Post by Michael Gray on Jun 17, 2003 8:08:22 GMT
Another bright summers night in Dunnet saw United take on a rejuvenated Workshop side in recent weeks.
Mackenzie showed early that he was in the mood to stretch the Workshop’s defence at every opportunity and after 5 mins flashed a left wing cross in front of everybody. United had a significant height advantage and Boyd nearly took advantage of this when he powered a Gray long throw against the post but unfortunately for the home side nobody was able to net the rebound. The visitors then had an extraordinary escape when Cassidy’s superb centre saw Mackenzie power a header against the bar that saw the wideman claiming in vain that it crossed the line then Baker following up headered the rebound off the bar, which again returned to him and this time his volley was cleared off the line amidst pleas for handball that referee Wheatcroft waved away. After 15 mins United took the lead and it came from another Gray long throw Boyd flicking on at the near post for Morris to power a header into the top corner via Mackay’s hands who was helpless from such close range. Cassidy then had an opportunity when Farmer played him however the frontman on his weaker left side fizzed his shot across the face of the goal. After 20 minutes United doubled the lead when Farmer brilliantly intercepted in the midfield and released Morris who unselfishly played in Cassidy who made no mistake when he side footed home. At this point United were stepping up the pace and Mackenzie hand an excellent chance when played in by Bremner but clipped his shot across the face of goals and away from danger with the inrushing Cassidy in good position. Baker had the next opportunity latching onto a Morris nod down but was crowded out but he still managed to release Mackenzie on the left however Mackay gathered his cross. On the half hour United extended their lead further a far post Mackenzie cross found Morris whose header back across goal couldn’t be gathered cleanly by Mackay and the ball deflected off the unfortunate retreating Potter into his own net. Mackay then made a good low save down to his left from a powerful Bremner freekick from 20 yards. Manson then had a chance on the edge of the box after good build up from Baker but his shot rose just to high. Bremner then varied the corner routine picking out Gray on the edge of the box his first touch wasn’t great but he recovered to the up Mackenzie who feinted and passed to Manson who again failed to trouble Mackay with a powerful drive. Farmer then led by example again winning the ball in midfield and striding forward unchallenged to finish with great aplomb and round off an excellent first half’s work.
Half-time 4-0
The half was only minutes old when United made it five Manson’s cross saw Cassidy hold of his marker allowing Mackenzie to brilliantly chip Mackay on the half volley for the goal of the game. Morris then missed a snip when played in by Farmer on his right foot he failed to hit the target from 10 yards unchallenged. Mackenzie then doubled his tally neatly finishing from inside the box after again beating his man on the left and firing low past the despairing keeper. United then had a solid claim for a penalty when Baker appeared to be barged in the back as he retrieved the ball but referee Wheatcroft again was having none of it. On the hour mark United made it seven Morris robbing Groat thirty yards out and striding forward and dispatching the ball past the helpless Mackay. With about twenty minutes to go United introduced Calder and J Mackay for B Gray and Manson. Mackenzie then had an opportunity to complete his hat-trick when Bremner brilliantly released him down the left taking out three defenders in the process but his shot slipped past the post although it appeared Mackay tipped away referee Wheatcroft did the keeper an injustice by awarding a goal kick. Baker then had a chance inside the box but the ball wouldn’t sit up for him and Blair blocked the effort. Cassidy then turned Forbes inside the box in a slide challenge but the defender appeared to prevent him getting away and the chance disappeared. R Sutherland appeared for the last ten minutes replacing Baker to test his calf injury and appeared to come through unscathed J Mackay had a half chance inside the box as the ball broke to him but his right foot drive flew past. Boyd then set off on a galloping run down the right and as he got into the box he cut the ball back but Bremner and Morris got in a fanckle and Mackay picked the ball up. The game finished with the Workshops best opportunity after slack play from United allowed Morrison to hammer a shot just wide of Gray’s goal.
An excellent response from the United side considering the weekend’s disappointing display in Inverness. Skipper Farmer was the outstanding player on show and capped of a superb display with a goal to boot not too far behind was his midfield colleague Baker.
A difficult night for Workshops Morrison did his best to lead the line and Riddell showed some neat touches in the midfield even with the scoreline they all very worked hard for each other and are sure to trouble teams as the season progresses.
