Post by Michael Gray on Jun 17, 2006 16:50:22 GMT
The customary changing of guard for a Pentland United team once again appeared prior to the quarter final tie with local rivals Castletown from the squad that defeated Dornoch out went Paul McCallum, Tony Farquhar and Rob Bell and in came Aarron Smith, Sam Mackay and Adam Sutherland. For some unknown reason the game started in a fairly low key affair with neither side really showing any great urgency and this continued right up until United scored with their first serious attack when Bremner sprung the offside trap allowing Aarron Smith to race clear and bend the ball past the advancing Maycock for his first goal for United. This rather stunned the home side who were struggling to get star man Sutherland free on the right as United showed a tremendous workrate throughout the side containing the Castletown attack and restricting tem to long range efforts. Cook nearly profited from one of Brian Gray’s long throws when the Castletown defence struggled to get the ball clear the tall midfielder was just off target with a spectacular effort from 12 yards. The home side did begin to respond through the prompting of Alan Farquhar and Graham Macdonald and Christopher Nicholson nearly profited when Sutherland managed to get in a teasing cross that saw the striker and keeper Gray go for the ball it ricocheted loose but the keeper reacted first to recover the situation. Goal scorer Smith then had another effort blocked away after a Bremner freekick was cleared to him 20 yards from goal and the winger drove the ball in low and hard but Shearer managed to stretch out a leg and deflect the ball away. The level of the effort Nichol and Mackay were putting in was extremely impressive harrying the home backline and also making themselves available at all times to receive the ball from their team-mates who were now starting to enjoy the better of the game the central midfield trio of Bremner, Lee Sutherland and Inrig in particular were knocking the ball about really well and also closing down their opposite numbers making it extremely difficult for Castletown to find any rhythm. Nicholson was off target after 25 mins when a long raking pass from Farquhar found Sutherland on the run the winger stretching volleyed in a cross that the young striker took on the run but under pressure from Gary Mackay his effort flew over. Castletown’s best effort of the half came from Steven Morris after 30 mins when he cut in from the left and sent in a cross come shot that wasn’t a million miles away from Gray’s top left hand corner. United responded and wonderful; play from Nichol saw him spin his marker Florence and send a superb flighted ball into the path of Mackay but as he ran clear the ball sat up awkwardly forcing him to attempt a chip, which never troubled the goal.
Half time
Castletown 0-1 Pentland United
Similarly to the first league game back in May Castletown were out the blocks sharpest at the start of the second period when a Morris inswinging corner flew of Gary Mackay’s head but Aarron Smith reacted first to clear the ball away before it crossed the line. Sam Mackay who’s running off the ball was proving very difficult for the home sides defence to deal with then rippled the side net with a brilliant effort after finding room on the left hand side of the box he unleashed a brilliant drive that beat Maycock but just failed to find the top corner. Castletown responded with skipper Macdonald making a surging run up the park before unleashing a powerful drive but again it was just off target. Nichol then released Sam Mackay again with a delightful ball over the top the Golspie based striker raced clear and was just off target with a brilliant volley from fully 20 yards. However the Dunnet side increased their lead just after the hour mark and once again Aarron Smith was at the heart of the attack quick thinking from skipper Gavin Bremner saw him free the winger on the left he drove to the bye line before clipping in a teasing cross Cook went on the decoy run to the near post allowing the ball to pick out Nichol at the far post and he composed himself before slipping the ball under Maycock. Home manager Ian Macdonald tried to freshen his side up with the introduction of Flowerday and McGill in the place of Morris and Mackay. The move allowed Graham Macdonald to move into midfield and try to gain a foothold in the match. The home side’s best effort of the half came with less than twenty to go when Stuart Florence strode forward and fired in a powerful drive from 25 yards that Gray parried and then recovered ahead of the alert Nicholson. United very nearly stretched their lead when a high freekick into the area saw Maycock lose the bal under pressure from Brian Gray a melee then ensued before Cook drilled the ball just wide. United were now stretching the Castletown team as they searched for a goal the running off the ball from Lee Sutherland, Mark Nichol and Sam Mackay was becoming increasingly difficult to contain as the space in behind the backline increased. Mark Nichol had a loud appeal for a penalty turned away when he showed some great feetwork in the box only to be bundled over by Florence but referee Makhouli saw no infringement and waved play on. Chris Sutherland has a fast growing reputation and he showed a glimpse of just why with just under 15 mins left when he showed a great slight of feet to slip away from Smith but his cut back was cleared by Gray as Gary Calder awaited any mistake. Calder nearly broke free with ten minutes left when the United defence got in a terrible fankle for about the first time in the whole game and allowed Alan Farquhar to find a yard and he attempted to play the striker in but keeper Gray managed to nip in and smother the ball. With just under ten minutes left Barry Mackay replaced Willie Inrig and the substitute had the final opportunity when he met a Smith cross but his header was just off target. United saw out the remainder of the match without any further scares and progressed into the semi-final of the competition and an away tie versus Wick Rovers
Full time
Castletown 0-2 Pentland United
(A Smith 9, M Nichol 63)
1. M Gray 2. R Sutherland 3. G Mackay 4. B Gray 5. L Sutherland 6. G Bremner (c) 7. M Cook 8. W Inrig (B Mackay 82) 9. M Nichol 10. S Mackay 11. A Smith
Subs not used
D Munro, A Sutherland
View from the goal
An excellent performance from the lads and it had to be against a very good Castletown side the work rate shown by the boys was first class throughout. At times the game maybe lacked a real spark but we did knock the ball around really well in passages. We now move into the semi-final tie with Rovers who will present another decent challenge and they have already beaten us this season in what was our worst performance by miles so hopefully we can set the record straight next time.
