Post by Michael Gray on May 17, 2006 10:46:37 GMT
In stark contrast to the pervious week it was a wet and cold night in Dunnet that welcomed Swifts to Ham Park. The newly promoted Thurso side have had a cracking start to the campaign already mustering 7 points including the scalp of the champions Acks on the opening night of the season and were out to increase that tally against another under strength United seek although Swifts themselves had selection problems. Visiting skipper Willie Steven won the toss and elected to go against the elements for the first period. United made the proverbial dream start when after only four minutes a Brian Gray long throw was topped on by Martyn Cook at the near post and skipper Gavin Bremner latched on to the ball and unleashed an unstoppable volley from 8 yards passed the helpless Mackay. In fact the central trio of Bremner, Cook and Lee Sutherland were to prove a highly effective combination throughout the encounter and continued to probe early on especially Bremner who seemed to be very keen to fully utilise the advantage provided by the weather. The game continued to be spent for the majority of the time in the Swifts half with occasional forays up to former United stalwart Begg and Macleod led by Steven another player to have pulled on the United kit in years gone by. Mill the third ex-United player in the opposition ranks picked up the games first caution when he upended Cook as the tall midfielder made a good break from the resultant setpiece Elder cleared after several ricochets around the area. Although United held a massive territorial advantage and were enjoying the lions share of possession the Swifts defence were coping fairly well at this point led by the experience of Elder and the combatitive skills of Macintosh. However the resistance was broken again just after the 20 min mark when a Bremner corner was cleared away only for Cook to return the ball into the danger area where Brian Gray reacted first to volley a shot into the net. This was a huge set back to Stevie Reid’s men who then seemed intent on getting through to half time without incurring any further damage before playing down the slope with the wind at their back in the second half. Bremner though was showing tremendous attacking energy popping up all over the park and he created a good opening for Barry Mackay when the midfielder rifled in a low cross from the right, which flew through a ruck of bodies and the young striker just failed to get the ball under enough control and his namesake Murray reacted well to collect the ball. Sharpshooter Nichol was next up when another beautifully flighted freekick from Bremner to the far post saw the striker meet the cross 6 yards out and do technically everything right apart from score as the ball struck the post and away for a goalkick despite Lee Sutherland’s best attempts to keep the ball in. The striker was in the thick of the action only moments when another deep freekick from Bremner saw him win the ball again at the back post but unfortunately this time his header landed on the top of the net. The running off the ball from Martyn Cook was causing problems from Swifts as they struggled to match his energy and only a desperate blocking tackle from Elder prevented the midfielder testing Mackay with a shot from 18 yards after he had wriggled free from a couple of tackles. The keeper was in action though ten minutes before the break bringing off the save of the match when Nichol swept in a brilliant cross that Grant Budge bulleted for the corner only to see the keeper knock it round the post for a corner.
Half time
Pentland United 2-0 Swifts
The change in half never marked a change in fortune for the visitors as after only 7 minutes of the second period Martyn Cook opened his account for the season great wing play down the left saw Grant Budge escape from Holmes before delivering a tantalising ball that Elder repelled brilliantly as far as Cook who beautifully released Manson down the right and he whipped in another treacherous cross that Mackay punched away to the edge of the box only for Cook to return with a header into the top corner. This was a huge setback for Swifts after defending so well in the first period to go further behind when I am sure they would have had been looking to pressurise the homeside from the off given they now had the elements in their favour. They did manage to force a corner minutes later and Begg’s flighted ball had keeper Gray in trouble under pressure from Elder he managed to punch the ball clear but only 12 yards but a combination of Cook and lee Sutherland snuffed out the half chance. Young Barry Mackay was beginning to grow in confidence and after more good work on the flanks saw the ball cleared to him on the edge of the area where he unleashed a cracking volley that flew just wide of the target. The game was effectively over just after the hour mark and it was a simply sensational effort from Mark Nichol to mark his first home goal of the season, he picked the ball up 30 yards from goal on the right hand side of the park weaved his way passed 4 tackles to the left edge of the area where he produced an exquisite chip back over Mackay into the top right corner for a goal fit to grace any stage. Barry Mackay was then replaced by Robert Bell for his debut and the striker looked keen from the offset to make an impression on the match showing some good touches and linking well with the midfield. Swifts did try and rally again at this point, Begg won a freekick on the right side of the park and took it early and found the inrushing Steven who has made career out of making late runs into the box but the midfielder’s header was just too straight and Gray held on. Any lingering doubts about the outcome of the game were dispelled 15 minutes from time when Cook, Lee Sutherland and Ross Sutherland combined down the left to set Grant Budge away down the left the Lybster weaved his way passed two despairing tackles before presenting Nichol with the simplest of opportunities at the back post. Again the Swifts rallied showing great character firstly Macleod picked the ball up on the edge of the box and showed wonderful technique to create half a yard on Baker and fired a low shot across Gray which required a hand from the keeper at the expense of a corner. Macleod had another opportunity with ten minutes left when a good break from Steven was ended by a Brian Gray challenge the striker bent the ball round the ball but Michael Gray had anticipated the effort although his attempt to gather was less convincing. With just under ten minutes left united made their final change when Calum Welsh replaced Derek Manson and almost immediately the scoring was completed when once again a sensational run from Budge saw his cross half cleared again to Cook who once again released Manson and his cross found Nichol free at the back post and he duly fired home to complete his first hat-trick of the season. In the dying stages the striker thought he had nicked another when he sprung the offside trap and fired in a low drive that Mackay half stopped before Macintosh completed the clearance amid loud appeals from the striker the ball had already crossed the line
Full time
Pentland United 6-0 Swifts
(Bremner 4, B Gray 22, Cook 52, Nichol 68, 76 & 82)
1. M Gray 2. D Manson (Welsh 82) 3. M Baker 4. R Sutherland 5. B Gray 6. G Bremner (c) 7. M Cook 8. L Sutherland 9. M Nichol 10. B Mackay (Bell 72) 11. G Budge
View from the goal
Another valuable 3 points although we found it tough for spells in the first half to break the Swifts rearguard down and were guilty of over hitting the ball at times. But come second half we were very good going forward making space for each other passing and moving around the field and really opening up the Swifts defence at times. I think in terms of attacking football the second half was probably about our best of the season albeit against a weakened Swifts team who will continue to trouble teams this year as they have a good blend of youth and experience and when they have all their personnel available will pick up plenty more points to add to their 7 already. Saturday is Highland Cup duty and that will mean a massive effort is required to get passed the leaders of the second division who are scoring goals for fun at the moment.
