Post by Michael Gray on Jul 27, 2005 7:42:13 GMT
Another cool July night welcomed both teams to Castletown for the David Allan memorial shield final. As per usual the playing surface was immaculate although a little greasy with the drizzle that had fallen prior to the match. United had the first opportunity inside five minutes when a long Brian Gray was half cleared by the Mowat only as far as Mark Makhouli who met the ball on the volley but his effort from 20 yards just drifted wide. The ‘end of the road’ side responded very well and Michael Steven broke on to a Robertson through ball but his first touch was to heavy allowing Gray to smother the ball as Gavin Bremner blocked out the midfielders run. After quarter of an hour Greg Muir managed to find enough space on the edge of the box after latching onto a long through ball that had eluded the United defence to fire off a powerful drive but it went high and wide without ever looking like troubling keeper Gray. In recent matches the long throw routine between Gray and Farquhar has struck gold but the striker was finding it hard to shake of the attentions of Stuart Sinclair but on the rare occasion he did in the first half he couldn’t direct his header goalwards. The game was settling into very much a midfield affair with both defences on top and chances very much at a premium and Groats were enjoying the balance of power although United’s squandering of possession was leading to the majority of their problems. After 35 minutes Muir linked well with M Sinclair and burst into the area after a couple of ricochets but once again his finish was wayward although the angle was tight and John Skinner had recovered to apply the necessary pressure. The final chance of the half was undoubtedly the best one wonderful feet from Mark Makhouli allowed him time and space to pick out Cassidy with a fine cross field ball the striker controlled the ball well on the run and turned MacAllan twice before feed the ball into the near post where Mark Nichol took over again twisting and turning away from his marker Sinclair before unleashing a brilliant cross cum shot, which Tait hacked off the line with Farquhar waiting at his back.
Half time
Pentland United 0-0 John O’Groats
United re-entered the field with a renewed vigour and immediately it was apparent that the advantage Groats had held in the first forty five was not going to be so easily enjoyed in the second period. Great work from Cassidy in as early as the fifth minute of the half saw him streak away from MacAllan before whipping in a dangerous near post cross that Henderson did well to collect ahead of the inrushing strikers. The game then set into a lull for about ten minutes or so with neither team really making any penetration with this United introduced Russel Beattie to freshen up the attack at the expense of Mark Makhouli. The substitute nearly had an immediate impact meeting a Gavin Bremner cross but he got slightly underneath the ball and his header flew over the bar. But United were growing in strength and confidence and they made the breakthrough with twenty minutes left on the clock, sweeper John Skinner received a throw out from his keeper Gray just outside his own area and set off on a barn storming 50 yard run before delivering a telling cross that Farquhar flicked on allowing Nichol to show all his predatory instincts and volley home via keeper Henderson at the back post. Groats tried to fight back and Mowat drew a rash challenge from Cassidy around twenty yards out and slightly to the left of goal, the talented midfielder dusted himself down and fired in a powerful effort but it was high and wide of Gray's goal. The killer second goal came with just under fifteen minutes remaining Cassidy so often a menace raced away from Robertson before delivering a delightful far post cross that Farquhar met, Henderson brilliantly saved the initial effort but could only look on in anguish as the striker recovered his composure to knock home the loose ball. Almost immediately United reorganised their ranks with Willie Inrig still very much on the comeback trail earning a well deserved rest and being replaced by club skipper Ryan Farmer with just over ten minutes remaining. Groats substitute Derek Munro tried desperately to bring his side back into the game but his shot from twenty yards again failed to find the target as the United defence chased down every loose ball. Inside the last ten minutes Tony Farquhar was withdrawn and Martin Cook entered the fray for remainder of the match. The final opportunity of the game came when Swanson made a great run down the Groats right before whipping in a superb cross that Martin Sinclair met on the volley but his effort flew wide.
