Post by Michael Gray on Jul 1, 2005 9:09:51 GMT
Both sides were decidedly weakened for this David Allan first round tie with no fewer than 5 players unavailable for PU and 4 for the home side. Although a fairly chilly night there was a healthy crowd to see both sides make a lively start. Lee MacDougall was inches away from opening the scoring when he cut in from the left but he put to much slice on his left foot drive and it flew past the post. United responded positively and great feet work from Mark Makhouli saw him waltz past Bain and Sutherland before unleashing a rasping drive that once again failed to trouble the keeper. However the visitors were settling and the front pairing were getting a lot of joy in the attacking third and they again made their intentions clear when Nichol twisted and turned like a trapped eel before driving in a low shot but Mackay was comfortably behind the effort. After 15 mins the hosts had an enormous let off when a vicious inswinging corner from Mark Makhouli picked out skipper Ryan Farmer all alone at the far post but he couldn’t believe it when his header failed to find the target with Moar leading the inquest into how he had found so much room. The skipper was denied again five minutes later when good play down the right by Nichol say him slip the ball back to Bremner who swept in a fine far post cross but Murray Coghill had tracked the run superbly and cleared at the expense of a corner. However the opener was only delayed momentarily as Bremner’s beautifully flighted ball saw Nichol stoop and knock the ball home to give United the lead. United continued in the ascendancy and Miller had to react well on the line to clear the ball after Cook had rose highest at a corner and powered the ball goalwards only to be denied by the young wideman. The home side though are riding high at the top of the league and they soon responded positively and lovely work from Michael Bremner and Murray Coghill saw them create a great opening for Martin Murray but his fine turn wasn’t matched by his finish that just slipped wide. On the half hour mark Acks had a great opportunity from a set piece after a delightful touch from Bremner drew a unadvisable lunge from Gray and left Mowat with no option but to award a freekick Lee MacDougall drove the ball with great power but he looked on in despair as it flew wide. As always these games are tousy affairs and tend to be end to end action and this one was no exception delightful skill from Nichol down the right saw him step away from G Coghill draw Moar before delivering a tantalising ball into the box but it was just out Farmer’s reach. Great play from Nichol and Makhouli again saw them break clear but superb rearguard action from Moar and Sutherland saw them fail to find enough room for a shot before the ball broke to Sutherland who produced a lovely chip but Mackay was equal to it. The final action of the half came at the other end when United failed to organise themselves sufficiently and a Bremner pass found MacDougall clear but Gray managed to spread himself and block the ball and hold on at the second time of asking
Half time
Acks 0-1 Pentland United
United made a bright start to the second period again looking to attack the Acks rearguard but it was again a case of long range efforts, which obviously points to the Acks defence doing its job. Mark Makhouli was again prominent quick feet saw him step away from a couple of challenges on the right before unleashing a powerful drive that just failed to hit the target. Ten minutes into the second period United had another good half chance when a deep Bremner freekick was only partially cleared in a challenge between B Gray and Mackay the bal looped out to Cook who was around 16 yards out and he attempted to head the ball into the unguarded net but his header found the top of the net with the defence retreating onto the line. The Thurso seemed to be spurred on by this and in a similar position to the first half Lee MacDougall had a freekick opportunity after Gavin Bremner was adjudged to have brought down Martin Murray the left footed frontman again narrowly missed the target with a powerful shot. However notice had been served and the town side levelled just after the hour mark Martin Murray was the creator leading the United defence in a merry dance on the left before knocking the ball into Michael Bremner who took a touch before wheeling 8 yards out and sending a low shot past Gray into the bottom left corner. The United response was swift and clinical Bobby Thorburn picked the ball up mid way inside his own half and threaded a superb ball in for Mark Nichol who took a touch before firing a left footed shot across Brian Mackay into the bottom corner. The goalscorer then showed wonderful skill to step away from G Coghill down the right he raced to the byeline before crossing for Mark Makhouli but Allan Sutherland stepped in with good clearance. Acks fought back and Mark Makhouli was first player to enter referee Mowat’s book after a crude challenge that brought Bain crashing to ground. With fifteen minutes left Brian Gray had his brother scurrying back to his line after his header cutting out a dangerous Murray cross seemed destined for the goal but it just looped over the bar. From the resultant flag kick MacDougall again produced a wicked delivery that had Gray rapidly backtracking but it just missed the far top corner. Gavin Bremner became the second player to enter the referee’s book when he was harshly penalised after a Lee MacDougall attempted to take a quick freekick that crashed off the midfielders arm although quite what he could have done to get out of the way is another matter. From the resultant freekick Murray swept in a high ball to the penalty spot that Gray claimed before attempting to release Nichol much to the annoyance of the United camp who wanted the sting taken out of the game as the Acks were dominating possession at the time. Martin Baker then produced a fine run down the left racing away from Bain and linked with Makhouli before earning a corner. The final action of the game saw United pick up a third booking when Nichol took his protests about a Coghill challenge too far.
