Post by Brian Mackay on Jul 13, 2003 12:24:20 GMT
Highland Amateur Cup Fifth Round - Saturday 28th of June 2003
Thurso Swifts 0 V Pentland United 3 - By Michael Gray
Glorious sunshine greeted United in Thurso for this last sixteen Highland Amateur cup tie versus Swifts who were looking to build on their recent performance against Wick Thistle in the E Macintosh cup when they narrowly went out on penalties.
United welcomed back Tony Farquhar and Graeme Elder with Hamish Boyd (holiday) and Willie Inrig (hamstring) dropping out from the squad that defeated FSC the previous Wednesday.
United made most of the early running Mackenzie and Mackay on either flank keen to test the home defence at every opportunity and Morris had the game's first goal scoring chance when Mackenzie floated in an early far post cross but his goal bound header was deflected away to safety by Gunn.
Gray then wasted a glorious chance when picked out at the far post he was faced with an open goal but contrived to screw his header wide however in his defence the sight of the oncoming post may just been enough to put him off.
Mackenzie then had another super chance when he beat Grant on the edge of the box allowing himself a clear sight of goal but his left foot shot flew past Mowat's left hand post with the keeper beaten. The home side suffered a major blow after 20 mins when Gunn was hurt in a last ditch challenge with Morris preventing the striker a run in on goal and had to be replaced by Macdonald. Within minutes United then incurred a similar fate when Beattie suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury and was replaced by Farquhar.
The energy sapping conditions never really affected the quality of football throughout this tie both sides keen to get the ball down on the ground and play football. Swifts nearly nicked a goal when Elder tried to play in Harper but Gray nipped in to smother the ball before the striker could score.
Elder was causing the United defence some discomfort under the high ball referee Makhouli regularly penalising Gray adjudging the centre back to be using his arms to gain an advantage over the tall striker. Farquhar then took a tumble in the box under the challenge of Mill however the referee was having none of it and waved away all the protests.
The breakthrough came after 30 mins Bremner strode forward 40 yards from goal and picked out Farquhar down the right channel the frontman composed himself and picked out Morris with his centre for the simplest of chances from 6 yards.
But United's series of glaring misses was continued when Bremner picked out Mackenzie at the far post all alone with an open goal he could only stab the ball wide again in his defence the ball did bounce up sharply before it arrived at him. Mackenzie continued to curse his luck when he cut inside and rather similarly to his recent effort in Wick let fly from fully 25 yards only for his shot clip the cross bar and fly away for a bye kick.
Half-time 1-0 to PUFC
The second half started much the same as the first United dictating the pace of the game and forcing the Swifts into conceding territory, the Swifts in an effort to change the pattern of the game replaced Foy with manager Reid.
United's luck and especially Mackenzie's luck in front of goal continued to desert when the wideman beat his man again and strode into the box he appeared to have done everything right bending the ball round Mowat only to see the ball strike the bottom of the post and spin across goal and to safety.
The next goal was in the game was always going to be crucial in this encounter and it came for the visitors on the hour mark Morris rising highest at the back post to bullet a header into the net from a Bremner corner.
Sutherland then released Bremner down the right with a sweeping pass the midfield man in turn picked out Mackenzie on the edge of the box but his shot was charged down by Mill.
United then had a let off Bremner fouling Robertson right on the edge of the area with the home side screaming for a penalty, Reid took the resultant kick but put the ball just over. At this point the Swifts were having their best spell in the game and Elder had an opportunity from a Macdonald freekick he dived full length to make contact but could only direct the header wide. The same player had a snap shot from the edge of the box after good build up from Robertson however Gray just managed to shovel the ball round the post for a corner.
After 75 mins Manson replaced Mackay on the right giving the wideman a well deserved round of applause from the visiting support for his efforts throughout the game.
Morris then nearly scored goal of the season when he beat his Macdonald down the right and cut inside onto his left before sending a tremendous raking left foot shot past Mowat only to see it crash of the post and cleared for a corner.
The clinching third goal however was only delayed momentarily and it was Morris who completed his hat-trick controlling another Bremner corner on his chest he came inside his marker and finished with some style to complete his afternoons work as he was almost immediately replaced by G Elder.
Great build up play down the left saw Mackenzie set up the final real chance of the afternoon for Farquhar this time but the striker at the near post could only shoot tamely into Mowat's hands.
A reasonable display from United although at times the finishing and final ball left a lot to be desired however considering the conditions a decent enough display on the day Mackenzie was probably United's best down the left although his finishing let him down somewhat. The only black note was the continuing injury problems that has blighted Beattie's season so far.
The Swifts always tried to play football and competed in every area of the park and if they can transfer the commitment and quality of their performance to their league campaign promotion may not be out of the question.