Half time
Pentland United 2-0 Swifts
The change in half never marked a change in fortune for the visitors as after only 7 minutes of the second period Martyn Cook opened his account for the season great wing play down the left saw Grant Budge escape from Holmes before delivering a tantalising ball that Elder repelled brilliantly as far as Cook who beautifully released Manson down the right and he whipped in another treacherous cross that Mackay punched away to the edge of the box only for Cook to return with a header into the top corner. This was a huge setback for Swifts after defending so well in the first period to go further behind when I am sure they would have had been looking to pressurise the homeside from the off given they now had the elements in their favour. They did manage to force a corner minutes later and Begg’s flighted ball had keeper Gray in trouble under pressure from Elder he managed to punch the ball clear but only 12 yards but a combination of Cook and lee Sutherland snuffed out the half chance. Young Barry Mackay was beginning to grow in confidence and after more good work on the flanks saw the ball cleared to him on the edge of the area where he unleashed a cracking volley that flew just wide of the target. The game was effectively over just after the hour mark and it was a simply sensational effort from Mark Nichol to mark his first home goal of the season, he picked the ball up 30 yards from goal on the right hand side of the park weaved his way passed 4 tackles to the left edge of the area where he produced an exquisite chip back over Mackay into the top right corner for a goal fit to grace any stage. Barry Mackay was then replaced by Robert Bell for his debut and the striker looked keen from the offset to make an impression on the match showing some good touches and linking well with the midfield. Swifts did try and rally again at this point, Begg won a freekick on the right side of the park and took it early and found the inrushing Steven who has made career out of making late runs into the box but the midfielder’s header was just too straight and Gray held on. Any lingering doubts about the outcome of the game were dispelled 15 minutes from time when Cook, Lee Sutherland and Ross Sutherland combined down the left to set Grant Budge away down the left the Lybster weaved his way passed two despairing tackles before presenting Nichol with the simplest of opportunities at the back post. Again the Swifts rallied showing great character firstly Macleod picked the ball up on the edge of the box and showed wonderful technique to create half a yard on Baker and fired a low shot across Gray which required a hand from the keeper at the expense of a corner. Macleod had another opportunity with ten minutes left when a good break from Steven was ended by a Brian Gray challenge the striker bent the ball round the ball but Michael Gray had anticipated the effort although his attempt to gather was less convincing. With just under ten minutes left united made their final change when Calum Welsh replaced Derek Manson and almost immediately the scoring was completed when once again a sensational run from Budge saw his cross half cleared again to Cook who once again released Manson and his cross found Nichol free at the back post and he duly fired home to complete his first hat-trick of the season. In the dying stages the striker thought he had nicked another when he sprung the offside trap and fired in a low drive that Mackay half stopped before Macintosh completed the clearance amid loud appeals from the striker the ball had already crossed the line
Full time
Pentland United 6-0 Swifts
(Bremner 4, B Gray 22, Cook 52, Nichol 68, 76 & 82)
1. M Gray 2. D Manson (Welsh 82) 3. M Baker 4. R Sutherland 5. B Gray 6. G Bremner (c) 7. M Cook 8. L Sutherland 9. M Nichol 10. B Mackay (Bell 72) 11. G Budge
View from the goal
Another valuable 3 points although we found it tough for spells in the first half to break the Swifts rearguard down and were guilty of over hitting the ball at times. But come second half we were very good going forward making space for each other passing and moving around the field and really opening up the Swifts defence at times. I think in terms of attacking football the second half was probably about our best of the season albeit against a weakened Swifts team who will continue to trouble teams this year as they have a good blend of youth and experience and when they have all their personnel available will pick up plenty more points to add to their 7 already. Saturday is Highland Cup duty and that will mean a massive effort is required to get passed the leaders of the second division who are scoring goals for fun at the moment.