Post by Michael Gray on Jun 15, 2005 7:34:38 GMT
It was an overcast day in Castletown and a case of take two for this Highland Amateur Cup, Dunnet Bay derby. United were still missing the injured duo of Inrig and Boyd along with the cup tied Cook and the unavailable Cassidy, however they were bolstered by the return of Farquhar, Skinner and Manson coupled with Mark Makhouli’s recovery from a knee knock on Monday night. A stiff wind swept down the park toward the road end of the ground, which United decided to play into for the first forty five. The home side had the first opportunity of the game when Alan Farquhar escaped the attentions of the United defence to power a header just the wrong side of the post from a Morris corner. This seemed to spur on the Dunnet side keen to try and quieten the sizable home crowd and Beattie was harshly adjudged to have fouled Shearer as he looked to break through the centre of defence before he could get a shot of. The Wick based striker nearly latched onto another opportunity in bizarre circumstances when debutant Maycock’s clearance crashed off Nichol’s head but before Beattie could get his shot in the home defence recovered to snuff out the attack. After twenty minutes Morris had a decent effort saved from Gray after he made space for himself well on the edge of the box. Minutes later Farquhar missed a glorious chance when a delightful Bremner freekick found him all alone 8 yards from goal but the normally reliable frontman just missed the target. The game was still being played at ferocious pace as neither team had settled properly and the game was still without any real rhythm. Farquhar’s movement though was beginning to become a source of problems for the home defence and especially his ability to link with Makhouli and front two. On the half hour mark Beattie had an acrobatic effort blocked away by MacGill after good work by Makhouli had picked him out in the box with his back to goal. Keeper Gray had an anxious moment minutes later when a Baker pass back skipped up of the turf he controlled the ball on his chest but under pressure from Alan Farquhar his clearance was less than convincing however the return ball from Morris found his team-mate still in an offside position. Just before the break Castletown had an amazing let off when Beattie found Nichol all alone at the back post instead of taking the shot on first time he attempted to control the ball however his touch let him down and Maycock scurrying across his goal dived to block the ball away at the strikers’ feet.
Half time
Castletown 0-0 Pentland United
With the climatic advantage now at their back United set about making inroads to the Castletown defence. It became increasingly obvious that it was going to be case of United pressing hard and Castletown looking to hit on the counter but from the off they were struggling to get out of their own half as the visitors enjoyed a huge territorial advantage. Ross Sutherland was first to go close when he met a Beattie corner but he couldn’t believe it when his header crashed of the junction of bar and post before falling away for a goal kick. Less than five minutes later and Bremner forced Maycock into a brilliant fingertip save from a freekick fully 30 yards from goal, which the keeper deflected on to the bar. However the Canisbay men were camped in the Castletown half now with the home side only making rare forays up the park although one such attack almost let in substitute Sutherland but Gray blocked away his attempted lob and smothered the loose ball. Bremner then brought out another brilliant save from the young keeper when he let fly from 25 yards on the run, the shot looked a certain goal but once again the outstretched arms of Maycock turned it away as doubts stated to surface in the United play. They were further strengthened after 65 mins when Makhouli brilliantly controlled a Nichol cross lobbed it over Manson before unleashing a cracking shot that seemed destined for the net but once again it missed the target. Minutes later Ross Sutherland was denied again when a corner dropped to him and his shot again looked goal bound until MacGill managed to get his body in the way deflecting the ball away. The pressure eventually told after 70 mins through Ross Sutherland, when Nichol climbed highest at the far post to knock Bremner’s corner back across goal and this time the former Castletown man made no mistake bulleting the header into the top corner. This clearly lifted the pressure of the United side and allowed them to knock the ball about more comfortably as Castletown had to commit to get back into the game they were allowed far more space to play in and less than ten minutes later they doubled their advantage after Farquhar found Nichol down the left he held the ball up well as he waited for support then picked out Bremner with a brilliant cross the midfield man never even broke stride as he swept a volley in of the under side of the bar leaving the home side a mountain to climb. United continued to press and extend their lead and Maycock again excelled himself once again when Bremner’s corner found Farquhar in point blank position but his powerful header was beaten away by Casteltown’s star performer on the day. Minutes later Makhouli had another great opportunity to open his account when Farmer found him with a raking pass but his attempted lob was wayward to say the least. However United were not to be denied and they nicked a third minutes before the end and what a goal there seemed no immediate danger when Nichol picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and to the right of the box but a dip of the shoulder and a couple of neat turns left 3 defenders in his wake before unleashing a sensational shot that Maycock scarcely saw. In fact Beattie had another chance right on full time racing onto a Sutherland through ball instead of carrying on his run he decided to take the chance on early and his shot went wide of target and on that referee Gunn blew the final whistle.