Full time
Pentland United 2-0 John O’Groats
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker 4. J Skinner 5. G Bremner (c) 6. W Inrig (R Farmer 78) 7. R Sutherland 8. M Makhouli (R Beattie 65) 9. M Nichol 10. T Farquhar (M Cook 85) 11. L Cassidy
Subs not used
B Thorburn, G Mackay
View from the goal
Certainly a game of two halves Groats the better team in the first half and they definitely held the upper hand in the middle of the park during the first period. However gradually we got to the pace of the game and seemed to get stronger as the game went on. The two goals were very well taken but a lot of the credit has also to go down to the suppliers both Casta and Johnny S making great runs and delivering super balls into the area. Although perhaps we weren’t the better team for spells in the match I thought our defence was superb and we defended resolutely throughout limiting Groats to long range shots. Back to league business on Wednesday against a Rovers team who will be desperate for points and will make it very difficult for us if we don’t approach the game in the right manner.
Half time
Pentland United 0-0 John O’Groats
United re-entered the field with a renewed vigour and immediately it was apparent that the advantage Groats had held in the first forty five was not going to be so easily enjoyed in the second period. Great work from Cassidy in as early as the fifth minute of the half saw him streak away from MacAllan before whipping in a dangerous near post cross that Henderson did well to collect ahead of the inrushing strikers. The game then set into a lull for about ten minutes or so with neither team really making any penetration with this United introduced Russel Beattie to freshen up the attack at the expense of Mark Makhouli. The substitute nearly had an immediate impact meeting a Gavin Bremner cross but he got slightly underneath the ball and his header flew over the bar. But United were growing in strength and confidence and they made the breakthrough with twenty minutes left on the clock, sweeper John Skinner received a throw out from his keeper Gray just outside his own area and set off on a barn storming 50 yard run before delivering a telling cross that Farquhar flicked on allowing Nichol to show all his predatory instincts and volley home via keeper Henderson at the back post. Groats tried to fight back and Mowat drew a rash challenge from Cassidy around twenty yards out and slightly to the left of goal, the talented midfielder dusted himself down and fired in a powerful effort but it was high and wide of Gray's goal. The killer second goal came with just under fifteen minutes remaining Cassidy so often a menace raced away from Robertson before delivering a delightful far post cross that Farquhar met, Henderson brilliantly saved the initial effort but could only look on in anguish as the striker recovered his composure to knock home the loose ball. Almost immediately United reorganised their ranks with Willie Inrig still very much on the comeback trail earning a well deserved rest and being replaced by club skipper Ryan Farmer with just over ten minutes remaining. Groats substitute Derek Munro tried desperately to bring his side back into the game but his shot from twenty yards again failed to find the target as the United defence chased down every loose ball. Inside the last ten minutes Tony Farquhar was withdrawn and Martin Cook entered the fray for remainder of the match. The final opportunity of the game came when Swanson made a great run down the Groats right before whipping in a superb cross that Martin Sinclair met on the volley but his effort flew wide.
Full time
Pentland United 2-0 John O’Groats
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker 4. J Skinner 5. G Bremner (c) 6. W Inrig (R Farmer 78) 7. R Sutherland 8. M Makhouli (R Beattie 65) 9. M Nichol 10. T Farquhar (M Cook 85) 11. L Cassidy
Subs not used
B Thorburn, G Mackay
View from the goal
Certainly a game of two halves Groats the better team in the first half and they definitely held the upper hand in the middle of the park during the first period. However gradually we got to the pace of the game and seemed to get stronger as the game went on. The two goals were very well taken but a lot of the credit has also to go down to the suppliers both Casta and Johnny S making great runs and delivering super balls into the area. Although perhaps we weren’t the better team for spells in the match I thought our defence was superb and we defended resolutely throughout limiting Groats to long range shots. Back to league business on Wednesday against a Rovers team who will be desperate for points and will make it very difficult for us if we don’t approach the game in the right manner.