Post by Brian Mackay on Jun 20, 2003 16:56:55 GMT
CAFA League Division One - Wednesday 18th of June 2003
John O'Groats 0 V Pentland United 1 - By Michael Gray ;D
Treacherous conditions greeted United as they travelled along the north coast for the return league fixture vs. J O'Groats, a blustery wind blew across the park making it plainly clear this game was not going to be for the purists. Luke Cassidy missed out through holiday but United did welcome back injury victims Beattie and Inrig to the squad.
United decided to play against the win in the first half and tried their best to play football but the conditions always dictated that knocking the ball into corners was going to be the more effective route to success. Andy Mackay created the first opportunity for Morris at the near post but Ross just managed to get enough of a touch on his shot to deflect for a corner. Muir then won a corner off Baker down the right from the resultant flag kick McAllan sent in a deep swirling ball that Sinclair just failed to keep in play when attempting knocking the ball back across goal.
After quarter of an hour United broke the deadlock and it was a cracking goal in any normal conditions even better considering the weather during this match. Mackenzie took the throw in on the left and fed Mackay who held the ball in the corner dragging two players towards him before back healing the ball through them releasing Mackenzie and his first time cross was glanced across Henderson by Farmer with his head to cap a wonderful move.
United at this stage were conceding territorial advantage although they were creating by far the better chances R Sutherland at the near post deftly flicking a Mackenzie centre goalwards but the ball seemed to die when it came of the turf and Henderson gathered easily. Almost immediately Sutherland had another opportunity when Gray rising highest from a Bremner corner and heading back into the danger area allowed the midfielder to acrobatically turn the ball goalwards M Munro knocked the ball of the line amidst howls for a penalty claiming handball from the wideman. On their next adventure forward United won another corner through Baker this time Mackay took the kick and again Gray won the ball and set up Bremner who flashed a dipping shot goalwards that Henderson did well to hold on to. Mackenzie had the next chance a Baker cross saw him clear in front of goal but his first touch let him down and Sinclair stepped in to clear the ball to safety. The Groats defender was then lucky not to enter referee notebook for a crude challenge on Boyd as the centre half had stepped up to join the attack.Setpieces were proving distinctly hard to defend for the home side and the final chance of the first saw another Bremner corner cause an almighty goalmouth scramble with Gray, Boyd and Sutherland all swinging boots but to no avail as the home side managed to clear.
Half-time 1-0 to PUFC
The turn around in halves marked at turn around in performances as in the first half United had looked the stronger Groats certainly came out the blocks quickest and rocked the visitors. Henstridge had the first chance breaking clear but shot wildly under pressure from retreating defenders. Good interchange between Bremner and Morris saw the striker play in Baker but his low drive was just to straight at Henderson at his near post.
Mackenzie and Mackay were getting some joy down the left hand side linking up well and Mackenzie won a freekick in a good position on the left which was taken short to Mackay whose shot was struck well but again Henderson showed good hands to pluck the ball out of the air. Morris then missed a snip, a good ball in from the right from Baker saw Mackay nod the ball down in his direction but the striker failed to hit the target although granted he was stretching from inside the six yard area.
Mackenzie then had directed a header from 10 yards wide of the target as referee Bain ignored the home side's appeals for off side. There was then two penalty appeals for in quick succession, one for either side firstly D Munro tried to whip in a cross from the right which cannoned off Boyd resulting in huge cries for handball amongst the home contingent that was waved away by the referee.
Just a minute later a long Sutherland pass allowed Morris to run in on goal his first touch wasn't great but he recovered to knock the ball past the diving Henderson who then collided with the frontman allowing Sinclair to recover and clear but only as far as Farmer who returned the ball first time goalwards but Henderson recovered to retrieve the ball.
A deep Bremner centre then saw Morris take the ball on his chest first time but again his shot was just to central to trouble Henderson who showed safe hands again. M Munro became the only player on the night to enter the referee's book for a crude challenge on Mackay after he had been outstripped on the left hand side from the freekick Morris knocked the ball goalwards but the home defence reacted first to clear. Beattie then entered the fray to replace the tiring Mackay and immediately added some pace to the game earning a corner with his first crusade into the box Tait recovering to concede the flag kick. In the final passage of play Groats had their first shot at goal when D Munro made space for himself on the edge of the box but his shot lacked any real conviction and Gray smothered.
A difficult 90 minutes for United in torrid conditions a reasonable first half display was backed up with a seriously disjointed and nervy second half without doubt a second goal would have gone a long way to relaxing them but it wasn't to be. Farmer played a skipper's role in the heart of the midfield competing well and ofcourse scoring the all important goal.
Groats, well they worked extremely hard and in that conditions they will bother any team in their quest for 1st Division survival.
M Gray, B Gray, J.W Skinner, H Boyd, M Baker, R Farmer, G Bremner, A Mackay (R Beattie 80), R Sutherland,
K Morris, N Mackenzie.
