Post by Michael Gray on May 19, 2005 15:38:16 GMT
United came through their fourth game in a tough eight day schedule with another hard fought victory over Rovers in Wick last night. Again injuries had taken their toll on the United squad with Willie Inrig and Bobby Thorburn both failing to recover from knocks they received on Monday night. Trialists Kevin Sinclair and Ewen Boyd were drafted into complete the 14 man squad with Gary Mackay and Ross Sutherland returning to the starting eleven. Although there were clear skies overhead the stiff the wind that travelled across the park meant it was far from warm on the Upper Bignold park. The opening exchanges were fairly even although United seemed to have a greater cutting edge to their play with the front duo of Nichol and Beattie regularly asking questions of the Rovers rearguard. A Gavin Bremner corner created the first half chance as Hamish Boyd knocked the ball back across the goal Beattie tried to hook the ball home under pressure but his effort went over the bar. The breakthrough was made after ten minutes it what must surely be a contender for goal of the season. Brian Gray took a quick freekick to Gavin Bremner who fed Ross Sutherland on the edge of the box he in turn flicked the ball up before performing an overhead kick from fully 18 yards into the roof of the net. In fact the same player had a great chance only minutes later from another Bremner corner this time Brian Gray met the ball sending it back across goal for the midfielder but his shot from 6 yards on the angle flew over. After 18 minutes United were two to the good when Boyd met a More clearance and fed Nichol who delightfully flicked the ball into Beattie’s path and from twenty yards he drove the ball into the top corner past the diving goalkeeper. United were flying now and knocking the ball about confidently and had a good chance to extend their lead when Beattie was upended on the edge of the box, Bremner took the freekick but C Sinclair blocked the ball away. Young keeper More who had recently starred for Wick Academy versus Brora Rangers showed his quality on the half hour mark when he produced a decent one handed save from a Gavin Bremner pile driver. The Rovers did try and counter mainly through the running of Davidson, McKiddie and Salim but they struggled to create any real chances of note. The home side had a let off ten minutes before the break when Nichol broke through the defensive ranks his initial shot was blocked by More but the ball looped up and was heading for the net when C Sinclair made a miraculous clearance on the goal line at the same time the defender crashed into the post requiring lengthy treatment. The defender then blotted his copybook when he was cautioned for a rash challenge on Nichol as the striker had turned him expertly on the half way line. United spurned another glorious chance to extend their lead five minutes before the break when Brian Gray failed from the spot after referee Macleod had spotted Robertson’s clear push on Nichol as the striker was about to head a Bremner cross, the defender could only look on as the ball crashed off the post across the goal and away to safety.
Half time
Wick Rovers 0-2 Pentland United
Neither team made any changes at the interval as the second half commenced very much in the same frame as the first period had finished possession being squandered cheaply and the game lacking any fluency. However Gavin Bremner almost extended the lead five minutes into the half when he burst on to a Ross Sutherland through ball his lob beat More but he could only watch as it dropped on to the top of the net. The efforts of the previous week were starting to show on the United team as Rovers fought back into the match Macleod was showing tremendous energy in the middle of the park and Ross Sutherland was doing well matching his runs. But for all their energy Rovers were still struggling to trouble keeper Gray as the defensive trio of Gray, Mackay and Boyd were managing to deal with what was thrown at them. The visitors saw another good chance go a begging on the hour mark after Beattie broke clear down the left the ball seemed to get tangled under his feet but he still managed to slip the ball square to Nichol he tried to make room for himself but the retreating defence by now were closing the space so he elected to go right again to Cook but he was blocked by C Sinclair. Rovers then made a change with player/ manager James Robertson being replaced by out of contract Wick Academy man Alan Sinclair, although he has been through a tough time of late with injuries there is no doubt a player of ‘Baba’s’ quality will make a difference to the Rovers plight when he was fully fit he was one of the best players the county has seen in many a year. A Rovers corner from the right actually turned into the next source of a United attack although Salim rose highest he failed to get any real purchase on the header and Gray gathered and immediately fed Nichol on half-way he managed to drive A Sinclair back towards his own box but just when the striker looked set to strike at goal the ball came away from his control and the big defender cleared away. Beattie then became the second player to be booked after kicking the ball in frustration after being caught offside. With ten minutes left United decided to withdraw Beattie and give him a well deserved rest after three games in five days and replaced him with Derek Manson. Salim became the third and final player to enter referee Macleod’s notebook after a reckless challenge on keeper Gray as he smothered the ball. The final opportunity of the game fell to Bremner when Manson found him on the run the midfield man took a touch and from the edge of the box he fired inches wide.