PUFC Line-up - M Gray, B Gray, J Skinner, M Baker,
R Sutherland, G Bremner, R Farmer, A Mackay
(D Manson 75), R Beattie (T Farquhar 20),
K Morris (G Elder 82)
;D
Thurso Swifts 0 V Pentland United 3 - By Michael Gray
Glorious sunshine greeted United in Thurso for this last sixteen Highland Amateur cup tie versus Swifts who were looking to build on their recent performance against Wick Thistle in the E Macintosh cup when they narrowly went out on penalties.
United welcomed back Tony Farquhar and Graeme Elder with Hamish Boyd (holiday) and Willie Inrig (hamstring) dropping out from the squad that defeated FSC the previous Wednesday.
United made most of the early running Mackenzie and Mackay on either flank keen to test the home defence at every opportunity and Morris had the game's first goal scoring chance when Mackenzie floated in an early far post cross but his goal bound header was deflected away to safety by Gunn.
Gray then wasted a glorious chance when picked out at the far post he was faced with an open goal but contrived to screw his header wide however in his defence the sight of the oncoming post may just been enough to put him off.
Mackenzie then had another super chance when he beat Grant on the edge of the box allowing himself a clear sight of goal but his left foot shot flew past Mowat's left hand post with the keeper beaten. The home side suffered a major blow after 20 mins when Gunn was hurt in a last ditch challenge with Morris preventing the striker a run in on goal and had to be replaced by Macdonald. Within minutes United then incurred a similar fate when Beattie suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury and was replaced by Farquhar.
The energy sapping conditions never really affected the quality of football throughout this tie both sides keen to get the ball down on the ground and play football. Swifts nearly nicked a goal when Elder tried to play in Harper but Gray nipped in to smother the ball before the striker could score.
Elder was causing the United defence some discomfort under the high ball referee Makhouli regularly penalising Gray adjudging the centre back to be using his arms to gain an advantage over the tall striker. Farquhar then took a tumble in the box under the challenge of Mill however the referee was having none of it and waved away all the protests.
The breakthrough came after 30 mins Bremner strode forward 40 yards from goal and picked out Farquhar down the right channel the frontman composed himself and picked out Morris with his centre for the simplest of chances from 6 yards.
But United's series of glaring misses was continued when Bremner picked out Mackenzie at the far post all alone with an open goal he could only stab the ball wide again in his defence the ball did bounce up sharply before it arrived at him. Mackenzie continued to curse his luck when he cut inside and rather similarly to his recent effort in Wick let fly from fully 25 yards only for his shot clip the cross bar and fly away for a bye kick.
Half-time 1-0 to PUFC
The second half started much the same as the first United dictating the pace of the game and forcing the Swifts into conceding territory, the Swifts in an effort to change the pattern of the game replaced Foy with manager Reid.
United's luck and especially Mackenzie's luck in front of goal continued to desert when the wideman beat his man again and strode into the box he appeared to have done everything right bending the ball round Mowat only to see the ball strike the bottom of the post and spin across goal and to safety.
The next goal was in the game was always going to be crucial in this encounter and it came for the visitors on the hour mark Morris rising highest at the back post to bullet a header into the net from a Bremner corner.
Sutherland then released Bremner down the right with a sweeping pass the midfield man in turn picked out Mackenzie on the edge of the box but his shot was charged down by Mill.
United then had a let off Bremner fouling Robertson right on the edge of the area with the home side screaming for a penalty, Reid took the resultant kick but put the ball just over. At this point the Swifts were having their best spell in the game and Elder had an opportunity from a Macdonald freekick he dived full length to make contact but could only direct the header wide. The same player had a snap shot from the edge of the box after good build up from Robertson however Gray just managed to shovel the ball round the post for a corner.
After 75 mins Manson replaced Mackay on the right giving the wideman a well deserved round of applause from the visiting support for his efforts throughout the game.
Morris then nearly scored goal of the season when he beat his Macdonald down the right and cut inside onto his left before sending a tremendous raking left foot shot past Mowat only to see it crash of the post and cleared for a corner.
The clinching third goal however was only delayed momentarily and it was Morris who completed his hat-trick controlling another Bremner corner on his chest he came inside his marker and finished with some style to complete his afternoons work as he was almost immediately replaced by G Elder.
Great build up play down the left saw Mackenzie set up the final real chance of the afternoon for Farquhar this time but the striker at the near post could only shoot tamely into Mowat's hands.
A reasonable display from United although at times the finishing and final ball left a lot to be desired however considering the conditions a decent enough display on the day Mackenzie was probably United's best down the left although his finishing let him down somewhat. The only black note was the continuing injury problems that has blighted Beattie's season so far.
The Swifts always tried to play football and competed in every area of the park and if they can transfer the commitment and quality of their performance to their league campaign promotion may not be out of the question.
PUFC Line-up - M Gray, B Gray, J Skinner, M Baker,
R Sutherland, G Bremner, R Farmer, A Mackay
(D Manson 75), R Beattie (T Farquhar 20),
K Morris (G Elder 82)
;D