Post by Michael Gray on May 22, 2006 12:15:32 GMT
A beautiful summer’s day greeted United in Thurso for the start of another Highland Amateur campaign player unavailability meant once again United were stripped of key personnel with Mark Nichol and Grant Budge the most notable absentees. The one positive note was the debut of Paul McCallum after serving a mammoth 7 game suspension. Pentlands entered the match as the only team in the county with a 100% record with the Makhouli brothers the key players in their line-up. The town side started very brightly knocking about the ball with the confidence of a team running away with the second division. The first chance of the game was snuffed out by Derek Manson after good work from Phil Makhouli saw him slip a through ball for Foubister but Manson made up the ground to clear for a corner before the striker reacted. Mark Makhouli took the set-piece but over hit the ball and it flew over everyone’s heads and away for a bye kick. The visitors responded and Tony Farquhar was inches away from breaking the deadlock after 12 mins when fine play from Cook and Gary Mackay saw the former sweep in a decent cross allowing Farquhar to steal a march on Henderson but could only watch as the ball slipped agonisingly wide. The game became a little bogged down after that for a spell of around quarter of an hour United were struggling to get any width into their game but at the same time they were nullifying the Pentland threat fairly well with Messrs McCallum, Gray and Ross Sutherland at the back defending stoutly. Tony Farquhar was certainly doing his best to try and conjure up a chance harrying the Pentlands backline and making a nuisance of himself at ever opportunity. He again came close after 25 mins when a long Gray throw saw Cook win at the near post and flick the ball across goal but the Milton based striker couldn’t get enough purchase on his header and Allan gathered comfortably. Moodie and Mark Makhouli responded down the left when they linked leaving the former United man the chance to cross but he only succeeded in finding the chest of Ross Sutherland amid appeals for a penalty but referee Gunn rightly waved them away although to be fair they were more out of hope rather than conviction. The closest anyone came to breaking the deadlock was after 38 mins when another Gray long throw found its way through to Bell on the edge of the 6 yard line with his back to goal he attempted an acrobatic overhead kick and couldn’t believe his luck as the ball crashed off the frame of the goal.
Half time
Thurso Pentland 0-0 Pentland United
United started the second period the stronger looking to build on the momentum they had built up in the closing stages off the first half. Farquhar started to think it wasn’t his day after firstly rising superbly to meet a Bremner freekick he could only watch as the ball again rattled the post and bounced back into play with S Henderson completing the clearance. Then after 58 mins he brought out the save of the match from Allan after picking up the ball 30 yards from goal on the right hand side he strode forward before unleashing a powerful low drive the stung the fingers of the diving Allan as he pushed the ball away to his right. Pentlands best chances were coming from set pieces Mark Makhouli orchestrated one such chance just after the hour mark after he was felled by Cook but the wall stood firm and Adamson’s return lacked power. United suffered a huge blow around minutes later when Ross Sutherland pulled up with what seemed a hamstring injury although the severity of the injury is yet to be established it could sideline the influential utility man for a while his replacement was former skipper Ryan Farmer thrown in at the deep end for his first kick of a ball this season but he would go on to have a fine afternoon. However the deadlock was finally broken just 5 mins later Bell earned a freekick on the left after fielding a pass from Bremner he was felled by Pelimonte the striker dusted himself down to glance a beautiful inswinging set-piece from skipper Bremner passed the despairing Allan probably on the balance of chance the scoreline was now just about right but it was still very close. The whole complexion of the game changed on the goal as Pentlands started to commit more men forward seeking the equaliser and they started to make inroads backed by a decent crowd firstly Mark Makhouli stepped away from Lee Sutherland and Gary Mackay superbly on the left before drifting the ball across goal but it eluded everyone. With ten minutes remaining a good break from Phil Makhouli down the left hand channel was brought to a halt by a tackle of impeccable timing from Gary Mackay although the theatrics of Makhouli afterwards seemed to disappoint the young defender and he was quick to voice his opinion but referee Gunn called it dead right amid hysterical appeals from the sidelines. Minutes later United had a huge let off when Phil Makhouli knocked the ball into the path of substitute Gary Bell he nudged the ball passed keeper Gray a scramble then ensued with the ball finally drifting harmlessly passed the post for a goal kick. Substitute Scott Mackay-Steven just returning from injury who had replaced goalscorer Bell then raced clear onto a superb layoff from Farquhar but Rosie made up the ground brilliantly to perform a last ditch tackle thwarting the frontman. Minutes later Cook crashed a shot into the side met after picking up a throw from the right then latching on to a one-two with Farquhar but he just failed to find the target. The second division pacesetters had one final opportunity to throw the ball into the box when Adamson earned a dubious freekick out on the right but Gray rose highest to clear away the chance and as that chance disappeared so did the game
Full time
Thurso Pentland 0-1 Pentland United
(Bell 72)
1. M Gray 2. D Manson 3. P McCallum 4. R Sutherland (R Farmer 67) 5. B Gray 6. G Bremner (c) 7. M Cook 8. L Sutherland 9. T Farquhar 10. R Bell (S Mackay-Steven 79) 11. G Mackay
Subs not used
Welsh
View from the goal
Not a classic by any means but we got through and that was the main thing as has been the case for nearly every game this season we were missing a few faces but up against a spirited Pentlands team flying high in the second division I am more than happy with the result. Certainly on the balance of chances we were comfortably ahead but the possession and territory would have been pretty even. We now move to Wick and a very tough encounter against Rovers who cruised passed Embo at the weekend scoring 5 in the process so we will once again have our work cut out.
