Post by Michael Gray on May 4, 2006 7:29:13 GMT
United welcomed reigning champions Acks to Dunnet for the first match of a tough week, which includes local rivals Castletown on Wednesday. United fielded 5 changes to the team that defeated Workshops on the opening day exile Tony Farquhar joined Scottish schoolboy Sam Mackay, Aarron Smith and John Skinner coming from the south as well as ace marksman Mark Nichol making a much welcomed return from Wick Academy as United looked to improve on their pervious performance. The early stages saw bright openings from both teams in five minutes Tony Farquhar stole a march on his marker Forbes to flash a Gavin Bremner corner over the top. The Thurso side responded positively and Mackenzie forced Gray into a low diving save to his right with a drive from 15 yards. The movement of Murray upfront for Acks has been a feature of their play now for well over a decade and he continued to harry and hassle the United backline trying to force a mistake but the defence marshalled by the calming influence of JW Skinner held firm. The Dunnet side should have had a penalty after 12 mins when a sweeping move released Smith down the right he outstripped his marker MacDougall into the box drawing a despairing lunge from the Acks skipper but he only succeeded in upending the pacey wideman but referee Sinclair waved away the protests. After 20 mins the deadlock was broken and the visiting defence had not learned their lesson in marking Farquhar as he soared above his marker to bullet home a near post corner from Bremner. The United tails were up now and they were again knocking at the door shortly afterwards a deep cross from Mackay found Smith at the backpost and his first time half volley shaved the paint from the cross bar. Moments later the Acks backline was exposed again as Nichol ran onto a Farquhar through ball the big striker seemed to get the ball stuck underneath his feet as he tried to finish with keeper Mackay off his line he chipped the ball marginally over. Smith again made great inroads down the right before cutting in along the 18 yard line and finding Bremner who whistled in a powerful right foot drive that was marginally off target. A slack clearance from keeper Gray allowed Acks an opportunity to retaliate with Mackenzie bursting into the box before unleashing a powerful drive allowing keeper Gray to partially make amends by parrying away. On the half hour mark another inswinging set-piece found Farquhar again alone in front of goal but he failed to get a decent connection and the ball was cleared from the line and moments later another corner again found the tall striker but in stark contrast to the last effort this time he caught the volley to sweetly and it flew straight at Mackay who showed good hands to hold on to the ball. The last ten minutes of the half however belonged to the Thurso side they enjoyed a huge advantage both territorially and in possession but the United defensive trio along with the hard working midfield restricted them to long range efforts with Henderson, Macleod and Bremner all fizzing shots over the bar.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 Thurso Acks
The pace of the game at the start of the second half never relented both teams continuing to venture forward however chances were at a premium until the 55th minute when United doubled their advantage Nichol collected a pass on half way and twisted away from Henderson before delivering a superb through ball into the path of Sam Mackay who drew his namesake Brian before passing the ball into the net with the greatest of confidence. The Acks management team responded immediately withdrawing Macleod from the midfield and pushing MacDougall upfront with Warner taking over at sweeper the effect was immediate with the visitors applying huge pressure to the home defence with Bain making good progress down the right and twice in fairly quick succession he fired in low wicked deliveries but still the home defence stood firm. Martin Macgregor another returning from Highland League football was the next to have an attempt on goal as he cut in from the right and drilled in a fierce shot on his left foot but Gray watched in carefully as it flew passed the post. United’s attacks were now few and far between but on one such occasion Nichol made good progress down the left only to be manhandled by Henderson the striker couldn’t believe a foul wasn’t given and was to pick up a costly booking for displaying his displeasure at the decision. Acks continued to throw everything forward in search of a goal but the delivery of high balls into the box seemed to be repelled with a degree of comfort but the quality in distribution from the men in black was seriously lacking as the town side were allowed to mount wave after wave of attack as United couldn’t find each other and when they did they couldn’t hold the ball for any length of time. With just less than twenty minutes to go the home defence was finally breached when a Bremner corner was met on the volley by Henderson who found the corner of the net brilliantly. This rattled United and spurred on Acks even more Gavin Bremner conceded an indirect freekick in the box after offering referee Sinclair some unwanted advice and Smith did very well to block away Michael Bremner’s attempt. With just under fifteen minutes to go Willie Inrig made way for Davie Munro as United tried to battle back into the game but it wasn’t to be a long raking ball into the right hand corner found Bain on the run he did superbly well to stand up a cross to the far post for the inrushing Mackenzie to net with a firm header. This finally injected some life back into United Munro fired in a low drive form the edge of the box, which Mackay dealt with comfortably but the game was now back in the melting pot both sides evenly matched again until Nichol went in with Coghill 30 yards from goal, referee Sinclair deemed the challenge to be worthy of a second caution and suddenly United were down to 10 men. Coghill the man that wrecked United’s dreams nearly won the game with 5 to go from a MacDougall cross but he failed to get any purchase on the header and Gray was content to tip the ball away. In fact it was United that spent the last few minutes in the Acks penalty box firstly through 3 Brian Gray long throws that created havoc but the ball just wouldn’t land at a black shirt and then a wicked Bremner freekick in from the left that brought out a decent save from Mackay.
