Post by Michael Gray on Jul 6, 2005 8:00:02 GMT
A beautiful summer’s night greeted old rivals Halkirk to Dunnet Bay for this David Allan quarter final tie. United welcomed back ‘best man’ Russel Beattie, Ewen Boyd and Jocky Sutherland with Ross Sutherland and John Skinner dropping out of the cup winning squad. The visitors started brightly with young Shane Sutherland showing up well and he managed to beat keeper Gray to a high ball but couldn’t find the target. The hosts were showing heavy legs early on as they huffed and puffed through the opening exchanges rarely causing too much trouble much to the frustration of their management and support. However they did make the break through after 20 mins a high ball was missed in the air by Smith and Beattie sent Nichol in on goal he rounded McCulloch who half brought down the striker but he recovered well to tap into the empty net. United then enjoyed their best spell of the match a lovely ball from Makhouli found Beattie in the left channel and he produced a fine cross that Cook seemed destined to meet until he went down under the challenge of Gunn but referee Sinclair saw no infringement and waved play on. The visitors responded well though and a good run down the right from Sawyer saw him cross for in the inrushing Swanson but the striker’s attempted diving header never came off and Thorburn mopped up the attack. Keeper Gray then caused a few heart palpitations when he came for an Elder freekick but dropped the ball under no real pressure but he quickly gathered up the loose ball as Sawyer encroached. The final chance of a fairly dull opening period saw the normally reliable Nichol head over from a 7 yards after Cook had done well down the right outstripping the defence.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 Halkirk
The obvious dissatisfaction of the United management team had no immediate effect on the performance as Halkirk drew level within five minutes of the restart Elder had time and space to pick out a lovely pass for Gunn who had broken in on the blind side of Cook down the left to run on and slip the ball past Gray. United were obviously shaken and Steven Campbell almost made it worse for the home side when he set off on a great run that saw him leave 3 defenders in his wake but just as he was about to shoot sweeper Gary Mackay recovered to make a great tackle and keeper Gray gratefully picked up the loose ball. The response however was swift and wonderful link up play from Beattie and Nichol saw Gavin Bremner race clear he was half stopped by McCulloch as he knocked the ball passed the keeper but before he could tap the ball into the empty net Blackwood brought him crashing to ground leaving referee Sinclair no option but to point to the spot the only debate lay in the defenders punishment and on this occasion the referee favoured leniency. Mark Nichol was the man who took responsibility for the spot kick but McCulloch was equal to it pulling off a fine save with Young completing the clearance. McCulloch then excelled himself further with a fine save when he flung himself across goal to tip away a Russel Beattie header after the striker had stooped to head a Gavin Bremner corner. The visitors though responded obviously positively taking heart from the lethargy being shown by their counterparts and Graham Gunn forced Gray into a diving save after Campbell had made space for the wing back down the left. With ten minutes left United had another chance after Brian Gray found space at the back post and Gavin Bremner found him with a freekick but the centre half could only head over after stooping to head the ball he also received a kick in the head for his troubles but again United looked none to clever in front of goal. In fact in the latter stages it was Halkirk who had a couple of set-piece opportunities firstly Swanson dragged the ball wide from twenty yards then keeper Gray had to clutch a powerful angled freekick from Elder.
Full time
Pentland United 1-1 Halkirk
The first half of extra time was a fairly non-eventful period with only a couple of noteworthy chances. Firstly Beattie did splendidly down the left racing away from Young before crossing it seemed firstly that Nichol would tap home but failed to make contact then Mark Makhouli seemed destined to open his PU account only to be denied by a wonderful goal saving challenge at the far post. Minutes later a Bremner freekick picked out Nichol unchallenged 8 yards from goal but his header just cleared the bar.
Half time (Extra time)
Pentland United 1-1 Halkirk
The second period of extra time United certainly upped the ante and started to pound the Halkirk goal. Beattie missed a glorious chance within the first couple of minutes when Gavin Bremner worked the ball in the right corner before producing a superb cross into the 6 yard box picking out the striker who seemed to rise to early and only succeeded in heading over the bar with the goal at his mercy. It was now a case of one way traffic as United continued to flood the box and skipper Ryan Farmer could only flick an effort over the bar when Brian Gray knocked down a deep Bremner freekick in from the left. Mid-way through the half Martin Cook missed another opportunity from a Bremner corner when he slid in at the near post and shot but again the effort went over the bar as the nerves started to jangle. With five minutes left Halkirk escaped another decent penalty shout when Beattie brilliantly turned Young and raced into the box only for the centre half to appear to bring him down but referee Sinclair again saw no infringement. Minutes later another Gavin Bremner corner whizzed across the goalmouth asking to be prodded home but yet again no candidate stepped forward and Ryan Farmer’s attempt to retrieve the ball at the far post only succeeded in giving Halkirk a goal kick. The final action of the game summed up the home side’s efforts when a stinging Bremner freekick from fully 30 yards cannoned off the cross bar with McCulloch beaten but no attacker was on hand to tap in the rebound and another chance went a begging and the game was to be decided by spot kicks.