Mackenzie showed early that he was in the mood to stretch the Workshop’s defence at every opportunity and after 5 mins flashed a left wing cross in front of everybody. United had a significant height advantage and Boyd nearly took advantage of this when he powered a Gray long throw against the post but unfortunately for the home side nobody was able to net the rebound. The visitors then had an extraordinary escape when Cassidy’s superb centre saw Mackenzie power a header against the bar that saw the wideman claiming in vain that it crossed the line then Baker following up headered the rebound off the bar, which again returned to him and this time his volley was cleared off the line amidst pleas for handball that referee Wheatcroft waved away. After 15 mins United took the lead and it came from another Gray long throw Boyd flicking on at the near post for Morris to power a header into the top corner via Mackay’s hands who was helpless from such close range. Cassidy then had an opportunity when Farmer played him however the frontman on his weaker left side fizzed his shot across the face of the goal. After 20 minutes United doubled the lead when Farmer brilliantly intercepted in the midfield and released Morris who unselfishly played in Cassidy who made no mistake when he side footed home. At this point United were stepping up the pace and Mackenzie hand an excellent chance when played in by Bremner but clipped his shot across the face of goals and away from danger with the inrushing Cassidy in good position. Baker had the next opportunity latching onto a Morris nod down but was crowded out but he still managed to release Mackenzie on the left however Mackay gathered his cross. On the half hour United extended their lead further a far post Mackenzie cross found Morris whose header back across goal couldn’t be gathered cleanly by Mackay and the ball deflected off the unfortunate retreating Potter into his own net. Mackay then made a good low save down to his left from a powerful Bremner freekick from 20 yards. Manson then had a chance on the edge of the box after good build up from Baker but his shot rose just to high. Bremner then varied the corner routine picking out Gray on the edge of the box his first touch wasn’t great but he recovered to the up Mackenzie who feinted and passed to Manson who again failed to trouble Mackay with a powerful drive. Farmer then led by example again winning the ball in midfield and striding forward unchallenged to finish with great aplomb and round off an excellent first half’s work.
Half-time 4-0
The half was only minutes old when United made it five Manson’s cross saw Cassidy hold of his marker allowing Mackenzie to brilliantly chip Mackay on the half volley for the goal of the game. Morris then missed a snip when played in by Farmer on his right foot he failed to hit the target from 10 yards unchallenged. Mackenzie then doubled his tally neatly finishing from inside the box after again beating his man on the left and firing low past the despairing keeper. United then had a solid claim for a penalty when Baker appeared to be barged in the back as he retrieved the ball but referee Wheatcroft again was having none of it. On the hour mark United made it seven Morris robbing Groat thirty yards out and striding forward and dispatching the ball past the helpless Mackay. With about twenty minutes to go United introduced Calder and J Mackay for B Gray and Manson. Mackenzie then had an opportunity to complete his hat-trick when Bremner brilliantly released him down the left taking out three defenders in the process but his shot slipped past the post although it appeared Mackay tipped away referee Wheatcroft did the keeper an injustice by awarding a goal kick. Baker then had a chance inside the box but the ball wouldn’t sit up for him and Blair blocked the effort. Cassidy then turned Forbes inside the box in a slide challenge but the defender appeared to prevent him getting away and the chance disappeared. R Sutherland appeared for the last ten minutes replacing Baker to test his calf injury and appeared to come through unscathed J Mackay had a half chance inside the box as the ball broke to him but his right foot drive flew past. Boyd then set off on a galloping run down the right and as he got into the box he cut the ball back but Bremner and Morris got in a fanckle and Mackay picked the ball up. The game finished with the Workshops best opportunity after slack play from United allowed Morrison to hammer a shot just wide of Gray’s goal.
An excellent response from the United side considering the weekend’s disappointing display in Inverness. Skipper Farmer was the outstanding player on show and capped of a superb display with a goal to boot not too far behind was his midfield colleague Baker.
A difficult night for Workshops Morrison did his best to lead the line and Riddell showed some neat touches in the midfield even with the scoreline they all very worked hard for each other and are sure to trouble teams as the season progresses.