Post by Michael Gray on Jun 27, 2006 14:43:20 GMT
On a warm summers evening on a train bound for nowhere…..where was I oh yes the second half of hugely difficult double header with north coast rivals John O’Groats made all the more treacherous given United’s huge selection problems already minus a host of players Lee Sutherland became the latest player to join MIA list when he called off with chicken pox in stark contrast JOG welcomed back hugely influential utility man Davie Mowat from his sabbatical in Edinburgh. The tone of the game was set in less than a minute when Tait crashed through the back of Cassidy on the half-way line injuring himself in the process. The early exchanges were fairly tentative with neither side really creating too much of note although the height of the Groats central midfield was causing United a bit of difficulty. The closest either team came to scoring in the first half came when Cassidy latched on to a loose ball 30 yards out and managed to wriggle free before laying the ball off to Bremner who unleashed a brilliant dipping volley that clipped the top of the cross bar before going over. Shortly afterwards Stuart Sinclair (snr) tried to earn his team a penalty when he went down under a challenge from keeper Gray but his theatrics never impressed referee Macleod and a goalkick was awarded. On the half hour mark Steven was just off target with a header at the far post after neat play from Mark Munro allowed him to pick out the young midfielder at the far post. United were making inroads down the flanks and Adam Sutherland managed to dig out a teasing cross after half an hour which required Henderson to stretch every inch to claim the ball while Cassidy awaited any mistake. The home side had an obvious height advantage and this was regularly witnessed at set-pieces and with around 5 mins left in the half Tait found room in the box to meet Swanson’s corner but his acrobatic effort although powerful was just of target. It was amzing given the energy being applied by both teams how little clear cut opportunities were actually being created as the half drew to a close.
Half time
JOG 0-0 Pentland United
The home side certainly started the second period with the greater urgency forcing United back although they were still failing to create that one quality opportunity to break the deadlock. After 55 mins Stuart Sinclair (snr) took it upon himself to try and grab the all important opener but his shot from 25 yards was high and wild but Groats were now definitely holding the upper hand in terms of possession and territory with United struggling to hold on to the ball for any reasonable length of time. However as Groats continued to batter at the door the opportunities for United to break out did begin to appear and after 60 mins Cassidy nearly got free after picking up an Inrig pass he nipped inside Tait but he never really got hold of his shot and Henderson held without any problems. Derek Munro had a glorious opportunity to pen the scoring after 65 mins when great play down the left from Henstridge saw him skip passed a couple of challenges before squaring the ball to him although he fired straight at Gray referee Macleod had already stopped play due to ungentlemenry conduct during the passage of play. Probably Groats best effort of the entire match came minutes later when after a driving run from Stuart Sinclair (snr) the ball looped up to Kevin Swanson who showed tremendous technique to unleash a fantastic volley inches wide of the left hand post with Gray scrambling. Not long afterwards it was the turn of Michael Steven to get in on the act when he was just off target with another powerful drive from distance as Groats continued to beat a path towards the United goal. United made a couple of changes in quick succession with around 20 mins to go firstly Brian Thain replace Gavin Sutherland who succumbed to a dead leg then Derek Manson replaced Adam Sutherland who had battled bravely against an ankle knock he suffered early in the game. Once again it was United who came closest to breaking the deadlock wonderful skill from Scott Mackay-Steven down the left saw him slip passed a couple of defenders before feeding Willie Inrig the midfielder took a touch before attempting to lob the ball over Henderson the keeper to his credit managed to back pedal and flick the ball onto the bar before recovering the situation. By this time United had weathered the worst of the storm and the game started to even out probably as both teams tired and half chances started to appear firstly Brian Gray volleyed wildly over after a corner was only half cleared to him 10 yards out then Stuart Sinclair (snr) did similarly at the other end. With just under ten minutes left another raking Gavin Bremner pass found Cassidy on the edge of the box he teased Tait before deftly trying to find the top corner with a curling effort but it just dipped over. The only real point of note in the dying stages is when Michael Steven picked up the games only booking for one tackle too many for referee Macleod's liking.
Full time
JOG 0-0 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. R Sutherland 3. G Mackay 4. B Gray 5. M Cook 6. G Bremner (c) 7. G Sutherland (B Thain 68) 8. W Inrig 9. S Mackay-Steven 10. L Cassidy 11. A Sutherland (D Manson 73)
View from the goal
I think overall it was a positive result given the players we were missing and the strength of the Groats team thought the spirit and effort shown was superb perhaps we didn’t play that well offensively but we managed to curtail a pretty lively attack reasonably well. The league is still very much in the melting pot at this stage and the only thing you can be sure of is there are plenty more twists and turns to come.
Half time
JOG 0-0 Pentland United
The home side certainly started the second period with the greater urgency forcing United back although they were still failing to create that one quality opportunity to break the deadlock. After 55 mins Stuart Sinclair (snr) took it upon himself to try and grab the all important opener but his shot from 25 yards was high and wild but Groats were now definitely holding the upper hand in terms of possession and territory with United struggling to hold on to the ball for any reasonable length of time. However as Groats continued to batter at the door the opportunities for United to break out did begin to appear and after 60 mins Cassidy nearly got free after picking up an Inrig pass he nipped inside Tait but he never really got hold of his shot and Henderson held without any problems. Derek Munro had a glorious opportunity to pen the scoring after 65 mins when great play down the left from Henstridge saw him skip passed a couple of challenges before squaring the ball to him although he fired straight at Gray referee Macleod had already stopped play due to ungentlemenry conduct during the passage of play. Probably Groats best effort of the entire match came minutes later when after a driving run from Stuart Sinclair (snr) the ball looped up to Kevin Swanson who showed tremendous technique to unleash a fantastic volley inches wide of the left hand post with Gray scrambling. Not long afterwards it was the turn of Michael Steven to get in on the act when he was just off target with another powerful drive from distance as Groats continued to beat a path towards the United goal. United made a couple of changes in quick succession with around 20 mins to go firstly Brian Thain replace Gavin Sutherland who succumbed to a dead leg then Derek Manson replaced Adam Sutherland who had battled bravely against an ankle knock he suffered early in the game. Once again it was United who came closest to breaking the deadlock wonderful skill from Scott Mackay-Steven down the left saw him slip passed a couple of defenders before feeding Willie Inrig the midfielder took a touch before attempting to lob the ball over Henderson the keeper to his credit managed to back pedal and flick the ball onto the bar before recovering the situation. By this time United had weathered the worst of the storm and the game started to even out probably as both teams tired and half chances started to appear firstly Brian Gray volleyed wildly over after a corner was only half cleared to him 10 yards out then Stuart Sinclair (snr) did similarly at the other end. With just under ten minutes left another raking Gavin Bremner pass found Cassidy on the edge of the box he teased Tait before deftly trying to find the top corner with a curling effort but it just dipped over. The only real point of note in the dying stages is when Michael Steven picked up the games only booking for one tackle too many for referee Macleod's liking.
Full time
JOG 0-0 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. R Sutherland 3. G Mackay 4. B Gray 5. M Cook 6. G Bremner (c) 7. G Sutherland (B Thain 68) 8. W Inrig 9. S Mackay-Steven 10. L Cassidy 11. A Sutherland (D Manson 73)
View from the goal
I think overall it was a positive result given the players we were missing and the strength of the Groats team thought the spirit and effort shown was superb perhaps we didn’t play that well offensively but we managed to curtail a pretty lively attack reasonably well. The league is still very much in the melting pot at this stage and the only thing you can be sure of is there are plenty more twists and turns to come.