Full time
Acks 1-2 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. B Thorburn 5. G Bremner 6. R Sutherland 7. R Farmer (c) 8. M Makhouli 9. M Nichol 10. M Baker 11. M Cook
Subs not used:
G Mackay, D Manson
View from the goal
A good result but the I think we are entitled to be a little disappointed by the final twenty minutes when we surrendered possession far too easily for my liking. Having said that the back line marshalled by JW Skinner defended resolutely and Bobby Thorburn had his best game in a United shirt. The goals were well taken efforts and another sign that Marky is returning to the form that makes him such a deadly striker but his overall work ethic was perhaps his most impressive feature. We now move into the cup final on Saturday and there will have to be massive improvement on our retention of the ball if we are to win but we have the players capable of delivering the result that is for sure.
Half time
Acks 0-1 Pentland United
United made a bright start to the second period again looking to attack the Acks rearguard but it was again a case of long range efforts, which obviously points to the Acks defence doing its job. Mark Makhouli was again prominent quick feet saw him step away from a couple of challenges on the right before unleashing a powerful drive that just failed to hit the target. Ten minutes into the second period United had another good half chance when a deep Bremner freekick was only partially cleared in a challenge between B Gray and Mackay the bal looped out to Cook who was around 16 yards out and he attempted to head the ball into the unguarded net but his header found the top of the net with the defence retreating onto the line. The Thurso seemed to be spurred on by this and in a similar position to the first half Lee MacDougall had a freekick opportunity after Gavin Bremner was adjudged to have brought down Martin Murray the left footed frontman again narrowly missed the target with a powerful shot. However notice had been served and the town side levelled just after the hour mark Martin Murray was the creator leading the United defence in a merry dance on the left before knocking the ball into Michael Bremner who took a touch before wheeling 8 yards out and sending a low shot past Gray into the bottom left corner. The United response was swift and clinical Bobby Thorburn picked the ball up mid way inside his own half and threaded a superb ball in for Mark Nichol who took a touch before firing a left footed shot across Brian Mackay into the bottom corner. The goalscorer then showed wonderful skill to step away from G Coghill down the right he raced to the byeline before crossing for Mark Makhouli but Allan Sutherland stepped in with good clearance. Acks fought back and Mark Makhouli was first player to enter referee Mowat’s book after a crude challenge that brought Bain crashing to ground. With fifteen minutes left Brian Gray had his brother scurrying back to his line after his header cutting out a dangerous Murray cross seemed destined for the goal but it just looped over the bar. From the resultant flag kick MacDougall again produced a wicked delivery that had Gray rapidly backtracking but it just missed the far top corner. Gavin Bremner became the second player to enter the referee’s book when he was harshly penalised after a Lee MacDougall attempted to take a quick freekick that crashed off the midfielders arm although quite what he could have done to get out of the way is another matter. From the resultant freekick Murray swept in a high ball to the penalty spot that Gray claimed before attempting to release Nichol much to the annoyance of the United camp who wanted the sting taken out of the game as the Acks were dominating possession at the time. Martin Baker then produced a fine run down the left racing away from Bain and linked with Makhouli before earning a corner. The final action of the game saw United pick up a third booking when Nichol took his protests about a Coghill challenge too far.
Full time
Acks 1-2 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. B Thorburn 5. G Bremner 6. R Sutherland 7. R Farmer (c) 8. M Makhouli 9. M Nichol 10. M Baker 11. M Cook
Subs not used:
G Mackay, D Manson
View from the goal
A good result but the I think we are entitled to be a little disappointed by the final twenty minutes when we surrendered possession far too easily for my liking. Having said that the back line marshalled by JW Skinner defended resolutely and Bobby Thorburn had his best game in a United shirt. The goals were well taken efforts and another sign that Marky is returning to the form that makes him such a deadly striker but his overall work ethic was perhaps his most impressive feature. We now move into the cup final on Saturday and there will have to be massive improvement on our retention of the ball if we are to win but we have the players capable of delivering the result that is for sure.