Post by Michael Gray on Jun 23, 2006 7:12:28 GMT
Once again manager Duncan Gray had to re-jig his side for the visit of second placed John O’Groats in this crucial league fixture. It was a case of the lord giveth and the lord taketh as United welcomed back Luke Cassidy but lost the services of Mark Nichol. United opened very brightly heading down the infamous slope but against a decent breeze in fact the Dunnet men could have gone ahead as early as the 5th minute when a loping run from Grant Budge saw him cut through the JOG defence but his shot veered wide of Henderson’s right hand post. Heriot Watt student Luke Cassidy had started very brightly and was clearly in the mood showing his full repertoire of skill giving the Groats defence a torrid time early on. After 12 mins a Gavin Bremner corner was only partially back to the United skipper who delivered another telling cross which Henderson failed to claim under intense pressure from Gray the ball broke to Cook who took the shot on first time that must have removed a layer of paint from the bar as it flew just over. Slowly but surely however Groats started to creep into the game the movement upfront of Sinclair and Henstridge keeping the United backline of Gray, Ross Sutherland and Gary Mackay on their toes. Steven had the visitors first real effort on goal from fully twenty five yards the shot never lacked in power but it faded wide of the goal. John O’Groats always ensure a game is highly contested and as the game unfolded the tackles became progressively harder until Cassidy marked his return to County football with a booking after a rash challenge on Tait in the right back area. On twenty minutes Tony Farquhar was inches away from giving United the lead with a towering header from a Budge cross as United looked to turn the screw. The deadlock was finally broken after 24 mins the move was started when skipper Bremner sent a raking pass down the left where Cassidy showed instant control the striker drove towards Tait before feeding Inrig who looped a pass back into his path he then forced his way to the byeline before cutting back to the inrushing Lee Sutherland who was left with the simplest of tasks to open the scoring in fine style. This was a huge boost for United and less than ten minutes later they doubled their advantage again Cassidy found space in the box before delivering a decent cross that Stuart Sinclair (snr) half cleared but Lee Sutherland powered the ball back into the danger area Grant Budge was the quickest to react and he stabbed the ball high passed the despairing Henderson. The visitors tried to respond with Mark Munro producing a couple of decent runs down the right testing the recovery of Grant Budge but all in all United were coping fairly well and managing to hold their north coast counterparts at arms length really although the energy being displayed by Groats in competing every single opportunity was admirable.
Half time
Pentland United 2-0 JOG
United should have gone further ahead within minutes of the restart when Grant Budge again cut through the visiting defence and with Lee Sutherland on his shoulder the Lybster based man elected to shoot but failed to really get hold of the shot and it drifted wide. This sparked a real change in proceedings with Groats beginning to get the upper hand in terms of possession and territory after a decent move involving Derek Munro and Michael Steven they managed to free up Mark Munro on the left hand side of the box the wide man cut back on to his left foot before drilling in a low shot that Gray held on to on his 6 yard line. Kevin Swanson was also beginning to find some room on the left hand side although Cook was competing very well harrying and forcing the winger to cross from perhaps more difficult angles than he would have liked. On the hour mark United struck the woodwork, once again Cassidy was at the heart of the move cutting across the 18 yard line he laid the ball back for Budge who took a touch inside his man before firing in a brilliant low drive that crashed off the outside of the post and away for a goal kick. Five minutes later Groats created their best chance of the game when again good link up in the centre of the park released Mark Munro down the right the winger raced into the box before shooting low and hard across goal but unfortunately for him it just slipped passed the far post. Controversy reared its ugly head again with just under twenty to go when Derek Munro burst through and went to ground although there was no suggestion of a penalty as keeper Gray prepared to gather the ball the Huna man knocked the ball square with his hand allowing Steven to fire just wide although referee Munro had already picked up the infringement. United decided to freshen things up with Scotty Mackay-Steven just back from holiday replacing Cassidy who had put in a great shift but given the competitive nature of the game was withdrawn for his own good. With quarter of an hour to go United struck the woodwork again this time a superb Gavin Bremner freekick was met solidly by that man Budge but he couldn’t believe his luck when his header crashed off the bar and away to safety as Henderson scarcely moved. Ten minutes before the end Fearns joined Cassidy in the book for a crude two footed tackle on Cook as they contested a ball just below the dugouts. The tiring Tony Farquhar was replaced with moments later and he was replaced with Gavin Sutherland allowing Cook to take up a striking role. The game started to grind towards its on conclusion and the only real chance of note was a counter attack from United that saw Mackay-Steven race into the box only to be denied by a firm challenge from Stuart Sinclair (jnr)
Full time
Pentland United 2-0 JOG
(L Sutherland 24, G Budge 32)
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 9. T Farquhar (G Sutherland 85) 10. L Cassidy (S Mackay-Steven 71) 11. G Budge
Subs not used
R Bell
View from the goal
A super three points probably not one for the purists but it never was going to be given what was at stake. The opener was a super goal really well worked and it really summed up what Casta brings to a team but credit also to young Lee who burst a gut to get there. The second half a little more frustrating from our point of view as at times we had great possession but wasted it allowing Groats to obtain the upper hand in terms of possession and they did put us under pressure but the defence and in particular young Gary stood up to the task really well.