Full time
Pentland United 2-2 Thurso Acks
(Farquhar 27, S Mackay 55)
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker 4. J Skinner 5. A Smith 6. G Bremner (c) 7. W Inrig (D Munro 78) 8. L Sutherland 9. M Nichol 10. T Farquhar 11. S Mackay
Subs not used
G Mackay, D Manson, B Morris
View from the goal
A good team effort on the night I know it is always disappointing to get two goals in front and not win but I don’t think we can grudge the Acks a point as they certainly were on top for the most of the second period although they never created any golden opportunities in fact I thought we had weathered the storm before they got the first goal but I guess you can never get too comfortable against a team with such quality in their ranks. Still we are only just getting used to playing together again and we played some good stuff in spells perhaps just ran out of steam near the end but it was a good challenge and our young boys again stood up and were counted. We now move on to Castletown and it doesn’t get much tougher than a local derby, which will require us to be at our best if we hope to get anything out the game.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 Thurso Acks
The pace of the game at the start of the second half never relented both teams continuing to venture forward however chances were at a premium until the 55th minute when United doubled their advantage Nichol collected a pass on half way and twisted away from Henderson before delivering a superb through ball into the path of Sam Mackay who drew his namesake Brian before passing the ball into the net with the greatest of confidence. The Acks management team responded immediately withdrawing Macleod from the midfield and pushing MacDougall upfront with Warner taking over at sweeper the effect was immediate with the visitors applying huge pressure to the home defence with Bain making good progress down the right and twice in fairly quick succession he fired in low wicked deliveries but still the home defence stood firm. Martin Macgregor another returning from Highland League football was the next to have an attempt on goal as he cut in from the right and drilled in a fierce shot on his left foot but Gray watched in carefully as it flew passed the post. United’s attacks were now few and far between but on one such occasion Nichol made good progress down the left only to be manhandled by Henderson the striker couldn’t believe a foul wasn’t given and was to pick up a costly booking for displaying his displeasure at the decision. Acks continued to throw everything forward in search of a goal but the delivery of high balls into the box seemed to be repelled with a degree of comfort but the quality in distribution from the men in black was seriously lacking as the town side were allowed to mount wave after wave of attack as United couldn’t find each other and when they did they couldn’t hold the ball for any length of time. With just less than twenty minutes to go the home defence was finally breached when a Bremner corner was met on the volley by Henderson who found the corner of the net brilliantly. This rattled United and spurred on Acks even more Gavin Bremner conceded an indirect freekick in the box after offering referee Sinclair some unwanted advice and Smith did very well to block away Michael Bremner’s attempt. With just under fifteen minutes to go Willie Inrig made way for Davie Munro as United tried to battle back into the game but it wasn’t to be a long raking ball into the right hand corner found Bain on the run he did superbly well to stand up a cross to the far post for the inrushing Mackenzie to net with a firm header. This finally injected some life back into United Munro fired in a low drive form the edge of the box, which Mackay dealt with comfortably but the game was now back in the melting pot both sides evenly matched again until Nichol went in with Coghill 30 yards from goal, referee Sinclair deemed the challenge to be worthy of a second caution and suddenly United were down to 10 men. Coghill the man that wrecked United’s dreams nearly won the game with 5 to go from a MacDougall cross but he failed to get any purchase on the header and Gray was content to tip the ball away. In fact it was United that spent the last few minutes in the Acks penalty box firstly through 3 Brian Gray long throws that created havoc but the ball just wouldn’t land at a black shirt and then a wicked Bremner freekick in from the left that brought out a decent save from Mackay.
Full time
Pentland United 2-2 Thurso Acks
(Farquhar 27, S Mackay 55)
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker 4. J Skinner 5. A Smith 6. G Bremner (c) 7. W Inrig (D Munro 78) 8. L Sutherland 9. M Nichol 10. T Farquhar 11. S Mackay
Subs not used
G Mackay, D Manson, B Morris
View from the goal
A good team effort on the night I know it is always disappointing to get two goals in front and not win but I don’t think we can grudge the Acks a point as they certainly were on top for the most of the second period although they never created any golden opportunities in fact I thought we had weathered the storm before they got the first goal but I guess you can never get too comfortable against a team with such quality in their ranks. Still we are only just getting used to playing together again and we played some good stuff in spells perhaps just ran out of steam near the end but it was a good challenge and our young boys again stood up and were counted. We now move on to Castletown and it doesn’t get much tougher than a local derby, which will require us to be at our best if we hope to get anything out the game.