Post by Michael Gray on Jul 11, 2005 15:34:20 GMT
For the first time in many a year United were to play on the Lower Bignold due to the resurfacing policy adopted by the council on the Upper Bignold coupled with the lack of facilities to change in etc it was far from ideal preparation for the penultimate away fixture of the 2005 league campaign. The early exchanges were pretty even with both midfields battling it out for supremacy of the park. The first chance of note fell to Mark Nichol after Russel Beattie made a great run down the right beating Bain before crossing for the tall striker but instead of cutting the ball back from the acute angle he elected to shoot and the ball flew wide. The visitors continued to have the upper hand in terms of chances and minutes later Mark Makhouli showed great strength and balance to make room on the edge of the box but Swanson managed to get a toe on his shot to deflect it wide for a corner. Gary Macgregor and Stewart Sutherland were having a real tussle with Sutherland and Bremner in the centre of the park and Macgregor made his intentions clear after 15 minutes when he found space 25 yards from goal and let fly with a powerful drive but couldn’t quite find the target. Minutes later the United missed another opportunity when Nichol rose at the far post to meet a Bremner corner and bullet a header downwards but once again the goal remained intact as the ball slipped wide. The Dunnet men eventually made the breakthrough after 22 mins when Bremner broke from midfield and fed a fine ball into Nichol who turned superbly on the edge of the box before firing in shot that beat Thomson. Five minutes later the home support were claiming wildly for a penalty after Sheppard had found space to deliver a decent cross into the box that broke of Gray but referee Wheatcroft was close at hand to wave the appeals away. Fine link up play down the left involving Baker and Nichol saw the latter sweep in a wicked far post cross that found strike partner Makhouli alone but again the angle was too acute for a shot and his cut back was cleared by Swanson. The second goal came on the half hour mark after again good play down the right from Beattie saw him draw the lunge from Sutherland and earn a freekick in a dangerous position, Bremner swept the ball to the far post where Nichol had peeled off his man to bullet in his second of the game and move into double figures for his league total. Gavin Bremner then tried an audacious long range effort from a freekick 35 yards from goal but unfortunately for the midfield man it was off target. The home side responded positively and good play on the left by Shearer saw the ball swept into the far post where Davidson got above Thorburn but couldn’t direct his header. With minutes remaining in the half a great lung bursting run from Cook saw break into space before feeding Nichol on the left corner of the box the striker held the ball before laying the ball into the path of Baker who let fly with a powerful hit only for Swanson to throw himself in the way of the ball.
Half time
Wick Groats 0-2 Pentland United
United came out the blocks quickly in the second period and Nichol had a great chance five minutes into the half when he raced clear on to a through ball from Bremner but skewed his shot high and wide. Five minutes later the same player had a similar opportunity this time racing onto a long punt from Gray but disappointingly the same result was had. As in the first half Macgregor was keen to shoot from distance given the opportunity and after 58 mins he strode forward but again pulled his shot wide from 25 yards. Nichol had another chance to complete his hat-trick when he again rose highest to meet a Beattie corner but again the header flew wide. The third and killer goal came just after the hour mark and Makhouli was the architect he twisted and turned allowing himself just enough space to play the ball into the channel for the rampaging Beattie coming in of the left touch line he beat one man and just as he prepared to finish Taylor brought him crashing to the ground leaving referee Wheatcroft absolutely no option but to point to the spot after Monday night’s miss responsibility was transferred to Gavin Bremner who duly tucked the ball away. Almost immediately United withdrew Sutherland and replaced him with Derek Manson, Mark Nichol must have been wondering if he was ever to complete his hat-trick when with just over twenty minutes left he ran onto a fine Makhouli through ball before letting fly with a volley, which keeper Thomson did brilliantly to parry away. The visitors were now firmly established in the ascendancy and Bremner tried to double his tally when he let fly again with a 30 yard that dipped late but not enough to find the target. With just over a quarter of an hour to go John Skinner was withdrawn and replaced by Gary Mackay as United looked to freshen things up on the park. Bobby Thorburn and Martin Cook then linked up superbly down the right with the midfielder feeding he ball into Manson who produced an exquisite touch before trying a chip that looped over the bar. The fourth and final goal came after 76 minutes after Sutherland had cleared away Beattie’s first corner, Nichol made no mistake at the far post with a close range volley from Bremner’s corner kick. United then made their third and final change with Nichol being withdrawn and replaced by Kevin ‘Keegin’ Sinclair. The final real activity of note came with five minutes left when quick feet and a change of direction saw Gordie Macdonald draw a lunge from Brian Gray resulting in a freekick on the edge of the box, the substitute striker dusted himself down to take the set piece himself but his low drive was blocked away and cleared by Thorburn.
