Post by Brian Mackay on Jun 5, 2003 18:08:03 GMT
CAFA League Division One - Wednesday 4th of June 2003
Thurso Acks 1 V Pentland United 4 - By Michael Gray
A humid summer Caithness night welcomed United to Thurso for this crucial league encounter versus the league leaders United had a pre-match set back when Ross Sutherland failed to recover from a calf strain sustained on Monday night.
It was never going to be a match for the faint hearted and Allan Sutherland set the tone for the match upending Cassidy with a heavy challenge after the front man had turned the former United defender. Mackenzie had started the game brightly and was not allowing Campbell down the left hand side a moments piece and his floated ball after 10 mins saw Reid at full stretch to deny Morris a goal scoring opportunity. From the resultant corner Mackay found Gray who couldn't direct his header goalwards from the near post.
The game ebbed and flowed at great pace and a MacDougall run and cross was met by Murray under pressure from defenders he couldn't negotiate the ball towards the net. Then a counter attack by the home side found J Mackenzie on the edge of the box he shaped to shoot before trying to play in Makhouli who just failed to keep the ball in play. A neat freekick from Bremner found Cassidy in half a yards space at the near post but he couldn't quite manage turn the ball goalwards. United then got a freekick right on the edge of the Acks box after assistant referee Makhouli had spotted a handball Swanson was booked for kicking the ball away in the aftermath, from the set-piece Mackay played the ball into the danger area but there were no takers. Mackay was proving a handful to tie down with his constant wandering playing in practically a free role and he beat the two defenders on the right byeline before crossing but Sutherland cleared.
From the corner the ball was scrambled clear to Inrig who's goal bound effort was deflected just past the post from Sutherland. The Acks then started to impose themselves on the game a little more first Murray who appeared to bundle Gray off the ball was scythed down for his troubles by the defender who was deservedly booked, Bremner headed MacDougall's inswinging ball away for a corner and when the corner came in Gray claimed the ball before releasing Inrig, he played in Bremner but his pass just failed to find the inrushing Morris. Murray then returned the compliment paid by Gray when he barged into the centre half while he tried to clear and he rightfully joined him in referee Arrowsmith's book. Mackay again beat his man on the right hand side and as he cut in along the bye line the ball bobbled up and he could only slice the ball over and the chance went a begging as the half petered out.
Half-Time 0 - 0
The second started much the same as the first very high tempo with very little goal scoring chances, Makhouli had probably the best when warmed Gray's hands from the edge of the box but his shot was to straight and the keeper held on. A bounding run from Boyd saw him beat a couple of defenders before being thwarted by Coghill however Mackay picked up the pieces and switched the ball to Mackenzie who beat Campbell and Moar but again his cross was cleared as the home side's defence stood firm.
A deep Mackay freekick into the box caused confusion as the ball dropped to Cassidy he couldn't get a clean shot away as the defence swarmed around him. The game was still be played at a frantic pace with both midfields getting absolutely no time on the ball to pick a pass with twenty minutes left disaster struck for United Gray tried to clear the ball on the volley but never found the sideline Makouli picked up the ball and fed Murray who rocketed the ball past Gray on the angle to mark wild celebrations amongst the home support.
The Acks then started to pick off the stunned United team first MacDougall had an opportunity but was muscled out by Boyd then Mackenzie tried to play in Murray but Gray beat him to the ball. United were then forced to change their line-up with around twenty to go Baker replacing the injured Inrig and he went into a central/ right midfield role and his fresh legs were to be crucial in the dying stages.
With time running out United started to regain a grip on the game a flighted Bremner pass eluded Reid however Morris's first touch wasn't the best but Reid sent the striker crashing to the floor leaving referee Arrowsmith with no option but to point to the spot, Reid was booked for his troubles as well. The game was held up for at least 3 mins as the mayhem subsided and it was left to former Acks man Bremner to face Swanson and he sent the visiting support wild when his firmly struck penalty beat the big keeper.
With just over 10 mins left things got even better for the Canisbay men Mackenzie winged his way down the left and clipped his cross in finding Morris 10 yards out and his half volley nestled into the back of the net.
United were now pushing hard as they sensed an unlikely victory just 5 mins previous and Reid at full stretch just prevented Morris from doubling his account but from the corner United stretched their lead Cassidy's deft flick at the near post rebounded off the bar but Boyd reacted quickest to side foot home his first of the season to send the visiting support once more into raptures.
The Acks weren't giving up keeper Gray unorthodoxly cleared a low centre with his feet finding Makhouli but he was crowded out then Skinner made a timely block on MacDougal as he shaped to shoot. The game at this point was extremely stretched for both sides Mackenzie beat his man and fed Cassidy who's first touch beat Moar but Swanson gathered.
And then the final twist in the tail Mackenzie picked up the ball in his own half and released Cassidy who drove on down the left before perfectly picking out Morris who came back inside at the back post and finished superbly low past Swanson to complete an unlikely comeback with 75 mins on the clock.
Final score - Acks 1 V Stabbies 4 ;D
A terrific game although the scoreline flatters United the effort and attitude they showed throughout the game allowed them to just shade it, every one of the players involved performed superbly against an excellent Acks team. For me though the trio of Skinner, Cassidy and Morris stood out especially Morris who won nearly everything in the air won a penalty and scored two goals definitely his best performance of the season.