Half time
Pentland United 2-0 JOG
United should have gone further ahead within minutes of the restart when Grant Budge again cut through the visiting defence and with Lee Sutherland on his shoulder the Lybster based man elected to shoot but failed to really get hold of the shot and it drifted wide. This sparked a real change in proceedings with Groats beginning to get the upper hand in terms of possession and territory after a decent move involving Derek Munro and Michael Steven they managed to free up Mark Munro on the left hand side of the box the wide man cut back on to his left foot before drilling in a low shot that Gray held on to on his 6 yard line. Kevin Swanson was also beginning to find some room on the left hand side although Cook was competing very well harrying and forcing the winger to cross from perhaps more difficult angles than he would have liked. On the hour mark United struck the woodwork, once again Cassidy was at the heart of the move cutting across the 18 yard line he laid the ball back for Budge who took a touch inside his man before firing in a brilliant low drive that crashed off the outside of the post and away for a goal kick. Five minutes later Groats created their best chance of the game when again good link up in the centre of the park released Mark Munro down the right the winger raced into the box before shooting low and hard across goal but unfortunately for him it just slipped passed the far post. Controversy reared its ugly head again with just under twenty to go when Derek Munro burst through and went to ground although there was no suggestion of a penalty as keeper Gray prepared to gather the ball the Huna man knocked the ball square with his hand allowing Steven to fire just wide although referee Munro had already picked up the infringement. United decided to freshen things up with Scotty Mackay-Steven just back from holiday replacing Cassidy who had put in a great shift but given the competitive nature of the game was withdrawn for his own good. With quarter of an hour to go United struck the woodwork again this time a superb Gavin Bremner freekick was met solidly by that man Budge but he couldn’t believe his luck when his header crashed off the bar and away to safety as Henderson scarcely moved. Ten minutes before the end Fearns joined Cassidy in the book for a crude two footed tackle on Cook as they contested a ball just below the dugouts. The tiring Tony Farquhar was replaced with moments later and he was replaced with Gavin Sutherland allowing Cook to take up a striking role. The game started to grind towards its on conclusion and the only real chance of note was a counter attack from United that saw Mackay-Steven race into the box only to be denied by a firm challenge from Stuart Sinclair (jnr)
Full time
Pentland United 2-0 JOG
(L Sutherland 24, G Budge 32)
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 9. T Farquhar (G Sutherland 85) 10. L Cassidy (S Mackay-Steven 71) 11. G Budge
Subs not used
R Bell
View from the goal
A super three points probably not one for the purists but it never was going to be given what was at stake. The opener was a super goal really well worked and it really summed up what Casta brings to a team but credit also to young Lee who burst a gut to get there. The second half a little more frustrating from our point of view as at times we had great possession but wasted it allowing Groats to obtain the upper hand in terms of possession and they did put us under pressure but the defence and in particular young Gary stood up to the task really well.