Full time (Extra time)
Pentland United 1-1 Halkirk
United
Farmer scored
Makhouli scored
Nichol scored
Gray scored
Halkirk
Elder scored
Sawyer scored
Swanson missed
Bain missed
United win 4-2 on a penalty shoot-out
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. R Thorburn 4. G Mackay 5. G Bremner 6. R Farmer (c) 7. R Beattie 8. M Makhouli 9. M Nichol 10. M Baker 11. M Cook
Subs not used:
D Manson, J Sutherland, E Boyd
View from the goal
Well an atrocious performance from the team after such a big effort on Saturday we let ourselves down big time against a battling Halkirk side. We never matched their energy levels our passing was poor our option taking was poor and our movement was poor so frustrating after the 3 tremendous performances the week before. Although it is easy to make excuses there is no doubt the 120 minutes on Saturday drained the boys big time but our attitude wasn’t what it should have been and we will need to improve immeasurably if we are to get anything from the Groats game on Thursday. We now await the winners of Workshops and Pentland in the semi-final, which at least is at home.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 Halkirk
The obvious dissatisfaction of the United management team had no immediate effect on the performance as Halkirk drew level within five minutes of the restart Elder had time and space to pick out a lovely pass for Gunn who had broken in on the blind side of Cook down the left to run on and slip the ball past Gray. United were obviously shaken and Steven Campbell almost made it worse for the home side when he set off on a great run that saw him leave 3 defenders in his wake but just as he was about to shoot sweeper Gary Mackay recovered to make a great tackle and keeper Gray gratefully picked up the loose ball. The response however was swift and wonderful link up play from Beattie and Nichol saw Gavin Bremner race clear he was half stopped by McCulloch as he knocked the ball passed the keeper but before he could tap the ball into the empty net Blackwood brought him crashing to ground leaving referee Sinclair no option but to point to the spot the only debate lay in the defenders punishment and on this occasion the referee favoured leniency. Mark Nichol was the man who took responsibility for the spot kick but McCulloch was equal to it pulling off a fine save with Young completing the clearance. McCulloch then excelled himself further with a fine save when he flung himself across goal to tip away a Russel Beattie header after the striker had stooped to head a Gavin Bremner corner. The visitors though responded obviously positively taking heart from the lethargy being shown by their counterparts and Graham Gunn forced Gray into a diving save after Campbell had made space for the wing back down the left. With ten minutes left United had another chance after Brian Gray found space at the back post and Gavin Bremner found him with a freekick but the centre half could only head over after stooping to head the ball he also received a kick in the head for his troubles but again United looked none to clever in front of goal. In fact in the latter stages it was Halkirk who had a couple of set-piece opportunities firstly Swanson dragged the ball wide from twenty yards then keeper Gray had to clutch a powerful angled freekick from Elder.
Full time
Pentland United 1-1 Halkirk
The first half of extra time was a fairly non-eventful period with only a couple of noteworthy chances. Firstly Beattie did splendidly down the left racing away from Young before crossing it seemed firstly that Nichol would tap home but failed to make contact then Mark Makhouli seemed destined to open his PU account only to be denied by a wonderful goal saving challenge at the far post. Minutes later a Bremner freekick picked out Nichol unchallenged 8 yards from goal but his header just cleared the bar.
Half time (Extra time)
Pentland United 1-1 Halkirk
The second period of extra time United certainly upped the ante and started to pound the Halkirk goal. Beattie missed a glorious chance within the first couple of minutes when Gavin Bremner worked the ball in the right corner before producing a superb cross into the 6 yard box picking out the striker who seemed to rise to early and only succeeded in heading over the bar with the goal at his mercy. It was now a case of one way traffic as United continued to flood the box and skipper Ryan Farmer could only flick an effort over the bar when Brian Gray knocked down a deep Bremner freekick in from the left. Mid-way through the half Martin Cook missed another opportunity from a Bremner corner when he slid in at the near post and shot but again the effort went over the bar as the nerves started to jangle. With five minutes left Halkirk escaped another decent penalty shout when Beattie brilliantly turned Young and raced into the box only for the centre half to appear to bring him down but referee Sinclair again saw no infringement. Minutes later another Gavin Bremner corner whizzed across the goalmouth asking to be prodded home but yet again no candidate stepped forward and Ryan Farmer’s attempt to retrieve the ball at the far post only succeeded in giving Halkirk a goal kick. The final action of the game summed up the home side’s efforts when a stinging Bremner freekick from fully 30 yards cannoned off the cross bar with McCulloch beaten but no attacker was on hand to tap in the rebound and another chance went a begging and the game was to be decided by spot kicks.
Full time (Extra time)
Pentland United 1-1 Halkirk
United
Farmer scored
Makhouli scored
Nichol scored
Gray scored
Halkirk
Elder scored
Sawyer scored
Swanson missed
Bain missed
United win 4-2 on a penalty shoot-out
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. R Thorburn 4. G Mackay 5. G Bremner 6. R Farmer (c) 7. R Beattie 8. M Makhouli 9. M Nichol 10. M Baker 11. M Cook
Subs not used:
D Manson, J Sutherland, E Boyd
View from the goal
Well an atrocious performance from the team after such a big effort on Saturday we let ourselves down big time against a battling Halkirk side. We never matched their energy levels our passing was poor our option taking was poor and our movement was poor so frustrating after the 3 tremendous performances the week before. Although it is easy to make excuses there is no doubt the 120 minutes on Saturday drained the boys big time but our attitude wasn’t what it should have been and we will need to improve immeasurably if we are to get anything from the Groats game on Thursday. We now await the winners of Workshops and Pentland in the semi-final, which at least is at home.