Full time
Wick Rovers 0-2 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. H Boyd 4. G Mackay 5. M Baker 6. G Bremner 7. R Farmer (c) 8. R Sutherland 9. M Nichol 10. M Cook 11. R Beattie (D Manson 80)
Subs not used:
E Boyd, K Sinclair
View from the goal
Well the points were more important than the performance and after four games in eight days it is little wonder there were a lot of tired legs in the changing room last night. Although we were frustrated for long spells probably more so at ourselves than anything else I honestly believe that fatigue was the major factor in the way our game fell away in the second half. We started brightly enough and scored two quality goals and a special mention must go to Rossco after just coming back from injury to produce such a finish was quite something. However as has been the case in a few games lately we haven’t been able to quite kill off the opposition. Rovers battled away throughout the whole game and showed great energy and appetite for the game but I thought defensively we didn’t give them to many looks at the goal and that has to be positive. A week of rest then we are out in Groats, which is sure to be a huge game especially with the home side boosted by the return of David Mowat.
Half time
Wick Rovers 0-2 Pentland United
Neither team made any changes at the interval as the second half commenced very much in the same frame as the first period had finished possession being squandered cheaply and the game lacking any fluency. However Gavin Bremner almost extended the lead five minutes into the half when he burst on to a Ross Sutherland through ball his lob beat More but he could only watch as it dropped on to the top of the net. The efforts of the previous week were starting to show on the United team as Rovers fought back into the match Macleod was showing tremendous energy in the middle of the park and Ross Sutherland was doing well matching his runs. But for all their energy Rovers were still struggling to trouble keeper Gray as the defensive trio of Gray, Mackay and Boyd were managing to deal with what was thrown at them. The visitors saw another good chance go a begging on the hour mark after Beattie broke clear down the left the ball seemed to get tangled under his feet but he still managed to slip the ball square to Nichol he tried to make room for himself but the retreating defence by now were closing the space so he elected to go right again to Cook but he was blocked by C Sinclair. Rovers then made a change with player/ manager James Robertson being replaced by out of contract Wick Academy man Alan Sinclair, although he has been through a tough time of late with injuries there is no doubt a player of ‘Baba’s’ quality will make a difference to the Rovers plight when he was fully fit he was one of the best players the county has seen in many a year. A Rovers corner from the right actually turned into the next source of a United attack although Salim rose highest he failed to get any real purchase on the header and Gray gathered and immediately fed Nichol on half-way he managed to drive A Sinclair back towards his own box but just when the striker looked set to strike at goal the ball came away from his control and the big defender cleared away. Beattie then became the second player to be booked after kicking the ball in frustration after being caught offside. With ten minutes left United decided to withdraw Beattie and give him a well deserved rest after three games in five days and replaced him with Derek Manson. Salim became the third and final player to enter referee Macleod’s notebook after a reckless challenge on keeper Gray as he smothered the ball. The final opportunity of the game fell to Bremner when Manson found him on the run the midfield man took a touch and from the edge of the box he fired inches wide.
Full time
Wick Rovers 0-2 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. H Boyd 4. G Mackay 5. M Baker 6. G Bremner 7. R Farmer (c) 8. R Sutherland 9. M Nichol 10. M Cook 11. R Beattie (D Manson 80)
Subs not used:
E Boyd, K Sinclair
View from the goal
Well the points were more important than the performance and after four games in eight days it is little wonder there were a lot of tired legs in the changing room last night. Although we were frustrated for long spells probably more so at ourselves than anything else I honestly believe that fatigue was the major factor in the way our game fell away in the second half. We started brightly enough and scored two quality goals and a special mention must go to Rossco after just coming back from injury to produce such a finish was quite something. However as has been the case in a few games lately we haven’t been able to quite kill off the opposition. Rovers battled away throughout the whole game and showed great energy and appetite for the game but I thought defensively we didn’t give them to many looks at the goal and that has to be positive. A week of rest then we are out in Groats, which is sure to be a huge game especially with the home side boosted by the return of David Mowat.