Post by Michael Gray on Jul 28, 2005 9:52:13 GMT
Torrential rain prior to the game had left the surface very greasy making life a little more difficult for both sets of players for the penultimate league game of United's season. Missing 4 players from the David Allan winning side on Friday with Tony Farquhar and John Skinner unavailable coupled with Martin Cook’s injury and Russel Beattie’s illness, United were again stretched Ewen Boyd was called up and trialist Graeme Elder completed United’s squad. The home side thought they had made the breakthrough after less than five minutes when Cassidy controlled a clearance on the edge of the box and unleashed a powerful shot that More did well to parry but Willie Inrig was on hand to tap into the empty net but much to his disappointment the flag was raised for offside against the midfielder. Rovers had pushed league leader Acks all the way on Monday and they quickly showed they hadn’t arrived in Dunnet to make up the numbers with Kevin Magee breaking into the area but his shot lacked direction, as he seemed to lose balance at the vital moment. United took the lead after 15 minutes when Ross Sutherland met a More clearance and released Mark Makhouli who raced clear drew the keeper before producing a delightful sidestep and tapping the ball into the empty net with More committed to the challenge. Again the Wick side responded positively and Colin Sinclair hit a screamer from 20 yards that crashed of the outside of the post and wide for a goalkick. Magee’s movement upfront was certainly unsettling the United defence and he almost latched on to a Salim through ball but keeper Gray got there first, Bobby Thorburn mopped up the loose ball and completed the clearance as the home side appeared rattled. Gradually United forced their way back into the game and started making serious inroads down the left hand side of the park with Martin Baker particularly prominent linking well with Mark Makhouli after 35 mins the two combined to leave the latter an opportunity to whiz the ball across goal but unfortunately the cross eluded all the inrushing strikers. Minutes before the interval Gavin Bremner set Baker free down the left he out paced the defence and drove to the byeline but his cut back was superbly handled by More at his near post.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 Wick Rovers
The hosts started the second period quite brightly Mark Makhouli picked the ball up on the right touch line and swung in a tantalising cross for the inrushing Cassidy but the ball seemed to drop slightly behind the striker and he couldn’t quite direct the ball goalwards. The goalscorer nearly doubled his own personal tally when a Gavin Bremner corner was only cleared as far as him on the edge of the area the striker took a good touch before driving in a powerful low drive but More again showed good hands to hold on under pressure. A 1-0 lead is always precarious and United knew that a second goal would settle the game nicely but try as they might they found openings hard to come by despite dominating possession at this time good link up play released Mark Nichol in the box and the club’s top scorer was only marginally off target with his angled drive. On the hour mark the home side to re-shuffle the pack with club captain Ryan Farmer entering the fray in place of Gary Mackay this resulted in Martin Baker moving into the back three. Rovers were gradually recovering and the movement of Sinclair and Macleod was starting to cause bother, Cassidy was penalised for a foul on Mackay and the wideman took the freekick himself launching the ball into the danger area with the defence looking for keeper Gray to collect the ball who remained fastened to his line as the ball flew past for a byekick. The game was now becoming stretched as both sides tried desperately to get the crucial next goal Bobby Thorburn was the width of the post from doing just that after a storming run down the right he rifled in a cross that clattered of the face of the upright and away to safety. With fifteen minutes left United had a huge let off a through ball found its way to Lyall who raced clear and rounded keeper Gray only to lose his footing at the vital moment and the ball went by for another goalkick. With five minutes left Willie Inrig was removed and replaced by Ewen Boyd as the midfielder had started to tire and was withdrawn as a precautionary measure. As game reached the closing minutes United again sprung free down the right when Gavin Bremner swept a high ball in behind the Rovers defence for Cassidy but his early cross was well dealt with by Davidson. The visitors had one final chance in stoppage time when McKiddie was adjudged to have been fouled by Bremner 35 yards from goal the young substitute took the set piece himself but Gray held on comfortably although referee Munro had already blown for offside. The keeper launched a long freekick down field where Robertson was adjudged to have fouled substitute Boyd in what was the final action of a tense and tight affair