Full time
Wick Groats 0-4 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. R Thorburn 4. J Skinner (G Mackay 73) 5. G Bremner (c) 6. R Sutherland (D Manson 62) 7. R Beattie 8. M Makhouli 9. M Nichol (K Sinclair 79) 10. M Baker 11. M Cook
View from the goal
A good honest tussle and a welcome three points in the end not the most ideal venue but we came through relatively unscathed. The early exchanges were pretty even but once we got to the pace of the game and got ahead we looked the more assured side apart from a ten-minute spell in the first half when we lost our shape and composure. The Groats battled well and their young boys stood up well to the challenge and I can't see them going down if they maintain that level of performance. A nice hat-trick for Mark and now have one final away league fixture in Lybster on Wednesday, which again will be tough but we must be up for the challenge. Before that of course we have the not so small matter of a David Allan shield semi-final in Dunnet versus Pentlands that I am sure will be a test and they will be looking for revenge after we managed to put one over on them in the Eain Macintosh semi.
Half time
Wick Groats 0-2 Pentland United
United came out the blocks quickly in the second period and Nichol had a great chance five minutes into the half when he raced clear on to a through ball from Bremner but skewed his shot high and wide. Five minutes later the same player had a similar opportunity this time racing onto a long punt from Gray but disappointingly the same result was had. As in the first half Macgregor was keen to shoot from distance given the opportunity and after 58 mins he strode forward but again pulled his shot wide from 25 yards. Nichol had another chance to complete his hat-trick when he again rose highest to meet a Beattie corner but again the header flew wide. The third and killer goal came just after the hour mark and Makhouli was the architect he twisted and turned allowing himself just enough space to play the ball into the channel for the rampaging Beattie coming in of the left touch line he beat one man and just as he prepared to finish Taylor brought him crashing to the ground leaving referee Wheatcroft absolutely no option but to point to the spot after Monday night’s miss responsibility was transferred to Gavin Bremner who duly tucked the ball away. Almost immediately United withdrew Sutherland and replaced him with Derek Manson, Mark Nichol must have been wondering if he was ever to complete his hat-trick when with just over twenty minutes left he ran onto a fine Makhouli through ball before letting fly with a volley, which keeper Thomson did brilliantly to parry away. The visitors were now firmly established in the ascendancy and Bremner tried to double his tally when he let fly again with a 30 yard that dipped late but not enough to find the target. With just over a quarter of an hour to go John Skinner was withdrawn and replaced by Gary Mackay as United looked to freshen things up on the park. Bobby Thorburn and Martin Cook then linked up superbly down the right with the midfielder feeding he ball into Manson who produced an exquisite touch before trying a chip that looped over the bar. The fourth and final goal came after 76 minutes after Sutherland had cleared away Beattie’s first corner, Nichol made no mistake at the far post with a close range volley from Bremner’s corner kick. United then made their third and final change with Nichol being withdrawn and replaced by Kevin ‘Keegin’ Sinclair. The final real activity of note came with five minutes left when quick feet and a change of direction saw Gordie Macdonald draw a lunge from Brian Gray resulting in a freekick on the edge of the box, the substitute striker dusted himself down to take the set piece himself but his low drive was blocked away and cleared by Thorburn.
Full time
Wick Groats 0-4 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. R Thorburn 4. J Skinner (G Mackay 73) 5. G Bremner (c) 6. R Sutherland (D Manson 62) 7. R Beattie 8. M Makhouli 9. M Nichol (K Sinclair 79) 10. M Baker 11. M Cook
View from the goal
A good honest tussle and a welcome three points in the end not the most ideal venue but we came through relatively unscathed. The early exchanges were pretty even but once we got to the pace of the game and got ahead we looked the more assured side apart from a ten-minute spell in the first half when we lost our shape and composure. The Groats battled well and their young boys stood up well to the challenge and I can't see them going down if they maintain that level of performance. A nice hat-trick for Mark and now have one final away league fixture in Lybster on Wednesday, which again will be tough but we must be up for the challenge. Before that of course we have the not so small matter of a David Allan shield semi-final in Dunnet versus Pentlands that I am sure will be a test and they will be looking for revenge after we managed to put one over on them in the Eain Macintosh semi.