Post by Michael Gray on Jun 16, 2005 15:23:26 GMT
United made several changes to the team that defeated Castletown on Saturday. John Skinner and Tony Farquhar dropped out completely with Russel Beattie and Ross Sutherland taking places on the bench and into the starting line came Martin Cook, Bobby Thorburn, Gary Mackay and the one and only Luke ‘Casta’ Cassidy, home for a flying visit. The winners of the tie already knew that a home semi-final versus Thurso Pentland awaited them. The surface in Wick was hardly conducive to good football but early on United really looked up for the game and made a sprightly start. The first chance fell to Ryan Farmer, after More had punched clear a Cook cross, the skipper took a touch before trying a delicate chip over the keeper, which fell just over the bar. United continued to make the early running and Mark Nichol was marginally off target when he met a Brian Gray long throw that had eluded everyone at the near post. However Rovers have been showing recent signs of improvement and Scollay brought an excellent tackle from Gray as the striker looked set to converge on goal. More in the home goal then brought off a fantastic double save from Nichol as the striker latched on to a wonderful through ball from Makhouli and looked destined to break the deadlock. Although United weren’t playing fluently they still had the managed to regularly create good goal scoring opportunities. On the half hour mark Martin Baker made a storming run through the centre of the park and was picked out by a lovely ball from Gavin Bremner the defender come midfielder took an excellent first touch but his shot from 25 yards sneaked over the bar. Gary Mackay then showed great timing in the tackle as McKiddie skipped past a couple of challenges before the sweeper stopped him in his tracks. More then was forced into another decent stop touching a powerful Bremner freekick from fully thirty yards over the bar. The final action of the half saw Martin Cook make a great run down the right leaving both Mackay and Davidson trailing in his wake but just as he looked to present Cassidy with a tap in Sinclair made a timely intervention.
Half time
Wick Rovers 0-0 Pentland United
The United management team had obviously voiced their frustration at the first half display as United tried to get out the blocks early. They made the breakthrough after ten minutes it started with a throw down the right than Cook took into the feet of Cassidy he held the ball up well before laying it back to Bremner who swept in a fine cross that Nichol stooped to head past More. United never wasted too much time after that in changing things Cassidy made way for Beattie just on the hour mark and he was only on the park a matter of minutes when United doubled their advantage again it was Bremner that crossed, Davidson stretching could only partially clear the ball as far as Cook who wasted no time in dispatching it past the advancing More. Spaces started to appear in the Rovers rearguard as United continued to venture forward seeking a killer third goal and they almost got via route one when Gray launched a huge kick up field Makhouli raced clear but dragged his shot across goal from 16 yards. Gavin Bremner was only inches away minutes later when again under pressure More could only punch as far as the edge of the box where the midfielder took a touch before volleying in a shot that crashed off the face of the bar. McKiddie was then denied by the feet of Gray as he raced clear on to a Macleod through ball as the young striker continued to impress. Martin Cook finally put the game beyond Rovers just before the 70 min mark when he climbed highest at the back post to nod home a Beattie corner with Brian Gray on hand if he failed to make contact. More then brought off an excellent save from Makhouli low down to his right after Beattie had gone through but been tackled the front man drove the ball in low and it looked as if it was a winner until the young keeper stuck a hand out to force it round the post. The youngster fresh from representing the county under 19’s then further distinguished himself with a stunning save from Martin Baker’s 30 yard shot that looked destined for the top hand corner until he flicked it over the bar. With just over 10 mins left United changed things further with Mark Nichol making way for Derek Manson the substitute didn’t take long to get involved turning superbly before laying the ball to Martin Cook who fed Beattie he raced clear drew More then produced a delightful step over to flummox the keeper and leave himself with an empty net to tap into. The last word went to young McKiddie who had put in an excellent shift and thoroughly deserved his goal racing through on to a through pass he beat Gray to the ball and gently lobbed it into the net.
Full time
Wick Rovers 1-4 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. R Thorburn 4. G Mackay 5. G Bremner 6. R Farmer (c) 7. M Cook 8. M Makhouli 9. M Nichol (D Manson 75) 10. L Cassidy (R Beattie 65) 11. M Baker
Subs not used
R Sutherland
View from the goal
A disappointing first half display but we recovered to a degree in the second period and scored some decent goals and once again we found a young keeper in inspired form. Although we are perhaps not taking the majority of our chances we are still creating them and getting into good positions but perhaps not always getting the rub of the green required. However it was a good victory that leaves us with a home semi final against the Pentlands who have already taken two first division scalps so a decent performance will be essential on Monday night.
Half time
Wick Rovers 0-0 Pentland United
The United management team had obviously voiced their frustration at the first half display as United tried to get out the blocks early. They made the breakthrough after ten minutes it started with a throw down the right than Cook took into the feet of Cassidy he held the ball up well before laying it back to Bremner who swept in a fine cross that Nichol stooped to head past More. United never wasted too much time after that in changing things Cassidy made way for Beattie just on the hour mark and he was only on the park a matter of minutes when United doubled their advantage again it was Bremner that crossed, Davidson stretching could only partially clear the ball as far as Cook who wasted no time in dispatching it past the advancing More. Spaces started to appear in the Rovers rearguard as United continued to venture forward seeking a killer third goal and they almost got via route one when Gray launched a huge kick up field Makhouli raced clear but dragged his shot across goal from 16 yards. Gavin Bremner was only inches away minutes later when again under pressure More could only punch as far as the edge of the box where the midfielder took a touch before volleying in a shot that crashed off the face of the bar. McKiddie was then denied by the feet of Gray as he raced clear on to a Macleod through ball as the young striker continued to impress. Martin Cook finally put the game beyond Rovers just before the 70 min mark when he climbed highest at the back post to nod home a Beattie corner with Brian Gray on hand if he failed to make contact. More then brought off an excellent save from Makhouli low down to his right after Beattie had gone through but been tackled the front man drove the ball in low and it looked as if it was a winner until the young keeper stuck a hand out to force it round the post. The youngster fresh from representing the county under 19’s then further distinguished himself with a stunning save from Martin Baker’s 30 yard shot that looked destined for the top hand corner until he flicked it over the bar. With just over 10 mins left United changed things further with Mark Nichol making way for Derek Manson the substitute didn’t take long to get involved turning superbly before laying the ball to Martin Cook who fed Beattie he raced clear drew More then produced a delightful step over to flummox the keeper and leave himself with an empty net to tap into. The last word went to young McKiddie who had put in an excellent shift and thoroughly deserved his goal racing through on to a through pass he beat Gray to the ball and gently lobbed it into the net.
Full time
Wick Rovers 1-4 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. R Thorburn 4. G Mackay 5. G Bremner 6. R Farmer (c) 7. M Cook 8. M Makhouli 9. M Nichol (D Manson 75) 10. L Cassidy (R Beattie 65) 11. M Baker
Subs not used
R Sutherland
View from the goal
A disappointing first half display but we recovered to a degree in the second period and scored some decent goals and once again we found a young keeper in inspired form. Although we are perhaps not taking the majority of our chances we are still creating them and getting into good positions but perhaps not always getting the rub of the green required. However it was a good victory that leaves us with a home semi final against the Pentlands who have already taken two first division scalps so a decent performance will be essential on Monday night.