Post by Michael Gray on Jun 8, 2005 8:51:45 GMT
A lovely summer’s night welcomed United down to the Royal Burgh of Wick for their E Macintosh 1st round game versus FSC. The home side had gone down heavily to the island side Southend at the weekend and were keen to avoid any repeat against a United side that offered a number of changes from the league side that faced Castletown. John Skinner, Tony Farquhar and Hamish Boyd joined Willie Inrig, Derek Manson and Luke Cassidy on the missing list. On the plus side recent additions Jocky Sutherland and Ewen Boyd were joined by the returning holidaymaker Gavin Bremner to make up the squad of 14. United made a bright start to the game knocking the ball about well and playing neat little passes drawing their opponents all over the park while always offering good options, which was easy on the eye. Harper was forced into an early save when Beattie delivered a superb near post corner, which had the keeper at full stretch to deflect the ball away. Mark Makhouli making his first start was looking extremely impressive retaining possession at all times and offering nice angles and he was just off target after 5 mins with a left foot pile driver from 25 yards. The breakthrough was made after 12 mins when a fine through ball from Ross Sutherland saw Russel Beattie race clear, and he took time to compose himself before driving the ball low and hard past Harper. The goal was no more than United deserved after making such a cracking start to the game and they continued to spray the ball about forcing their opponents back. Mark Nichol passed up a decent chance when Gavin Bremner picked him out with lovely corner but the striker’s header just missed the target. United stretched their lead after 20 mins Bobby Thorburn superbly won a header on half way and found Gavin Bremner who picked out Ross Sutherland on the right, he swept in a far post cross that Mark Nichol caught sweetly on the volley firing the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle to finish a lovely move. Although United continued in the ascendancy there were one or two minor blips to their play, which almost allowed their counterparts a way back into the game. One such chance came from a Duffy freekick after Thorburn had upended the same player the frontman curled in a dangerous ball into the near post area that Brian Gray did very well to deal with at the expense of a corner. United soon found their rhythm again and Ryan Farmer found Martin Cook at the back post but his header back across goal eluded everyone. The third goal came on the half hour when Beattie did exceptionally well down the left creating space from himself despite the attention of Whaley and he whipped in a vicious cross that Anderson only succeeded in diverting into his own net. Just before the break Bobby Thorburn tried his luck from 30 yards after accepting a short freekick from Bremner but Harper held the powerful drive comfortably.
Half time
FSC 0-3 Pentland United
If FSC were hoping United might not approach the second half in the same manner they were mistaken once again the Canisbay men dictated the pace of the game. After only five minutes Harper made an outstanding block throwing himself at a Nichol volley after the striker had been played in by Sutherland. However United were to suffer an injury blow when the outstanding Makhouli pulled up with a knee injury although the club are hopeful it won’t keep out of action for too long he will require physiotherapy and Jocky Sutherland replaced him. United made it four after 55 mins when Sutherland again picked out the run of Nichol and this time the striker made no mistake brilliantly finishing on the run. The FSC keeper was now being kept far busier than at any time in the game and he denied Jocky Sutherland when the striker linked up with Nichol but Harper deflected the ball away to safety with his feet. Minutes later it was Beattie’s turn to be denied when he set off on a brilliant run down the left beating Mackay and Whaley before getting a return from Nichol however with J Sutherland free the striker elected for audacious back heel that was blocked by Harper’s feet once again. On 65 mins Nichol duly wrapped up the scoring and his hat-trick in almost carbon copy style to his previous counter latching onto Ross Sutherland's through ball before lashing an unstoppable finish across the keeper into the far corner of the net. Martin Cook then created another chance for Beattie when he beat his McPhee down the right before nipping the ball back to him but his attempted volley flew high and wide much to the delight of certain sections of the crowd. Worryingly for United with twenty minutes left Cook had to retire through injury although it didn’t look to serious it will require monitoring with a busy schedule of cup games coming up and Ewen ‘Large Edward’ Boyd took his place. The big man almost made an immediate impact when he powered in a header at the far post after Farmer swung in a cross from the left but once again Harper’s positioning was faultless. FSC did manage to create a few half chances as the game went into the final quarter mainly through set pieces. The first a freekick from Whaley on the right went into an area keeper Gray should have been controlling but the keeper remained rooted to the line and had to rely on Thorburn’s timely intervention. The keeper was at fault minutes later when a long through ball should have been claimed but again he relied on Farmer tracking back and clearing much to the skipper’s disgust although the keeper partially made amends when he claimed the resultant corner under pressure from Manson. With 15 minutes left United made their third and final change when Brian Gray was withdrawn and Gary Mackay took the field and the young sweeper didn’t take long to impress mopping up a dangerous attack as Duffy looked set to break clear. Ross Sutherland had enjoyed an impressive match throughout but he blotted his copybook with ten minutes left when he attempted a long range shot that went wild and high with better options all around. The final real action of the game saw referee Green wave away huge appeals for a penalty when Nichol raced clear and appeared to be upended by Harper as he nipped the ball passed him.
