Post by Michael Gray on May 6, 2005 7:25:24 GMT
United gained their first home points of the season after what looks a comfortable victory in the end but was extremely competitive for long spells. United made two changes to the side that had been beaten a week earlier by Castletown, Gary Mackay returned replaced the suspended Ross Sutherland and Bobby Thorburn made his first start in place of Russel Beattie in addition Jocky Sutherland took a place on the bench. The visitors aided by nervous opening from the home side produced a bright start and almost sneaked the opener after 5 minutes when the Gray brother nearly let in Davidson but the strikers touch was just to heavy and it went away for a goalkick. The escape spurred on United and they made the breakthrough after 7 mins when a ball in from left touchline from Gavin Bremner was delightfully flicked by Cook into the path of Mark Nichol who fired an unstoppable shot into the stantion of the goal. Although they had the lead there was still a nervousness about United and the Groats were competing well as far too often the home side squandered possession without any real pressure. The home support thought their side had doubled the advantage after 12 mins when Nichol towered above the defence to power home a Bremner corner but referee Wheatcroft ruled the goal out for a push by the striker on his marker. However as the game progressed the rhythm missing so badly this season gradually started to appear in the United display and Willie Inrig carved open the Groats defence with a delightful pass for Cook who sprung the off side trap but his finish was held comfortably by Miller at the near post. The second duly came after superb play down the left from Baker he latched onto a long ball from Boyd turned his marker Duffy on the byeline and swept in a fine cross that left Nichol with the simplest of tasks at the back post. With the pressure obviously relieved United started to dictate with Inrig and Bremner beginning to find more and more room in the centre of the park. With the increase in possession so came the third goal when Bremner made a surging run down the left channel before squaring the ball, which eluded Swanson and skipper Ryan Framer was on hand to fire home his first of the season despite a valiant effort from Miller in the Groats goal. Credit to the visitors though they kept battling away and got their reward on the half hour mark in bizarre circumstances Thorburn seemed to have marshalled Davidson to the touchline but couldn’t believe it when a throw in wasn’t signalled however Davidson wasn’t hanging around and he raced into the box before picking out player/manager Shearer who finished from 6 yards. The goal rocked United for the next ten minutes or so but they but they came up with the perfect reply twelve minutes before the break Cook worked back in midfield and won the ball releasing Nichol in the process who broke down the right before attempting to find Bremner in the area, Swanson half cleared the ball as far as Cook twenty yards out and he sent a delicious chip with the outside of the boot into the top corner. The home side even had time to hammer home another killer blow to the Wick men minutes before half time when Nichol latched on to a long ball turned his marker inside out before firing low past the helpless Miller.
Half time
Pentland United 5-1 Wick Groats
Firing down the slope and into the breeze United were forced into a half-time change Derek Manson replacing the injured Thorburn. The re-organisation saw Baker taking up a defensive role and Cook becoming more withdrawn into the midfield. The change however never really affected the tempo of the match United still dictating play and the visitors attempting to hit on the counter when they could with their strike force of Shearer and Davidson always lively. Nichol was having a fine game leading the line superbly and he created the first chance of the second half breaking down the left he made to the bye line before sweeping in a cross that Miller parried Boyd reacted first and sent a header gaol ward that looked a winneruntil Sheppard rose to nod of the line much to the defender’s dismay. The goal however duly arrived ten minutes into the half a pin point Bremner corner found Ryan Farmer all alone on the six yard line and the captain side footed home a volley for his second of the match. A fine twist from Derek Manson produced a lunge from Miller in the heart of the pitch 30 yards from goal Bremner barely waited for the wall to retreat before rocketing a shot just over the bar. Nichol completed his haul on 65 mins with Manson the creator he broke a tackle just to the right of centre 45 yards from goal and raced away before feeding the hitman with his first touch he took the ball away from the defence his second found the corner of the net. Logical thinking would say that such a barrage would sap away any belief in the Groats team but to their credit they never gave up and Shearer missed a glorious chance after 70 mins as he raced clear unopposed drew Gray and with a couple of shimmies landed the keeper on his rear however he delayed for too long and the retreating Baker made a superb tackle to dispossess the striker and completed the clearance under pressure. United made their second change of the night moments later introducing Sutherland at the expense of Nichol giving the main man a well deserved rest. Keeper Gray caused panic in the home defence when he came to punch a corner but got nowhere near the ball Davidson failed to head the ball goalwards and on the follow up Sheppard fired wide of the goal. Groats continued to attack and once again Shearer had a chance from 18 yards cutting in from the right onto his favoured left foot before dragging his shot just wide of the goal. However the striker wasn’t to be denied and he finally got his goal with minutes remaining racing clear from a suspiciously offside position he duly fired the ball passed Gray to cut the deficit.
