Post by Brian Mackay on Jun 3, 2003 17:22:29 GMT
David Allan Shield Semi-Final - Monday 2nd of June 2003
Pentland United 4 V Francis Street Club 0 - DA Shield Semi-Final final - By Michael Gray
A glorious summers night in Dunnet for this DA Shield semi final both teams keen to make the first final of the county season, FSC looking to extend their recent run of results and United looking to maintain their good form.
United playing up the slope in the first half opened up rather cagily and with very little conviction about their play twice Mackenzie got to the bye line but failed to beat the defenders at the near post. Cassidy who has been in good scoring form of late was next to try but Harper was equal to his snap shot from 16 yards. The home side weren't having it all their own way with Lyall and Scollay linking up well the back three of Boyd, Gray and Skinner had to be on their toes at all times. The next opportunity of note came when a low Baker centre found Sutherland lurking at the near post but under severe pressure he only managed to scoop the ball over the bar. Gray's long throw is always a source of danger and Boyd's flick came closest to breaking the deadlock after 20 mins but the post denied him with a scramble ensuing but the visitors stood firm. Cassidy then crashed a superb shot of the bar with the keeper beaten all ends up after good link up play between Mackenzie and Morris found the striker on the edge of the box. United then suffered a blow when Inrig, extremely influential of late limped out of the action to be replaced by Bremner. However after 25 mins the substitution had turned into a inspired move picking up the ball from Baker he drove to the edge of the box and fed Morris the big striker unselfishly fed Cassidy who continued his run of scoring in every round when he placed the ball past the despairing keeper. Not content with that Bremner wanted in on the act himself and when Morris laid the ball back to him on the edge of the box his searing drive found the top left hand corner of the net and the lead was doubled within 5 mins of the breakthrough. Harper then stopped the midfielder doubling his tally when he held on to his angled drive from 20 yards. United were really turning up the pace with Baker and Boyd particularly prominent down the right hand side and it was they who combined to feed Cassidy and he turned a la Mols and fired the ball home for number three and a fitting end to an excellent move. On half-time Skinner was shepherding a long harmless ball for a throw when he appeared to be impeded from behind by Lyall referee Wheatcroft to everyone's amazement waved play on and Gray sent the striker flying however from the resultant freekick United cleared the danger.
Half-time 3-0
Within 5 mins of the restart United had extended their lead further Mackenzie picked up a short corner from Bremner and beat three defenders before beating the diving keeper to flick the ball home.
After 55 mins Boyd was replaced with Manson with skipper Farmer moving back into defence. Morris was just having one of those days in front of goal everything he hit seemed to find the keeper's gloves and he had the next half chance running on to a Sutherland through ball but failing to beat Harper once again. On the hour mark Elder replaced Mackenzie with Baker switching to left and the substitute immediately made an impression cutting in from the right on to his left foot but found Harper in the right place to hold on to his low drive. Bremner then played in Baker but his low drive only found the side net after he had beat his marker.
Gray up for a set piece then failed make enough contact with a Bremner corner sending his header wide from a good position after 70 mins. The flow of play seemed to be pretty much one way at this point and Elder again cut in from the right beat a couple of players but his left foot drive was just to straight and the keeper held firm. With ten minutes left Manson again found Morris in space in the box but the striker was once again foiled by the visiting keeper although how much he knew abut the rib snorting volley is debateable. The closing stages petered out with very few goal scoring opportunities of note as both sides seemed to tire in the sun.
United delighted to get into the first final of the county season and were given a tougher test than many might of predicted by FSC who have certainly improved since their last visit to Dunnet. For United although a substitute Bremner deserves special credit for his attitude, drive and of course his superb goal.
FSC certainly with recent results and on this performance are improving and might yet trouble more than a few teams when it comes to settling all the Div 1 issues.
