Post by Michael Gray on Jul 5, 2006 11:13:38 GMT
United entered their 4th assignment in 8 days with yet further injury problems after the Highland Amateur Cup tie on Saturday Scott Mackay-Steven, Adam Sutherland and Ross Sutherland all declaring themselves unfit and were replaced with Aarron Smith, Luke Cassidy and John Skinner. Given both teams weekend exertions it was always going to take a huge effort to raise themselves again although the fact it was a derby in front of a decent size crowd maybe gave the extra energy required. Castletown were the first to threaten when a powerful driving run from Macleod saw him burst from the edge of the 18 yard area to the byeline before cutting the ball back for the inrushing Nicolson who was marginally off target with his first time effort. The game whoever went through a fairly flat spell thereafter for 10-15 mins where neither team really made any significant progress. After 20 mins though a fine flowing move involving Lee Sutherland and Tony Farquhar saw the ball squared for Cassidy 16 yards out but his low drive was very well dealt with by Sinclair in the visitors goal. A huge feature of the visitors play was the tremendous running from deep of Graham Macdonald who regularly stretched the home defence as he powered up the park creating space at the same time for his team-mates. Aarron Smith was also starting to get involved in the match setting up an interesting tussle with Castletown paceman Chris Sutherland who was booked for a crude challenge on the Golspie based winger after 25 mins. However this never deterred the little winger and he wasn’t far away just a short while later after a fine run in from the left before a low drive sneaked passed the post. The same player almost opened up the Castletown defensive unit on the half hour mark beating three players before a fine switch of play just eluded Brian Thain on the run. Castletown had an amazing escape ten minutes before the break when a lob pass from skipper Gavin Bremner bounced wickedly over Sinclair and with Lee Sutherland poised to score it took a brilliant goal line clearance from Greg Macleod to keep the scorelines goalless. Just minutes before the interval Brian Thain was also inches away from breaking the deadlock when he rifled in a shot from 20 yards that beat Sinclair but also the top corner.
Half time
Pentland United 0-0 Castletown
As the first half had started with a Castletown opportunity so did the second this time it came from a set-piece from the left swung in by Murray Mackay, keeper Gray called but was caught in no-mans land as Alan Farquhar ghosted in to flick the ball just wide of the post. The game was now slowly coming to life as the challenges started to fly in and the game became stretched probably as players tired. Asa Sinclair denied Cassidy once again with another fine stop after the Armadale man had controlled the ball on his chest then acrobatically volleyed goalwards not content with that the keeper recovered brilliantly to tip away from Tony Farquhar just as he was poised to break the deadlock. The goal when it came was very well worked Inrig found Tony Farquhar on the edge of the box and the big striker superbly flicked the ball wide to Cassidy who toyed with his marker Florence before sending in a sweet cross to the back post where Smith arrived to sweep the ball into the net with Sinclair stranded by the cross at the front post. Cassidy nearly opened his own account minutes later after Bremner found him on the left he cut in and beat Shearer before bending in a wicked effort that Sinclair again held on to very well. However as the game entered the final quarter of an hour it was the visitors who staretd to gain the upperhand. Welsh was the first with an opportunity after Manson had found a yard on the left before sweeping in a low cross for the big striker to meet on the run but his shot screwed wide. Another powerful run from Macleod saw him again burst to the byeline from the edge of the box on to a Nicolson pass but on his left foot the midfielder couldn’t quite manage to cut the ball back. With 5 minutes left Inrig conceded a freekick on the left again allowing Mackay to sweep in a high centre this time keeper Gray had no problem gathering the cross but his attempt to release Cassidy was badly miscued allowing Shearer to gather and mount another attack much to the frustration of the United bench. As injury time approached Castletown had two chances to equalise, firstly a ball into the box resulted in an almighty scramble with the ball falling to Nicolson who fired a shot off the foot of Gray. The same player had another half chance when under similar circumstances a long hopeful ball into the box caused panic and confusion again leading to the young striker having a shot on goal but with exactly the same result.
Full time
Pentland United 1-0 Castletown
(Smith 71)
1. M Gray 2. J.W Skinner 3. G Mackay 4. B Gray 5. A Smith 6. G Bremner (c) 7. B Thain 8. W Inrig 9. T Farquhar 10. L Cassidy 11. L Sutherland
Subs not used
M Cook, D Manson
View from the goal
A superb 3 points a draw on the night may have been a fair result given the pressure we withstood in the last 15 minutes. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the schedule we had of 4 games in 8 days had a massive effect on the team and the lads did brilliantly to come through such a demanding time, which was above and beyond the call off duty. It was actually a very well worked goal that decided the game in the end and young Aarron is making a habit of scoring against Castletown long may that continue but the contributions of Tony and Casta to the goal cannot be underestimated.
Half time
Pentland United 0-0 Castletown
As the first half had started with a Castletown opportunity so did the second this time it came from a set-piece from the left swung in by Murray Mackay, keeper Gray called but was caught in no-mans land as Alan Farquhar ghosted in to flick the ball just wide of the post. The game was now slowly coming to life as the challenges started to fly in and the game became stretched probably as players tired. Asa Sinclair denied Cassidy once again with another fine stop after the Armadale man had controlled the ball on his chest then acrobatically volleyed goalwards not content with that the keeper recovered brilliantly to tip away from Tony Farquhar just as he was poised to break the deadlock. The goal when it came was very well worked Inrig found Tony Farquhar on the edge of the box and the big striker superbly flicked the ball wide to Cassidy who toyed with his marker Florence before sending in a sweet cross to the back post where Smith arrived to sweep the ball into the net with Sinclair stranded by the cross at the front post. Cassidy nearly opened his own account minutes later after Bremner found him on the left he cut in and beat Shearer before bending in a wicked effort that Sinclair again held on to very well. However as the game entered the final quarter of an hour it was the visitors who staretd to gain the upperhand. Welsh was the first with an opportunity after Manson had found a yard on the left before sweeping in a low cross for the big striker to meet on the run but his shot screwed wide. Another powerful run from Macleod saw him again burst to the byeline from the edge of the box on to a Nicolson pass but on his left foot the midfielder couldn’t quite manage to cut the ball back. With 5 minutes left Inrig conceded a freekick on the left again allowing Mackay to sweep in a high centre this time keeper Gray had no problem gathering the cross but his attempt to release Cassidy was badly miscued allowing Shearer to gather and mount another attack much to the frustration of the United bench. As injury time approached Castletown had two chances to equalise, firstly a ball into the box resulted in an almighty scramble with the ball falling to Nicolson who fired a shot off the foot of Gray. The same player had another half chance when under similar circumstances a long hopeful ball into the box caused panic and confusion again leading to the young striker having a shot on goal but with exactly the same result.
Full time
Pentland United 1-0 Castletown
(Smith 71)
1. M Gray 2. J.W Skinner 3. G Mackay 4. B Gray 5. A Smith 6. G Bremner (c) 7. B Thain 8. W Inrig 9. T Farquhar 10. L Cassidy 11. L Sutherland
Subs not used
M Cook, D Manson
View from the goal
A superb 3 points a draw on the night may have been a fair result given the pressure we withstood in the last 15 minutes. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the schedule we had of 4 games in 8 days had a massive effect on the team and the lads did brilliantly to come through such a demanding time, which was above and beyond the call off duty. It was actually a very well worked goal that decided the game in the end and young Aarron is making a habit of scoring against Castletown long may that continue but the contributions of Tony and Casta to the goal cannot be underestimated.