Full time
Pentland United 7-2 Wick Groats
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker 4. G Mackay 5. H Boyd 6. G Bremner 7. R Farmer (c) 8. W Inrig 9. M Nichol (J Sutherland 72) 10. R Thorburn (D Manson 45) 11. M Cook
View from the goal
Finally a home win at the third time of asking again we didn’t start the most convincingly but over the piece we did play some good stuff. It is a start and we should draw some confidence from the result and hopefully we can keep it going next week against a strong Thistle outfit. The Groats actually started the better of the two teams but we are still getting used to playing with each other again but the new boys showed up well again Cookie did really well up top with Marky who was far more like his deadly self again with some lethal finishing. Once we got to grips with the game in central midfield again we looked a far better outfit slowly but surely we dictated the game and hopefully that is a sign of things to come.
Half time
Pentland United 5-1 Wick Groats
Firing down the slope and into the breeze United were forced into a half-time change Derek Manson replacing the injured Thorburn. The re-organisation saw Baker taking up a defensive role and Cook becoming more withdrawn into the midfield. The change however never really affected the tempo of the match United still dictating play and the visitors attempting to hit on the counter when they could with their strike force of Shearer and Davidson always lively. Nichol was having a fine game leading the line superbly and he created the first chance of the second half breaking down the left he made to the bye line before sweeping in a cross that Miller parried Boyd reacted first and sent a header gaol ward that looked a winneruntil Sheppard rose to nod of the line much to the defender’s dismay. The goal however duly arrived ten minutes into the half a pin point Bremner corner found Ryan Farmer all alone on the six yard line and the captain side footed home a volley for his second of the match. A fine twist from Derek Manson produced a lunge from Miller in the heart of the pitch 30 yards from goal Bremner barely waited for the wall to retreat before rocketing a shot just over the bar. Nichol completed his haul on 65 mins with Manson the creator he broke a tackle just to the right of centre 45 yards from goal and raced away before feeding the hitman with his first touch he took the ball away from the defence his second found the corner of the net. Logical thinking would say that such a barrage would sap away any belief in the Groats team but to their credit they never gave up and Shearer missed a glorious chance after 70 mins as he raced clear unopposed drew Gray and with a couple of shimmies landed the keeper on his rear however he delayed for too long and the retreating Baker made a superb tackle to dispossess the striker and completed the clearance under pressure. United made their second change of the night moments later introducing Sutherland at the expense of Nichol giving the main man a well deserved rest. Keeper Gray caused panic in the home defence when he came to punch a corner but got nowhere near the ball Davidson failed to head the ball goalwards and on the follow up Sheppard fired wide of the goal. Groats continued to attack and once again Shearer had a chance from 18 yards cutting in from the right onto his favoured left foot before dragging his shot just wide of the goal. However the striker wasn’t to be denied and he finally got his goal with minutes remaining racing clear from a suspiciously offside position he duly fired the ball passed Gray to cut the deficit.
Full time
Pentland United 7-2 Wick Groats
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker 4. G Mackay 5. H Boyd 6. G Bremner 7. R Farmer (c) 8. W Inrig 9. M Nichol (J Sutherland 72) 10. R Thorburn (D Manson 45) 11. M Cook
View from the goal
Finally a home win at the third time of asking again we didn’t start the most convincingly but over the piece we did play some good stuff. It is a start and we should draw some confidence from the result and hopefully we can keep it going next week against a strong Thistle outfit. The Groats actually started the better of the two teams but we are still getting used to playing with each other again but the new boys showed up well again Cookie did really well up top with Marky who was far more like his deadly self again with some lethal finishing. Once we got to grips with the game in central midfield again we looked a far better outfit slowly but surely we dictated the game and hopefully that is a sign of things to come.