Team: M Gray, B Gray, H Boyd (Manson 57), M Baker, J Skinner, R Farmer,W Inrig
(Bremner 25), R Sutherland, L Cassidy, K Morris, N Mackenzie (Elder 62)
;D
Pentland United 4 V Francis Street Club 0 - DA Shield Semi-Final final - By Michael Gray
A glorious summers night in Dunnet for this DA Shield semi final both teams keen to make the first final of the county season, FSC looking to extend their recent run of results and United looking to maintain their good form.
United playing up the slope in the first half opened up rather cagily and with very little conviction about their play twice Mackenzie got to the bye line but failed to beat the defenders at the near post. Cassidy who has been in good scoring form of late was next to try but Harper was equal to his snap shot from 16 yards. The home side weren't having it all their own way with Lyall and Scollay linking up well the back three of Boyd, Gray and Skinner had to be on their toes at all times. The next opportunity of note came when a low Baker centre found Sutherland lurking at the near post but under severe pressure he only managed to scoop the ball over the bar. Gray's long throw is always a source of danger and Boyd's flick came closest to breaking the deadlock after 20 mins but the post denied him with a scramble ensuing but the visitors stood firm. Cassidy then crashed a superb shot of the bar with the keeper beaten all ends up after good link up play between Mackenzie and Morris found the striker on the edge of the box. United then suffered a blow when Inrig, extremely influential of late limped out of the action to be replaced by Bremner. However after 25 mins the substitution had turned into a inspired move picking up the ball from Baker he drove to the edge of the box and fed Morris the big striker unselfishly fed Cassidy who continued his run of scoring in every round when he placed the ball past the despairing keeper. Not content with that Bremner wanted in on the act himself and when Morris laid the ball back to him on the edge of the box his searing drive found the top left hand corner of the net and the lead was doubled within 5 mins of the breakthrough. Harper then stopped the midfielder doubling his tally when he held on to his angled drive from 20 yards. United were really turning up the pace with Baker and Boyd particularly prominent down the right hand side and it was they who combined to feed Cassidy and he turned a la Mols and fired the ball home for number three and a fitting end to an excellent move. On half-time Skinner was shepherding a long harmless ball for a throw when he appeared to be impeded from behind by Lyall referee Wheatcroft to everyone's amazement waved play on and Gray sent the striker flying however from the resultant freekick United cleared the danger.
Half-time 3-0
Within 5 mins of the restart United had extended their lead further Mackenzie picked up a short corner from Bremner and beat three defenders before beating the diving keeper to flick the ball home.
After 55 mins Boyd was replaced with Manson with skipper Farmer moving back into defence. Morris was just having one of those days in front of goal everything he hit seemed to find the keeper's gloves and he had the next half chance running on to a Sutherland through ball but failing to beat Harper once again. On the hour mark Elder replaced Mackenzie with Baker switching to left and the substitute immediately made an impression cutting in from the right on to his left foot but found Harper in the right place to hold on to his low drive. Bremner then played in Baker but his low drive only found the side net after he had beat his marker.
Gray up for a set piece then failed make enough contact with a Bremner corner sending his header wide from a good position after 70 mins. The flow of play seemed to be pretty much one way at this point and Elder again cut in from the right beat a couple of players but his left foot drive was just to straight and the keeper held firm. With ten minutes left Manson again found Morris in space in the box but the striker was once again foiled by the visiting keeper although how much he knew abut the rib snorting volley is debateable. The closing stages petered out with very few goal scoring opportunities of note as both sides seemed to tire in the sun.
United delighted to get into the first final of the county season and were given a tougher test than many might of predicted by FSC who have certainly improved since their last visit to Dunnet. For United although a substitute Bremner deserves special credit for his attitude, drive and of course his superb goal.
FSC certainly with recent results and on this performance are improving and might yet trouble more than a few teams when it comes to settling all the Div 1 issues.
Team: M Gray, B Gray, H Boyd (Manson 57), M Baker, J Skinner, R Farmer,W Inrig
(Bremner 25), R Sutherland, L Cassidy, K Morris, N Mackenzie (Elder 62)
;D