Half time
Thurso Pentland 0-0 Pentland United
United started the second period the stronger looking to build on the momentum they had built up in the closing stages off the first half. Farquhar started to think it wasn’t his day after firstly rising superbly to meet a Bremner freekick he could only watch as the ball again rattled the post and bounced back into play with S Henderson completing the clearance. Then after 58 mins he brought out the save of the match from Allan after picking up the ball 30 yards from goal on the right hand side he strode forward before unleashing a powerful low drive the stung the fingers of the diving Allan as he pushed the ball away to his right. Pentlands best chances were coming from set pieces Mark Makhouli orchestrated one such chance just after the hour mark after he was felled by Cook but the wall stood firm and Adamson’s return lacked power. United suffered a huge blow around minutes later when Ross Sutherland pulled up with what seemed a hamstring injury although the severity of the injury is yet to be established it could sideline the influential utility man for a while his replacement was former skipper Ryan Farmer thrown in at the deep end for his first kick of a ball this season but he would go on to have a fine afternoon. However the deadlock was finally broken just 5 mins later Bell earned a freekick on the left after fielding a pass from Bremner he was felled by Pelimonte the striker dusted himself down to glance a beautiful inswinging set-piece from skipper Bremner passed the despairing Allan probably on the balance of chance the scoreline was now just about right but it was still very close. The whole complexion of the game changed on the goal as Pentlands started to commit more men forward seeking the equaliser and they started to make inroads backed by a decent crowd firstly Mark Makhouli stepped away from Lee Sutherland and Gary Mackay superbly on the left before drifting the ball across goal but it eluded everyone. With ten minutes remaining a good break from Phil Makhouli down the left hand channel was brought to a halt by a tackle of impeccable timing from Gary Mackay although the theatrics of Makhouli afterwards seemed to disappoint the young defender and he was quick to voice his opinion but referee Gunn called it dead right amid hysterical appeals from the sidelines. Minutes later United had a huge let off when Phil Makhouli knocked the ball into the path of substitute Gary Bell he nudged the ball passed keeper Gray a scramble then ensued with the ball finally drifting harmlessly passed the post for a goal kick. Substitute Scott Mackay-Steven just returning from injury who had replaced goalscorer Bell then raced clear onto a superb layoff from Farquhar but Rosie made up the ground brilliantly to perform a last ditch tackle thwarting the frontman. Minutes later Cook crashed a shot into the side met after picking up a throw from the right then latching on to a one-two with Farquhar but he just failed to find the target. The second division pacesetters had one final opportunity to throw the ball into the box when Adamson earned a dubious freekick out on the right but Gray rose highest to clear away the chance and as that chance disappeared so did the game
Full time
Thurso Pentland 0-1 Pentland United
(Bell 72)
1. M Gray 2. D Manson 3. P McCallum 4. R Sutherland (R Farmer 67) 5. B Gray 6. G Bremner (c) 7. M Cook 8. L Sutherland 9. T Farquhar 10. R Bell (S Mackay-Steven 79) 11. G Mackay
Subs not used
Welsh
View from the goal
Not a classic by any means but we got through and that was the main thing as has been the case for nearly every game this season we were missing a few faces but up against a spirited Pentlands team flying high in the second division I am more than happy with the result. Certainly on the balance of chances we were comfortably ahead but the possession and territory would have been pretty even. We now move to Wick and a very tough encounter against Rovers who cruised passed Embo at the weekend scoring 5 in the process so we will once again have our work cut out.