Team: M Gray, B Gray, H Boyd, J Skinner, R Farmer, G Bremner, W Inrig (Baker 78), N Mackenzie, A Mackay, L Cassidy, K Morris. Subs not used - Elder and Manson
Thurso Acks 1 V Pentland United 4 - By Michael Gray
A humid summer Caithness night welcomed United to Thurso for this crucial league encounter versus the league leaders United had a pre-match set back when Ross Sutherland failed to recover from a calf strain sustained on Monday night.
It was never going to be a match for the faint hearted and Allan Sutherland set the tone for the match upending Cassidy with a heavy challenge after the front man had turned the former United defender. Mackenzie had started the game brightly and was not allowing Campbell down the left hand side a moments piece and his floated ball after 10 mins saw Reid at full stretch to deny Morris a goal scoring opportunity. From the resultant corner Mackay found Gray who couldn't direct his header goalwards from the near post.
The game ebbed and flowed at great pace and a MacDougall run and cross was met by Murray under pressure from defenders he couldn't negotiate the ball towards the net. Then a counter attack by the home side found J Mackenzie on the edge of the box he shaped to shoot before trying to play in Makhouli who just failed to keep the ball in play. A neat freekick from Bremner found Cassidy in half a yards space at the near post but he couldn't quite manage turn the ball goalwards. United then got a freekick right on the edge of the Acks box after assistant referee Makhouli had spotted a handball Swanson was booked for kicking the ball away in the aftermath, from the set-piece Mackay played the ball into the danger area but there were no takers. Mackay was proving a handful to tie down with his constant wandering playing in practically a free role and he beat the two defenders on the right byeline before crossing but Sutherland cleared.
From the corner the ball was scrambled clear to Inrig who's goal bound effort was deflected just past the post from Sutherland. The Acks then started to impose themselves on the game a little more first Murray who appeared to bundle Gray off the ball was scythed down for his troubles by the defender who was deservedly booked, Bremner headed MacDougall's inswinging ball away for a corner and when the corner came in Gray claimed the ball before releasing Inrig, he played in Bremner but his pass just failed to find the inrushing Morris. Murray then returned the compliment paid by Gray when he barged into the centre half while he tried to clear and he rightfully joined him in referee Arrowsmith's book. Mackay again beat his man on the right hand side and as he cut in along the bye line the ball bobbled up and he could only slice the ball over and the chance went a begging as the half petered out.
Half-Time 0 - 0
The second started much the same as the first very high tempo with very little goal scoring chances, Makhouli had probably the best when warmed Gray's hands from the edge of the box but his shot was to straight and the keeper held on. A bounding run from Boyd saw him beat a couple of defenders before being thwarted by Coghill however Mackay picked up the pieces and switched the ball to Mackenzie who beat Campbell and Moar but again his cross was cleared as the home side's defence stood firm.
A deep Mackay freekick into the box caused confusion as the ball dropped to Cassidy he couldn't get a clean shot away as the defence swarmed around him. The game was still be played at a frantic pace with both midfields getting absolutely no time on the ball to pick a pass with twenty minutes left disaster struck for United Gray tried to clear the ball on the volley but never found the sideline Makouli picked up the ball and fed Murray who rocketed the ball past Gray on the angle to mark wild celebrations amongst the home support.
The Acks then started to pick off the stunned United team first MacDougall had an opportunity but was muscled out by Boyd then Mackenzie tried to play in Murray but Gray beat him to the ball. United were then forced to change their line-up with around twenty to go Baker replacing the injured Inrig and he went into a central/ right midfield role and his fresh legs were to be crucial in the dying stages.
With time running out United started to regain a grip on the game a flighted Bremner pass eluded Reid however Morris's first touch wasn't the best but Reid sent the striker crashing to the floor leaving referee Arrowsmith with no option but to point to the spot, Reid was booked for his troubles as well. The game was held up for at least 3 mins as the mayhem subsided and it was left to former Acks man Bremner to face Swanson and he sent the visiting support wild when his firmly struck penalty beat the big keeper.
With just over 10 mins left things got even better for the Canisbay men Mackenzie winged his way down the left and clipped his cross in finding Morris 10 yards out and his half volley nestled into the back of the net.
United were now pushing hard as they sensed an unlikely victory just 5 mins previous and Reid at full stretch just prevented Morris from doubling his account but from the corner United stretched their lead Cassidy's deft flick at the near post rebounded off the bar but Boyd reacted quickest to side foot home his first of the season to send the visiting support once more into raptures.
The Acks weren't giving up keeper Gray unorthodoxly cleared a low centre with his feet finding Makhouli but he was crowded out then Skinner made a timely block on MacDougal as he shaped to shoot. The game at this point was extremely stretched for both sides Mackenzie beat his man and fed Cassidy who's first touch beat Moar but Swanson gathered.
And then the final twist in the tail Mackenzie picked up the ball in his own half and released Cassidy who drove on down the left before perfectly picking out Morris who came back inside at the back post and finished superbly low past Swanson to complete an unlikely comeback with 75 mins on the clock.
Final score - Acks 1 V Stabbies 4 ;D
A terrific game although the scoreline flatters United the effort and attitude they showed throughout the game allowed them to just shade it, every one of the players involved performed superbly against an excellent Acks team. For me though the trio of Skinner, Cassidy and Morris stood out especially Morris who won nearly everything in the air won a penalty and scored two goals definitely his best performance of the season.
Team: M Gray, B Gray, H Boyd, J Skinner, R Farmer, G Bremner, W Inrig (Baker 78), N Mackenzie, A Mackay, L Cassidy, K Morris. Subs not used - Elder and Manson