Post by Brian Mackay on Jul 13, 2003 12:27:07 GMT
Eain MacIntosh Cup Semi-Final - Monday 30th of June 2003
Wick Thistle 0 V Pentland United 4 - By Michael Gray
A close humid night greeted United on their latest visit to Wick for this E Macintosh semi-final vs. Thistle for the third meeting between the sides this season. United were minus Kevin Morris and Andy Mackay from the weekend HA cup squad although former star Neil Rollinson pulled the boots back on to take his place on the bench. The major plus for United being Russel Beattie's recovery from the knock he took at the weekend which had ended his game so abruptly.
United made a bright start to the game Farquhar, who would going on to have a towering game beat Martin to a high ball and released Manson but his far post cross was to high for all the inrushing attackers. The Thistle defence then had an amazing escape Farquhars presence created havoc in the goal mouth and when his header struck the bar there was then no fewer than 5 goal line clearances when it seemed every United player in the vicinity had a strike at goal but to no avail and the chance disappeared.
After ten minutes the home side had another let off when Gray stretching at the back post could quite find the target from a deep Bremner corner. The midfield battle was proving a tough and tense affair no quarter being asked for or given this was summed up in an exchange between Bremner and Reid in the centre of the park the Thistle man initially robbed the United man but the possession was to change hands three more times between the pair before the Bremner broke away only to be felled by his counterpart.
United continued to get success down either flank Manson found Farquhar down the right he picked up the ball held it up before squaring to Beattie who produced a lovely step over allowing Mackenzie to strike first time about 25 yards from goal but his shot was just to straight and McGee plucked the ball from the air. After 25 minutes United had a major let off Weir showed quick feet to beat Gray and allow himself a run in on goal but he shot tamely and keeper Gray gathered at the second attempt.
On the half hour mark United broke the deadlock a long throw from Gray saw chaos in the Thistle rearguard when the ball bounced up it appeared to strike the arm of Hughes but Farquhar wasted no time in dispatching the ball into the top corner to give the visitors the lead.
And only five minutes later it got even better for United Skinner superbly intercepted a long searching ball and produced a wonderful lob pass over the Thistle defence allowing Mackenzie the opportunity to outstrip the retreating defenders before drawing McGee and flicking the ball over him to finish a wonderful move.
As the game approached the end of the first half United had loud appeals for a penalty turned away when Mackay under sever pressure appeared to control the ball with his hand before scrambling the ball clear to safety.
Half-time 2-0 to PUFC
The game remained as open as the first half in the second Beattie was starting to have a bigger part in the game out pacing the defence down the right he won a corner in the opening minutes. From the resultant corner Sutherland bulleted a superb header goalwards only to see it crash off the post and wide.
However United were at this point playing with a real appetite for the game competing every step of the way and using the ball and channels to great effectiveness. The back three at this point were starting to come under pressure as Thistle started to gamble on the game but to their credit keeper Gray was seeing very little goalmouth action although he did look decidedly dodgy under a volleyed passback from Sutherland.
On the hour ark number three came along and it was all about the individual skill of Beattie brilliantly flicked the ball around his marker Henderson and strode into the box cutting the ball back for Farquhar who was half stopped and the ball partially cleared but Farmer following up rocketed the ball into the net.
Even then Thistle continued to press and search for a way back into the game first Sutherland had a chance on the angle but he rather snatched at it and the ball flew wide. Reid then tried a snap shot from the edge of the box but this time it sailed high. The same player had another opportunity played into the right channel by Mackay but he was somewhat off balance when he tried to shoot and his shot sliced into the side net.
After soaking up long spells of territorial pressure United found their second wind and scored again Mackenzie cutting in from the left drifted a shot goalwards, which Farquhar re-directed with his head wrong footing McGee who could only watch as the ball sailed into the net.
It was then a case of United playing on the counter attack they introduced substitutes Rollinson and Elder in quick succession to replace Sutherland and Farmer respectively with ten minutes to go. Beattie then disposessed Hughes on half way and broke clear but his final ball trying to pick out Bremner was scrambled clear he then fed Manson whose teasing cross for Farquhar was cleared off the line by Henderson with McGee beaten. The only real goal mouth action of note in the closing stages was a Weir shot from the edge of the which picked up sharply of the turf and struck Gray on the shoulder when it appeared to heading for his hands.
An absolutely superb display from United they dug in and every player involved gave 110% just what the doctor ordered in what was always going to be a notoriously difficult tie. I am loathed to single out any player but special praise must be given to Tony Farquhar who had travelled from Aberdeen that day scored two goals and was simply immense up front.
Thistle showed really good movement and will probably feel a little hard done by in terms of the scoreline given their dominance in terms of possession and territory in the second half although clear cut chances were at a premium.