Subs not used - W Inrig and D Manson
John O'Groats 0 V Pentland United 1 - By Michael Gray ;D
Treacherous conditions greeted United as they travelled along the north coast for the return league fixture vs. J O'Groats, a blustery wind blew across the park making it plainly clear this game was not going to be for the purists. Luke Cassidy missed out through holiday but United did welcome back injury victims Beattie and Inrig to the squad.
United decided to play against the win in the first half and tried their best to play football but the conditions always dictated that knocking the ball into corners was going to be the more effective route to success. Andy Mackay created the first opportunity for Morris at the near post but Ross just managed to get enough of a touch on his shot to deflect for a corner. Muir then won a corner off Baker down the right from the resultant flag kick McAllan sent in a deep swirling ball that Sinclair just failed to keep in play when attempting knocking the ball back across goal.
After quarter of an hour United broke the deadlock and it was a cracking goal in any normal conditions even better considering the weather during this match. Mackenzie took the throw in on the left and fed Mackay who held the ball in the corner dragging two players towards him before back healing the ball through them releasing Mackenzie and his first time cross was glanced across Henderson by Farmer with his head to cap a wonderful move.
United at this stage were conceding territorial advantage although they were creating by far the better chances R Sutherland at the near post deftly flicking a Mackenzie centre goalwards but the ball seemed to die when it came of the turf and Henderson gathered easily. Almost immediately Sutherland had another opportunity when Gray rising highest from a Bremner corner and heading back into the danger area allowed the midfielder to acrobatically turn the ball goalwards M Munro knocked the ball of the line amidst howls for a penalty claiming handball from the wideman. On their next adventure forward United won another corner through Baker this time Mackay took the kick and again Gray won the ball and set up Bremner who flashed a dipping shot goalwards that Henderson did well to hold on to. Mackenzie had the next chance a Baker cross saw him clear in front of goal but his first touch let him down and Sinclair stepped in to clear the ball to safety. The Groats defender was then lucky not to enter referee notebook for a crude challenge on Boyd as the centre half had stepped up to join the attack.Setpieces were proving distinctly hard to defend for the home side and the final chance of the first saw another Bremner corner cause an almighty goalmouth scramble with Gray, Boyd and Sutherland all swinging boots but to no avail as the home side managed to clear.
Half-time 1-0 to PUFC
The turn around in halves marked at turn around in performances as in the first half United had looked the stronger Groats certainly came out the blocks quickest and rocked the visitors. Henstridge had the first chance breaking clear but shot wildly under pressure from retreating defenders. Good interchange between Bremner and Morris saw the striker play in Baker but his low drive was just to straight at Henderson at his near post.
Mackenzie and Mackay were getting some joy down the left hand side linking up well and Mackenzie won a freekick in a good position on the left which was taken short to Mackay whose shot was struck well but again Henderson showed good hands to pluck the ball out of the air. Morris then missed a snip, a good ball in from the right from Baker saw Mackay nod the ball down in his direction but the striker failed to hit the target although granted he was stretching from inside the six yard area.
Mackenzie then had directed a header from 10 yards wide of the target as referee Bain ignored the home side's appeals for off side. There was then two penalty appeals for in quick succession, one for either side firstly D Munro tried to whip in a cross from the right which cannoned off Boyd resulting in huge cries for handball amongst the home contingent that was waved away by the referee.
Just a minute later a long Sutherland pass allowed Morris to run in on goal his first touch wasn't great but he recovered to knock the ball past the diving Henderson who then collided with the frontman allowing Sinclair to recover and clear but only as far as Farmer who returned the ball first time goalwards but Henderson recovered to retrieve the ball.
A deep Bremner centre then saw Morris take the ball on his chest first time but again his shot was just to central to trouble Henderson who showed safe hands again. M Munro became the only player on the night to enter the referee's book for a crude challenge on Mackay after he had been outstripped on the left hand side from the freekick Morris knocked the ball goalwards but the home defence reacted first to clear. Beattie then entered the fray to replace the tiring Mackay and immediately added some pace to the game earning a corner with his first crusade into the box Tait recovering to concede the flag kick. In the final passage of play Groats had their first shot at goal when D Munro made space for himself on the edge of the box but his shot lacked any real conviction and Gray smothered.
A difficult 90 minutes for United in torrid conditions a reasonable first half display was backed up with a seriously disjointed and nervy second half without doubt a second goal would have gone a long way to relaxing them but it wasn't to be. Farmer played a skipper's role in the heart of the midfield competing well and ofcourse scoring the all important goal.
Groats, well they worked extremely hard and in that conditions they will bother any team in their quest for 1st Division survival.
M Gray, B Gray, J.W Skinner, H Boyd, M Baker, R Farmer, G Bremner, A Mackay (R Beattie 80), R Sutherland,
K Morris, N Mackenzie.
Subs not used - W Inrig and D Manson