Full time
FSC 0-5 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray (G Mackay 75) 3. R Thorburn 4. M Baker 5. G Bremner 6. R Farmer (c) 7. M Cook (E Boyd 70) 8. R Sutherland 9. M Nichol 10. M Makhouli (J Sutherland 50) 11. R Beattie
View from the goal
A super performance we knocked the ball about patiently keeping dribbling down to a minimum and let the ball do the work. Obviously we were that bit fresher given our free weekend but all the same it was a really good performance. The down side are the injuries we seem to be picking up with alarming frequency at the moment and the squad is stretched but hopefully they will prove not to be to serious and we will be able to keep improving on our recent performances. We now move on to a mammoth game in Castletown, which is a difficult place at the best of times but in a Highland Cup tie the bar is always raised that bit more but still big games are what you play for and we are looking forward to it.
Half time
FSC 0-3 Pentland United
If FSC were hoping United might not approach the second half in the same manner they were mistaken once again the Canisbay men dictated the pace of the game. After only five minutes Harper made an outstanding block throwing himself at a Nichol volley after the striker had been played in by Sutherland. However United were to suffer an injury blow when the outstanding Makhouli pulled up with a knee injury although the club are hopeful it won’t keep out of action for too long he will require physiotherapy and Jocky Sutherland replaced him. United made it four after 55 mins when Sutherland again picked out the run of Nichol and this time the striker made no mistake brilliantly finishing on the run. The FSC keeper was now being kept far busier than at any time in the game and he denied Jocky Sutherland when the striker linked up with Nichol but Harper deflected the ball away to safety with his feet. Minutes later it was Beattie’s turn to be denied when he set off on a brilliant run down the left beating Mackay and Whaley before getting a return from Nichol however with J Sutherland free the striker elected for audacious back heel that was blocked by Harper’s feet once again. On 65 mins Nichol duly wrapped up the scoring and his hat-trick in almost carbon copy style to his previous counter latching onto Ross Sutherland's through ball before lashing an unstoppable finish across the keeper into the far corner of the net. Martin Cook then created another chance for Beattie when he beat his McPhee down the right before nipping the ball back to him but his attempted volley flew high and wide much to the delight of certain sections of the crowd. Worryingly for United with twenty minutes left Cook had to retire through injury although it didn’t look to serious it will require monitoring with a busy schedule of cup games coming up and Ewen ‘Large Edward’ Boyd took his place. The big man almost made an immediate impact when he powered in a header at the far post after Farmer swung in a cross from the left but once again Harper’s positioning was faultless. FSC did manage to create a few half chances as the game went into the final quarter mainly through set pieces. The first a freekick from Whaley on the right went into an area keeper Gray should have been controlling but the keeper remained rooted to the line and had to rely on Thorburn’s timely intervention. The keeper was at fault minutes later when a long through ball should have been claimed but again he relied on Farmer tracking back and clearing much to the skipper’s disgust although the keeper partially made amends when he claimed the resultant corner under pressure from Manson. With 15 minutes left United made their third and final change when Brian Gray was withdrawn and Gary Mackay took the field and the young sweeper didn’t take long to impress mopping up a dangerous attack as Duffy looked set to break clear. Ross Sutherland had enjoyed an impressive match throughout but he blotted his copybook with ten minutes left when he attempted a long range shot that went wild and high with better options all around. The final real action of the game saw referee Green wave away huge appeals for a penalty when Nichol raced clear and appeared to be upended by Harper as he nipped the ball passed him.
Full time
FSC 0-5 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray (G Mackay 75) 3. R Thorburn 4. M Baker 5. G Bremner 6. R Farmer (c) 7. M Cook (E Boyd 70) 8. R Sutherland 9. M Nichol 10. M Makhouli (J Sutherland 50) 11. R Beattie
View from the goal
A super performance we knocked the ball about patiently keeping dribbling down to a minimum and let the ball do the work. Obviously we were that bit fresher given our free weekend but all the same it was a really good performance. The down side are the injuries we seem to be picking up with alarming frequency at the moment and the squad is stretched but hopefully they will prove not to be to serious and we will be able to keep improving on our recent performances. We now move on to a mammoth game in Castletown, which is a difficult place at the best of times but in a Highland Cup tie the bar is always raised that bit more but still big games are what you play for and we are looking forward to it.