Full time
Castletown 0-3 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. M Baker 5. G Bremner 6. R Farmer (c) 7. M Makhouli 8. R Sutherland 9. M Nichol 10. T Farquhar 11. R Beattie
Subs not used
D Manson, B Thorburn, G Mackay
View from the goal
First 45 we didn’t do ourselves justice gave the ball away far to cheaply under no pressure and allowed Castletown into the game although we still managed to create by far the better goal scoring opportunities. However second 45 we improved massively and dominated proceedings allowing Castletown very little possession of the football and created some great chances however before we finally got the goal the nerves were starting to jangle and the doubt appearing that perhaps it might not be our day. We now move into the last 16 and a tough encounter versus the Shetland side Whalsay.
Half time
Castletown 0-0 Pentland United
With the climatic advantage now at their back United set about making inroads to the Castletown defence. It became increasingly obvious that it was going to be case of United pressing hard and Castletown looking to hit on the counter but from the off they were struggling to get out of their own half as the visitors enjoyed a huge territorial advantage. Ross Sutherland was first to go close when he met a Beattie corner but he couldn’t believe it when his header crashed of the junction of bar and post before falling away for a goal kick. Less than five minutes later and Bremner forced Maycock into a brilliant fingertip save from a freekick fully 30 yards from goal, which the keeper deflected on to the bar. However the Canisbay men were camped in the Castletown half now with the home side only making rare forays up the park although one such attack almost let in substitute Sutherland but Gray blocked away his attempted lob and smothered the loose ball. Bremner then brought out another brilliant save from the young keeper when he let fly from 25 yards on the run, the shot looked a certain goal but once again the outstretched arms of Maycock turned it away as doubts stated to surface in the United play. They were further strengthened after 65 mins when Makhouli brilliantly controlled a Nichol cross lobbed it over Manson before unleashing a cracking shot that seemed destined for the net but once again it missed the target. Minutes later Ross Sutherland was denied again when a corner dropped to him and his shot again looked goal bound until MacGill managed to get his body in the way deflecting the ball away. The pressure eventually told after 70 mins through Ross Sutherland, when Nichol climbed highest at the far post to knock Bremner’s corner back across goal and this time the former Castletown man made no mistake bulleting the header into the top corner. This clearly lifted the pressure of the United side and allowed them to knock the ball about more comfortably as Castletown had to commit to get back into the game they were allowed far more space to play in and less than ten minutes later they doubled their advantage after Farquhar found Nichol down the left he held the ball up well as he waited for support then picked out Bremner with a brilliant cross the midfield man never even broke stride as he swept a volley in of the under side of the bar leaving the home side a mountain to climb. United continued to press and extend their lead and Maycock again excelled himself once again when Bremner’s corner found Farquhar in point blank position but his powerful header was beaten away by Casteltown’s star performer on the day. Minutes later Makhouli had another great opportunity to open his account when Farmer found him with a raking pass but his attempted lob was wayward to say the least. However United were not to be denied and they nicked a third minutes before the end and what a goal there seemed no immediate danger when Nichol picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and to the right of the box but a dip of the shoulder and a couple of neat turns left 3 defenders in his wake before unleashing a sensational shot that Maycock scarcely saw. In fact Beattie had another chance right on full time racing onto a Sutherland through ball instead of carrying on his run he decided to take the chance on early and his shot went wide of target and on that referee Gunn blew the final whistle.
Full time
Castletown 0-3 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. M Baker 5. G Bremner 6. R Farmer (c) 7. M Makhouli 8. R Sutherland 9. M Nichol 10. T Farquhar 11. R Beattie
Subs not used
D Manson, B Thorburn, G Mackay
View from the goal
First 45 we didn’t do ourselves justice gave the ball away far to cheaply under no pressure and allowed Castletown into the game although we still managed to create by far the better goal scoring opportunities. However second 45 we improved massively and dominated proceedings allowing Castletown very little possession of the football and created some great chances however before we finally got the goal the nerves were starting to jangle and the doubt appearing that perhaps it might not be our day. We now move into the last 16 and a tough encounter versus the Shetland side Whalsay.