Half time
Castletown 0-1 Pentland United
Similarly to the first league game back in May Castletown were out the blocks sharpest at the start of the second period when a Morris inswinging corner flew of Gary Mackay’s head but Aarron Smith reacted first to clear the ball away before it crossed the line. Sam Mackay who’s running off the ball was proving very difficult for the home sides defence to deal with then rippled the side net with a brilliant effort after finding room on the left hand side of the box he unleashed a brilliant drive that beat Maycock but just failed to find the top corner. Castletown responded with skipper Macdonald making a surging run up the park before unleashing a powerful drive but again it was just off target. Nichol then released Sam Mackay again with a delightful ball over the top the Golspie based striker raced clear and was just off target with a brilliant volley from fully 20 yards. However the Dunnet side increased their lead just after the hour mark and once again Aarron Smith was at the heart of the attack quick thinking from skipper Gavin Bremner saw him free the winger on the left he drove to the bye line before clipping in a teasing cross Cook went on the decoy run to the near post allowing the ball to pick out Nichol at the far post and he composed himself before slipping the ball under Maycock. Home manager Ian Macdonald tried to freshen his side up with the introduction of Flowerday and McGill in the place of Morris and Mackay. The move allowed Graham Macdonald to move into midfield and try to gain a foothold in the match. The home side’s best effort of the half came with less than twenty to go when Stuart Florence strode forward and fired in a powerful drive from 25 yards that Gray parried and then recovered ahead of the alert Nicholson. United very nearly stretched their lead when a high freekick into the area saw Maycock lose the bal under pressure from Brian Gray a melee then ensued before Cook drilled the ball just wide. United were now stretching the Castletown team as they searched for a goal the running off the ball from Lee Sutherland, Mark Nichol and Sam Mackay was becoming increasingly difficult to contain as the space in behind the backline increased. Mark Nichol had a loud appeal for a penalty turned away when he showed some great feetwork in the box only to be bundled over by Florence but referee Makhouli saw no infringement and waved play on. Chris Sutherland has a fast growing reputation and he showed a glimpse of just why with just under 15 mins left when he showed a great slight of feet to slip away from Smith but his cut back was cleared by Gray as Gary Calder awaited any mistake. Calder nearly broke free with ten minutes left when the United defence got in a terrible fankle for about the first time in the whole game and allowed Alan Farquhar to find a yard and he attempted to play the striker in but keeper Gray managed to nip in and smother the ball. With just under ten minutes left Barry Mackay replaced Willie Inrig and the substitute had the final opportunity when he met a Smith cross but his header was just off target. United saw out the remainder of the match without any further scares and progressed into the semi-final of the competition and an away tie versus Wick Rovers
Full time
Castletown 0-2 Pentland United
(A Smith 9, M Nichol 63)
1. M Gray 2. R Sutherland 3. G Mackay 4. B Gray 5. L Sutherland 6. G Bremner (c) 7. M Cook 8. W Inrig (B Mackay 82) 9. M Nichol 10. S Mackay 11. A Smith
Subs not used
D Munro, A Sutherland
View from the goal
An excellent performance from the lads and it had to be against a very good Castletown side the work rate shown by the boys was first class throughout. At times the game maybe lacked a real spark but we did knock the ball around really well in passages. We now move into the semi-final tie with Rovers who will present another decent challenge and they have already beaten us this season in what was our worst performance by miles so hopefully we can set the record straight next time.