Post by Michael Gray on Jun 26, 2006 9:22:22 GMT
Injuries and player unavailability once again saw Duncan Gray have to re-shuffle the pack into the side came Adam Sutherland, Gavin Sutherland and Scott Mackay-Steven while Martyn Cook, Tony Farquhar and Gary Mackay all missed out. United opened brightly with Luke Cassidy proving an early thorn in the Rovers side showing great strength and awareness to almost make an early breakthrough after racing into the box but the ball seemed to get stuck beneath his foot and his final shot failed to trouble McGee. The elusive running of Grant Budge was also an early feature and one such run down the right of the park saw him outstrip Muir before driving in a low cross that Scott Mackay-Steven only just failed to direct goalwards. Rovers responded after 15 mins when good play down the right saw Reid free up Hourston who let fly from 25 yards but Gray held the drive. After 20 mins Brian Gray tried his luck from distance after he retrieved a Bremner freekick that had been cleared out to him 30 yards from goal and McGee took no chances tipping the ball over the bar. United were definitely on top at this stage but really failing to register their superiority, which is always a cause for concern as Rovers would also certainly have their spell in the ascendancy as well. However the deadlock was broken just after the half hour mark although there seemed no danger to the home side when Adam Sutherland picked the ball up in the left back area but he arced a superb through ball allowing Grant Budge to race clear before drawing Kevin McGee, rounding him and tapping into the empty net. United tried to build on the lead but were coming up against some dogged defending from the Sinclair brothers and Muir. Lee Sutherland was next up to try and stretch the lead after 40 mins when he picked up on a ball 20 yards from goal he drove into the box but once again couldn’t quite find the direction in his drive.
Half time
Rovers 0-1 Pentland United
The break had the a massive effect on the match Rovers re-grouped and were suddenly showing more urgency and spirit in their play while United completely lost the impetus they held in the first period. After 50 mins the home side carved out their best chance of the night so far when Reid outstripped the defence down the left and squared for the inrushing Lyall who fired goalwards from 6 yards but Gray managed to get a hand to the ball forcing it wide and Ross Sutherland completed the clearance but notice had been served. Rovers equalised after an hour of play when United surrendered possession cheaply in the centre circle and McKiddie broke down the left forcing Gray into a rash challenge that rightly brought the centre half a booking from the resultant freekick Mackay floated in a deep cross that saw Niwa steal a march on the defence to power a header passed keeper Gray who managed to get a fingertip to the ball but couldn’t prevent the ball finding the net. This stung the visitors who had played so well in the first half but had been pegged back so quickly in the second. They almost regained the lead with just over 15 minutes left when a fine pass from Bremner released Cassidy who sidestepped McGee but from an acute angle only managed to hit the side net. The game continued to ebb and flow but the progressively the discipline started to slip with tackles going unchecked and then players being pulled up for innocuous challenges adding to the growing frustration in both camps. Rovers substitute Weir had the final chance of the normal time when he was slipped inside his marker down the left he drew Gray but fired into the side net much to the relief of the Canisbay men.
Full time
Rovers 1-1 Pentland United
(G Budge 31)
Extra-time
In similar fashion to normal time United again started very brightly and again Budge managed to break free down the right drawing the defence before squaring for the inrushing Mackay-Steven who was just off target once again. Budge was the architect again just before the break when he again made great progress down the right before cross for Cassidy who brought out an excellent save from McGee at point blank range.
Half time – Extra time
Rovers 1-1 Pentland United
Once again in mirror image of normal time Rovers took the upper hand in the second period of extra time and Weir was causing a lot of problems first he caused panic when he got goal side and raced on to a long through ball from Hourston keeper Gray left his area to half head the ball clear and Ross Sutherland completed the clearance. The final chance came minutes before the end when the tall midfielder again found space in the box but his half volley sneaked passed the far post and so the tie would be settled by penalties.