Full time
Pentland United 1-0 Wick Rovers
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. B Thorburn 4. G Mackay (R Farmer 60) 5. G Bremner (c) 6. W Inrig (E Boyd 85) 7. R Sutherland 8. M Baker 9. M Nichol 10. M Makhouli 11. L Cassidy
Subs not used
G Elder
View from the goal
Well it is down to the last game now far from a classic it has to be said and we seemed to be extremely uptight for the entire ninety minutes for some unknown reason. Fair play to Rovers they came and made life very difficult for us indeed we never got any time or space on the ball throughout the match. At times our final ball just let us down we got into some great positions without ever really delivering a telling ball but that is life and it was always going to be a case of the result rather than the performance. Credit to Marky ‘Frond’ Makhouli who took his goal very well showing great composure under pressure. Well it is down to the last game a case of all or nothing and there can be no doubt we need a massive ninety minutes where we must deliver the goods.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 Wick Rovers
The hosts started the second period quite brightly Mark Makhouli picked the ball up on the right touch line and swung in a tantalising cross for the inrushing Cassidy but the ball seemed to drop slightly behind the striker and he couldn’t quite direct the ball goalwards. The goalscorer nearly doubled his own personal tally when a Gavin Bremner corner was only cleared as far as him on the edge of the area the striker took a good touch before driving in a powerful low drive but More again showed good hands to hold on under pressure. A 1-0 lead is always precarious and United knew that a second goal would settle the game nicely but try as they might they found openings hard to come by despite dominating possession at this time good link up play released Mark Nichol in the box and the club’s top scorer was only marginally off target with his angled drive. On the hour mark the home side to re-shuffle the pack with club captain Ryan Farmer entering the fray in place of Gary Mackay this resulted in Martin Baker moving into the back three. Rovers were gradually recovering and the movement of Sinclair and Macleod was starting to cause bother, Cassidy was penalised for a foul on Mackay and the wideman took the freekick himself launching the ball into the danger area with the defence looking for keeper Gray to collect the ball who remained fastened to his line as the ball flew past for a byekick. The game was now becoming stretched as both sides tried desperately to get the crucial next goal Bobby Thorburn was the width of the post from doing just that after a storming run down the right he rifled in a cross that clattered of the face of the upright and away to safety. With fifteen minutes left United had a huge let off a through ball found its way to Lyall who raced clear and rounded keeper Gray only to lose his footing at the vital moment and the ball went by for another goalkick. With five minutes left Willie Inrig was removed and replaced by Ewen Boyd as the midfielder had started to tire and was withdrawn as a precautionary measure. As game reached the closing minutes United again sprung free down the right when Gavin Bremner swept a high ball in behind the Rovers defence for Cassidy but his early cross was well dealt with by Davidson. The visitors had one final chance in stoppage time when McKiddie was adjudged to have been fouled by Bremner 35 yards from goal the young substitute took the set piece himself but Gray held on comfortably although referee Munro had already blown for offside. The keeper launched a long freekick down field where Robertson was adjudged to have fouled substitute Boyd in what was the final action of a tense and tight affair
Full time
Pentland United 1-0 Wick Rovers
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. B Thorburn 4. G Mackay (R Farmer 60) 5. G Bremner (c) 6. W Inrig (E Boyd 85) 7. R Sutherland 8. M Baker 9. M Nichol 10. M Makhouli 11. L Cassidy
Subs not used
G Elder
View from the goal
Well it is down to the last game now far from a classic it has to be said and we seemed to be extremely uptight for the entire ninety minutes for some unknown reason. Fair play to Rovers they came and made life very difficult for us indeed we never got any time or space on the ball throughout the match. At times our final ball just let us down we got into some great positions without ever really delivering a telling ball but that is life and it was always going to be a case of the result rather than the performance. Credit to Marky ‘Frond’ Makhouli who took his goal very well showing great composure under pressure. Well it is down to the last game a case of all or nothing and there can be no doubt we need a massive ninety minutes where we must deliver the goods.