M Gray, B Gray, JSkinner,M Baker,R Farmer (Elder 80),
R Sutherland (Rollinson 82), G Bremner, D Manson,
T Farquhar, R Beattie, N Mackenzie
;D
Wick Thistle 0 V Pentland United 4 - By Michael Gray
A close humid night greeted United on their latest visit to Wick for this E Macintosh semi-final vs. Thistle for the third meeting between the sides this season. United were minus Kevin Morris and Andy Mackay from the weekend HA cup squad although former star Neil Rollinson pulled the boots back on to take his place on the bench. The major plus for United being Russel Beattie's recovery from the knock he took at the weekend which had ended his game so abruptly.
United made a bright start to the game Farquhar, who would going on to have a towering game beat Martin to a high ball and released Manson but his far post cross was to high for all the inrushing attackers. The Thistle defence then had an amazing escape Farquhars presence created havoc in the goal mouth and when his header struck the bar there was then no fewer than 5 goal line clearances when it seemed every United player in the vicinity had a strike at goal but to no avail and the chance disappeared.
After ten minutes the home side had another let off when Gray stretching at the back post could quite find the target from a deep Bremner corner. The midfield battle was proving a tough and tense affair no quarter being asked for or given this was summed up in an exchange between Bremner and Reid in the centre of the park the Thistle man initially robbed the United man but the possession was to change hands three more times between the pair before the Bremner broke away only to be felled by his counterpart.
United continued to get success down either flank Manson found Farquhar down the right he picked up the ball held it up before squaring to Beattie who produced a lovely step over allowing Mackenzie to strike first time about 25 yards from goal but his shot was just to straight and McGee plucked the ball from the air. After 25 minutes United had a major let off Weir showed quick feet to beat Gray and allow himself a run in on goal but he shot tamely and keeper Gray gathered at the second attempt.
On the half hour mark United broke the deadlock a long throw from Gray saw chaos in the Thistle rearguard when the ball bounced up it appeared to strike the arm of Hughes but Farquhar wasted no time in dispatching the ball into the top corner to give the visitors the lead.
And only five minutes later it got even better for United Skinner superbly intercepted a long searching ball and produced a wonderful lob pass over the Thistle defence allowing Mackenzie the opportunity to outstrip the retreating defenders before drawing McGee and flicking the ball over him to finish a wonderful move.
As the game approached the end of the first half United had loud appeals for a penalty turned away when Mackay under sever pressure appeared to control the ball with his hand before scrambling the ball clear to safety.
Half-time 2-0 to PUFC
The game remained as open as the first half in the second Beattie was starting to have a bigger part in the game out pacing the defence down the right he won a corner in the opening minutes. From the resultant corner Sutherland bulleted a superb header goalwards only to see it crash off the post and wide.
However United were at this point playing with a real appetite for the game competing every step of the way and using the ball and channels to great effectiveness. The back three at this point were starting to come under pressure as Thistle started to gamble on the game but to their credit keeper Gray was seeing very little goalmouth action although he did look decidedly dodgy under a volleyed passback from Sutherland.
On the hour ark number three came along and it was all about the individual skill of Beattie brilliantly flicked the ball around his marker Henderson and strode into the box cutting the ball back for Farquhar who was half stopped and the ball partially cleared but Farmer following up rocketed the ball into the net.
Even then Thistle continued to press and search for a way back into the game first Sutherland had a chance on the angle but he rather snatched at it and the ball flew wide. Reid then tried a snap shot from the edge of the box but this time it sailed high. The same player had another opportunity played into the right channel by Mackay but he was somewhat off balance when he tried to shoot and his shot sliced into the side net.
After soaking up long spells of territorial pressure United found their second wind and scored again Mackenzie cutting in from the left drifted a shot goalwards, which Farquhar re-directed with his head wrong footing McGee who could only watch as the ball sailed into the net.
It was then a case of United playing on the counter attack they introduced substitutes Rollinson and Elder in quick succession to replace Sutherland and Farmer respectively with ten minutes to go. Beattie then disposessed Hughes on half way and broke clear but his final ball trying to pick out Bremner was scrambled clear he then fed Manson whose teasing cross for Farquhar was cleared off the line by Henderson with McGee beaten. The only real goal mouth action of note in the closing stages was a Weir shot from the edge of the which picked up sharply of the turf and struck Gray on the shoulder when it appeared to heading for his hands.
An absolutely superb display from United they dug in and every player involved gave 110% just what the doctor ordered in what was always going to be a notoriously difficult tie. I am loathed to single out any player but special praise must be given to Tony Farquhar who had travelled from Aberdeen that day scored two goals and was simply immense up front.
Thistle showed really good movement and will probably feel a little hard done by in terms of the scoreline given their dominance in terms of possession and territory in the second half although clear cut chances were at a premium.
M Gray, B Gray, JSkinner,M Baker,R Farmer (Elder 80),
R Sutherland (Rollinson 82), G Bremner, D Manson,
T Farquhar, R Beattie, N Mackenzie
;D