Post by Michael Gray on Jul 12, 2005 10:44:11 GMT
Summer finally arrived in Dunnet for the first semi-final of the David Allan Shield, which was an action replay of the Eain Macintosh encounter with Thurso Pentland. The home side started brightly and Mark Nichol nearly caught Allan out when he took on a shot from 20 yards very early but the keeper managed to scramble the ball around the post. The young keeper then did very well to keep out a Luke ‘Casta’ Cassidy shot on the run after he had been picked out by a fine through ball from Martin Baker after some nice work freed up the wideman down the left. The keeper further enhanced his reputation after 15 mins when Russel Beattie did superbly down the right before standing up a cross to the far post where Mark Nichol seemed destined to break the deadlock but Allan somehow managed to block the ball away. Slowly but surely however the town side started to claw their way back into the game and the movement in the centre of the park of Richardson, Adamson and Coghill were starting to ask questions of the their counter parts. In fact a great run from Richardson saw him break to the byeline but his cross was cut out at the near post although the quality of the cross was hindered through the great tracking of sweeper Gary Mackay. Gavin Bremner became the first player to enter the book after 20 mins when he harshly penalised for a high challenge on Foubister. Luke Cassidy just back from his holiday was showing good energy up front and always looking to make himself available to receive a pass he did particularly well mid way through the half down the right after receiving a pass from Cook he beat Mackay before turning back on to his left foot and sweeping in a fine far post cross that Mark Nichol met sending a looping header towards goal that Allan clawed away from underneath the bar. On the half hour mark a good twist and turn from Nichol saw him create space for himself away from his marker and he sent a fine pass square into the path of Mark Makhouli who strode forward confidently but his left foot shot lacked the same conviction. Pentlands continued to match their opponents across the field and frustration was creeping into the United ranks at times, though they nearly crept ahead on the counter attack when an Adamson freekick was cleared by Thorburn and Bremner escaped the attentions of Sutherland to surge deep into opposition territory before unleashing a powerful drive that just nipped past the post. The final chance of the opening period came about when a Brian Gray long throw was flicked on at the near post by Cook finding Cassidy at the far post but his shot on the volley clipped the post and went wide much to the strikers disgust.
Half time
Pentland United 0-0 Thurso Pentland
The half-time roasting from the United management team obviously had the desired effect as United forged ahead within 5 minutes of the second half Mackay did well to block Nichol’s first attempt at a cross but his clearance only found Thorburn who immediately fed Bremner and he in turn played the striker back in this time he made no mistake sending in a delightful cross for the inrushing Cassidy to finish on the volley at the far post. The home side were buzzing now and the supporters cheers had barely died down when they made it 2-0 a sweeping move down the right again freed up Nichol who delivered a tantalising cross, which Phil Makhouli inadvertently sent into his own net as he attempted to clear the danger. Utility man Makhouli tried to make amends five minutes later when he worked a fine move down the left breaking into the box but Gray managed to deflect his shot away for a corner kick. But instead of getting back into the game the door was firmly shut when Mark ‘Frond’ Makhouli scored his first goal for the club he picked the ball up 25 yards from goal strode forward before send in a low shot arrowing into the corner, Allan got finger tips to the ball but couldn’t keep it out. United were now rampaging with the Thurso side really struggling to match the movement of the home side a fine run from Baker saw him skip away from 4 challenges before the attack was abruptly brought to a halt by Makhouli. Gavin Bremner took the set piece short to Mark Makhouli whose shot looked goal bound until Coghill managed to get himself in the way of the effort. With just over twenty minutes left Willie Inrig made a welcome return to the side replacing Cook his season has been blighted by injury so far but with so many big games still remaining he could still play a crucial part in the campaign. Russel Beattie was always looking menacing giving Bell a stern test down the right hand side who to be fair stuck to his task well and used the ball sensibly whenever he was in possession but the Wick based man so nearly scored again with 20 mins left when he swept past a couple of challenges on the right hand side of the park before firing in a great shot with the outside of the boot but again Allan was equal to it tipping the ball away for a corner. The game then turned slightly with Pentlands starting to become more of a force in the game and Phil Makhouli again showed quick feet on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful drive that went wide. The defender then moved into a more attacking role and the move paid immediate dividends he linked on the edge of the box with Sutherland before latching onto his strike partners through ball Gray blocked the first challenge suffering a mouth injury in the process but Makhouli reacted first to tap the ball into the empty net. The game was held up for a few minutes as the keeper received treatment to the mouth injury and was immediately back in the wars as the same players clashed again when the striker went back in again on a through ball, which Gray didn’t appreciate and referee Makhouli had to act quickly to defuse the situation. United then decided to freshen things up again when with ten minutes left Ewen Boyd and Kevin ‘Keegin’ Sinclair replaced Mark Nichol and Luke Cassidy. The Pentlands still managed to plough forward and Richardson brought out a low diving save from Gray when he shot from the edge of the area. But the final say was left to Bobby Thorburn when he strode forward onto a ball on the edge of the box and sent a superb shot into the top corner opening his account for the club in style.
