D Manson, G Mackay
View from the goal
Well what can I say the better team won on the night very disappointing that we can play so well on the Monday but slump so badly on the Wednesday. I accept the conditions made football very difficult but Castletown certainly seemed to adjust a lot better than ourselves. Even then we did have good enough chances to take something from the game but things are not running for us at the moment and that means we just have to knuckle down and keep working in the hope they do turn in our favour. Nothing should be taken away from Castletown though and they effort they put into the game meant they fully deserved their three points. We now face a tough fixture against Wick Groats in Dunnet next week in the hope we can get our home points tally off and running
Half time
Pentland United 1-1 Castletown
With the elements now in their faces it was clear United faced an uphill struggle in more ways than one. The resolve the visitors had shown in the first half was every bit as apparent in the second as they came out the traps quickly again. But the game was still very much in the melting pot the home side trying to rally and after 55 mins Marky Nichol almost made the crucial break through Hamish Boyd flicked on a Brian Gray long throw but the normally deadly frontman lashed the chance over the bar after taking a quality touch on the chest. Minutes later Nichol outjumped the Castletown defence flicking on a Gray pass for Cook who unleashed a brilliant effort on the volley that just flew over from all of 25 yards. It was settling into a ding dong affair as both teams battled for supremacy Niall Murray did exceptionally well cutting in from the left but his shot just flew the wrong side of the goal and rippled the side net leading a few of the Castletown loyal into thinking it had gone in. However the same man turned provider after 65 mins picking the ball up on the left he cut in and picked out the run of Macdonald who beat the despairing lunges of both Sutherland and keeper Gray to net at the back post sending the travelling support into raptures. This stung the home side and they responded by throwing everything forward in the knowledge chances would come their way and Martin Cook was the width of the post away from levelling when he met a Bremner corner on the volley it looked to be goalbound until it crashed off the junction of post and bar. United tried to freshen up things introducing summer signing Bobby Thorburn at the expense of Russel Beattie who had again put in a decent shift but with little reward. Skipper Ryan Farmer was next to try his luck striding forward from his defensive post he let fly from 20 yards bringing out a good save from MacKechnie. However as always there is the risk of being caught on the counter and with just less than ten minutes left the game was killed and again it was that man Murray he skipped away from several challenges as he raced across the box before firing a shot goal wards that deflected of the outstretched boot of Baker and past Gray in the home goal. United never gave up though no matter how deflating the goal was and MacKechnie pulled off the save of the match touching an Inrig howitzer onto the crossbar but the game was up for United. In the final minute it could have got even worse Welsh skipped passed Thorburn and Gray made the mistake of leaving his goal but the striker after rounding the keeper couldn’t find the goal and the ball drifted away for a goal kick.
Full time
Pentland United 1-3 Castletown
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. M Cook 8. W Inrig 9. M Nichol 10. R Beattie (R Thorburn 72) 11. R Sutherland
Subs not used
D Manson, G Mackay
View from the goal
Well what can I say the better team won on the night very disappointing that we can play so well on the Monday but slump so badly on the Wednesday. I accept the conditions made football very difficult but Castletown certainly seemed to adjust a lot better than ourselves. Even then we did have good enough chances to take something from the game but things are not running for us at the moment and that means we just have to knuckle down and keep working in the hope they do turn in our favour. Nothing should be taken away from Castletown though and they effort they put into the game meant they fully deserved their three points. We now face a tough fixture against Wick Groats in Dunnet next week in the hope we can get our home points tally off and running