Full time – Extra time
Rovers 1-1 Pentland United
Penalties
Rovers United
Reid – missed Gray – missed
A Sinclair – missed Cassidy – scored
C Sinclair – missed Inrig – scored
Mackay – Steven - scored
1. M Gray 2. R Sutherland 3. A Sutherland 4. B Gray 5. L Sutherland 6. G Bremner (c) 7. G Sutherland 8. W Inrig 9. S Mackay-Steven 10. L Cassidy 11. G Budge
Subs not used
B Mackay, K Sinclair
View from the goal
Well it was a fair old battle to get through that one and in the end it could have gone either way I thought we were the better team in the first half by a good bit but never converted our chances. The second half Rovers were stronger and deserved their equaliser as we started to lose possession very cheaply but in the end we showed great spirit to progress. Now it is on to the second half of our double header and they don’t come much more difficult than in John O'Groats.
Half time
Rovers 0-1 Pentland United
The break had the a massive effect on the match Rovers re-grouped and were suddenly showing more urgency and spirit in their play while United completely lost the impetus they held in the first period. After 50 mins the home side carved out their best chance of the night so far when Reid outstripped the defence down the left and squared for the inrushing Lyall who fired goalwards from 6 yards but Gray managed to get a hand to the ball forcing it wide and Ross Sutherland completed the clearance but notice had been served. Rovers equalised after an hour of play when United surrendered possession cheaply in the centre circle and McKiddie broke down the left forcing Gray into a rash challenge that rightly brought the centre half a booking from the resultant freekick Mackay floated in a deep cross that saw Niwa steal a march on the defence to power a header passed keeper Gray who managed to get a fingertip to the ball but couldn’t prevent the ball finding the net. This stung the visitors who had played so well in the first half but had been pegged back so quickly in the second. They almost regained the lead with just over 15 minutes left when a fine pass from Bremner released Cassidy who sidestepped McGee but from an acute angle only managed to hit the side net. The game continued to ebb and flow but the progressively the discipline started to slip with tackles going unchecked and then players being pulled up for innocuous challenges adding to the growing frustration in both camps. Rovers substitute Weir had the final chance of the normal time when he was slipped inside his marker down the left he drew Gray but fired into the side net much to the relief of the Canisbay men.
Full time
Rovers 1-1 Pentland United
(G Budge 31)
Extra-time
In similar fashion to normal time United again started very brightly and again Budge managed to break free down the right drawing the defence before squaring for the inrushing Mackay-Steven who was just off target once again. Budge was the architect again just before the break when he again made great progress down the right before cross for Cassidy who brought out an excellent save from McGee at point blank range.
Half time – Extra time
Rovers 1-1 Pentland United
Once again in mirror image of normal time Rovers took the upper hand in the second period of extra time and Weir was causing a lot of problems first he caused panic when he got goal side and raced on to a long through ball from Hourston keeper Gray left his area to half head the ball clear and Ross Sutherland completed the clearance. The final chance came minutes before the end when the tall midfielder again found space in the box but his half volley sneaked passed the far post and so the tie would be settled by penalties.
Full time – Extra time
Rovers 1-1 Pentland United
Penalties
Rovers United
Reid – missed Gray – missed
A Sinclair – missed Cassidy – scored
C Sinclair – missed Inrig – scored
Mackay – Steven - scored
1. M Gray 2. R Sutherland 3. A Sutherland 4. B Gray 5. L Sutherland 6. G Bremner (c) 7. G Sutherland 8. W Inrig 9. S Mackay-Steven 10. L Cassidy 11. G Budge
Subs not used
B Mackay, K Sinclair
View from the goal
Well it was a fair old battle to get through that one and in the end it could have gone either way I thought we were the better team in the first half by a good bit but never converted our chances. The second half Rovers were stronger and deserved their equaliser as we started to lose possession very cheaply but in the end we showed great spirit to progress. Now it is on to the second half of our double header and they don’t come much more difficult than in John O'Groats.