Full time
Pentland United 4-1 Thurso Pentland
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. R Thorburn 4. G Mackay 5. G Bremner (c) 6. M Cook (W Inrig 68) 7. R Beattie 8. M Makhouli 9. M Nichol (K Sinclair 80) 10. M Baker 11. L Cassidy (E Boyd 80)
View from the goal
A really poor opening 45 where we never got to the pace of the game and although we created the majority of the chances our option taking and the general movement was poor. The second period was a different story really good performance moved their whole team about created chances and worked hard apart from a ten minute spell when we went to sleep a little it was one way traffic and full credit to the lads for responding to such a disappointing first half. We took our goals well and good to see Marky and Bob off the mark. Thought Pentlands did really well first half Adamson, Coghill, Bell, Petrie and Richardson were all prominent but the second half we went about our business efficiently and effectively. Another tough game awaits us on Wednesday in Lybster where nobody gets an easy game.
Half time
Pentland United 0-0 Thurso Pentland
The half-time roasting from the United management team obviously had the desired effect as United forged ahead within 5 minutes of the second half Mackay did well to block Nichol’s first attempt at a cross but his clearance only found Thorburn who immediately fed Bremner and he in turn played the striker back in this time he made no mistake sending in a delightful cross for the inrushing Cassidy to finish on the volley at the far post. The home side were buzzing now and the supporters cheers had barely died down when they made it 2-0 a sweeping move down the right again freed up Nichol who delivered a tantalising cross, which Phil Makhouli inadvertently sent into his own net as he attempted to clear the danger. Utility man Makhouli tried to make amends five minutes later when he worked a fine move down the left breaking into the box but Gray managed to deflect his shot away for a corner kick. But instead of getting back into the game the door was firmly shut when Mark ‘Frond’ Makhouli scored his first goal for the club he picked the ball up 25 yards from goal strode forward before send in a low shot arrowing into the corner, Allan got finger tips to the ball but couldn’t keep it out. United were now rampaging with the Thurso side really struggling to match the movement of the home side a fine run from Baker saw him skip away from 4 challenges before the attack was abruptly brought to a halt by Makhouli. Gavin Bremner took the set piece short to Mark Makhouli whose shot looked goal bound until Coghill managed to get himself in the way of the effort. With just over twenty minutes left Willie Inrig made a welcome return to the side replacing Cook his season has been blighted by injury so far but with so many big games still remaining he could still play a crucial part in the campaign. Russel Beattie was always looking menacing giving Bell a stern test down the right hand side who to be fair stuck to his task well and used the ball sensibly whenever he was in possession but the Wick based man so nearly scored again with 20 mins left when he swept past a couple of challenges on the right hand side of the park before firing in a great shot with the outside of the boot but again Allan was equal to it tipping the ball away for a corner. The game then turned slightly with Pentlands starting to become more of a force in the game and Phil Makhouli again showed quick feet on the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful drive that went wide. The defender then moved into a more attacking role and the move paid immediate dividends he linked on the edge of the box with Sutherland before latching onto his strike partners through ball Gray blocked the first challenge suffering a mouth injury in the process but Makhouli reacted first to tap the ball into the empty net. The game was held up for a few minutes as the keeper received treatment to the mouth injury and was immediately back in the wars as the same players clashed again when the striker went back in again on a through ball, which Gray didn’t appreciate and referee Makhouli had to act quickly to defuse the situation. United then decided to freshen things up again when with ten minutes left Ewen Boyd and Kevin ‘Keegin’ Sinclair replaced Mark Nichol and Luke Cassidy. The Pentlands still managed to plough forward and Richardson brought out a low diving save from Gray when he shot from the edge of the area. But the final say was left to Bobby Thorburn when he strode forward onto a ball on the edge of the box and sent a superb shot into the top corner opening his account for the club in style.
Full time
Pentland United 4-1 Thurso Pentland
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. R Thorburn 4. G Mackay 5. G Bremner (c) 6. M Cook (W Inrig 68) 7. R Beattie 8. M Makhouli 9. M Nichol (K Sinclair 80) 10. M Baker 11. L Cassidy (E Boyd 80)
View from the goal
A really poor opening 45 where we never got to the pace of the game and although we created the majority of the chances our option taking and the general movement was poor. The second period was a different story really good performance moved their whole team about created chances and worked hard apart from a ten minute spell when we went to sleep a little it was one way traffic and full credit to the lads for responding to such a disappointing first half. We took our goals well and good to see Marky and Bob off the mark. Thought Pentlands did really well first half Adamson, Coghill, Bell, Petrie and Richardson were all prominent but the second half we went about our business efficiently and effectively. Another tough game awaits us on Wednesday in Lybster where nobody gets an easy game.