Post by Michael Gray on Jul 10, 2006 15:54:27 GMT
The first trophy of the CAFA calendar the Eain Macintosh Cup Final once again brought old foes Pentland United and Acks together. Both sides were missing key personnel for the contest but both sides still boasted strong team in a strange day of changeable weather. Acks won the toss and decided to play with the wind that travelled up from the road towards the Riding Centre for all those who know the Recreation Park. The town side had a good early opportunity when good work from Bain down the right saw step away from the United defence before cutting the ball back to Martin Murray 16 yards out but the Aberdeen based striker struck the shot straight at Gray who gratefully flopped onto the ball. United tried to respond but their distribution in the early stages was letting them down however skipper Gavin Bremner who had dragged himself out off his sick bed to play did shave the bar with a long range effort after Inrig had slipped a nice pass into his path. Still the majority of the play was flowing towards the United goal and United were being hard pressed to limit the amount and quality of opportunities being presented to the Acks. Lee Sutherland did very well to stand up and force his namesake MacDougall wider than perhaps he would have liked before conceding a corner after the winger had found space in the box. As always in these games there is always an undercurrent and trouble did overspill slightly after Cassidy had robbed Alan Murray and broke away the two then clashed as the retreating striker challenged for the ball resulting in a United freekick and a ticking off for both players. The ability of Michael Bremner to arrive in attack unchallenged has been a huge feature for the current league champions once again this year and he was narrowly off target from 25 yards after more good work from the Murray brothers up front. However on the half hour mark it was United who broke the deadlock it came about after good work from Cassidy earned a free kick on the right hand side of the park allowing skipper Gavin Bremner to send in a teasing cross for Brian Gray to bullet home from 6 yards. Acks tried to respond quickly and Martin Murray earned a freekick on the edge of the box when Ross Sutherland was adjudged to have manhandled him to the ground, Lee MacDougall the dead ball expert whipped in a shot but it just eluded the target.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 Acks
Acks started the second half keen to level matters and a great run down the right from Alan Murray again allowed the defence to be pulled apart leaving Michael Bremner to hit a sweet strike straight at Gray who held on grateful the shot hadn’t gone either side of him. Brian Gray nearly doubled his own tally 10 minutes into the half when once again a teasing Bremner corner picked him out 8 yards out but this time the centre half could only find the roof of the net. The Acks response was immediate another weaving run from Murray saw him clear 15 yards from goal but Gray managed to get a fingertip to the effort and divert it over the bar for another corner. It was now a far more open game than the first period real end to end stuff Scott Mackay-Steven was inches away from scoring after another corner was only partially cleared Lee Sutherland poked the ball back into the danger area the frontman with his back to goal took a touch before swivelling and drilling in a shot that just crept wide. On the hour mark Acks had a golden opportunity when a slack throw in from Cook allowed them to counter and Bremner picked out the dashing Macleod who raced clear Gray left his goal and was left in no-mans land as the Brora lad swept in a shot that just went wide of the post. Cook had the chance to make amends moments later when Mackay-Steven swept in a hanging cross that Warner on the stretch could only clear to the tall midfielder on the edge of the box but Brian Mackay did well to hold on to the low drive. With 15 minutes Acks created another great chance again the leg work was carried out by Alan Murray racing away down the left before cutting ball back for his brother who from 8 yards side-footed the ball goalwards only to see it ricochet of the flailing leg of keeper Gray. This was to be Acks last opportunity of note as with 10 minutes left United hit them with the sucker punch and it was a very messy build-up Cassidy and Farquhar linked and got the ball into the danger area a series of attempted clearances and shots later the ball fell to Gavin Bremner who was coolness personified as he sent a beautifully flighted chip over Mackay into the net. The Acks tried to respond and right from the kick-off won a freekick 35 yards from goal but the defence marshalled superbly by JW Skinner held firm. Gavin Bremner then succumbed to fatigue after putting in a tremendous shift especially in light of his recent illness and was replaced by Gary Mackay. The substitute couldn’t have made a bigger impression firstly Inrig found him on the run down the right his first cross was intercepted by Warner at the near post cleared but 2 mins later the same combination saw the young defender race clear before driving the ball across goal Mackay half cut out the cross but only as far as Lee Sutherland who fired high into the net. Once again United changed things round replacing Cassidy and Cook with Adam Sutherland and Derek Manson both substitutes again showed up well Sutherland in particular with a forceful run won a corner to waste some more of the remaining seconds before referee Wheatcroft brought it all to a close.
Full time
Pentland United 3-0 Acks
(Gray 27, Bremner 79, L Sutherland 86)
1. M Gray 2. J.W Skinner 3. R Sutherland 4. B Gray 5. S Mackay-Steven 6. G Bremner (c) (G Mackay 80) 7. M Cook (D Manson 85) 8. W Inrig 9. T Farquhar 10. L Cassidy (A Sutherland 85) 11. L Sutherland
View from the goal
Well it was high energy high action match I thought our distribution and retention of the ball especially in the first half was a little disappointing but the work rate and attitude was excellent. I think on the balance of play we were a little fortunate to be 1 up at the break but we were better in the second half and forced them into long range shooting more often than not. So we have managed to land the first trophy of the season but now we go on to face another series of tough assignments starting with Wick Groats on Wednesday they impressed be in our first game and even though they are in a perilious position we will need to be up for the game or we will get nothing. last word is for Man of the match Gavin who deserves a lot of credit he was clearly under the weather but did tremendously well to last the pace even popping up with a super finish to put the final out of reach.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 Acks
Acks started the second half keen to level matters and a great run down the right from Alan Murray again allowed the defence to be pulled apart leaving Michael Bremner to hit a sweet strike straight at Gray who held on grateful the shot hadn’t gone either side of him. Brian Gray nearly doubled his own tally 10 minutes into the half when once again a teasing Bremner corner picked him out 8 yards out but this time the centre half could only find the roof of the net. The Acks response was immediate another weaving run from Murray saw him clear 15 yards from goal but Gray managed to get a fingertip to the effort and divert it over the bar for another corner. It was now a far more open game than the first period real end to end stuff Scott Mackay-Steven was inches away from scoring after another corner was only partially cleared Lee Sutherland poked the ball back into the danger area the frontman with his back to goal took a touch before swivelling and drilling in a shot that just crept wide. On the hour mark Acks had a golden opportunity when a slack throw in from Cook allowed them to counter and Bremner picked out the dashing Macleod who raced clear Gray left his goal and was left in no-mans land as the Brora lad swept in a shot that just went wide of the post. Cook had the chance to make amends moments later when Mackay-Steven swept in a hanging cross that Warner on the stretch could only clear to the tall midfielder on the edge of the box but Brian Mackay did well to hold on to the low drive. With 15 minutes Acks created another great chance again the leg work was carried out by Alan Murray racing away down the left before cutting ball back for his brother who from 8 yards side-footed the ball goalwards only to see it ricochet of the flailing leg of keeper Gray. This was to be Acks last opportunity of note as with 10 minutes left United hit them with the sucker punch and it was a very messy build-up Cassidy and Farquhar linked and got the ball into the danger area a series of attempted clearances and shots later the ball fell to Gavin Bremner who was coolness personified as he sent a beautifully flighted chip over Mackay into the net. The Acks tried to respond and right from the kick-off won a freekick 35 yards from goal but the defence marshalled superbly by JW Skinner held firm. Gavin Bremner then succumbed to fatigue after putting in a tremendous shift especially in light of his recent illness and was replaced by Gary Mackay. The substitute couldn’t have made a bigger impression firstly Inrig found him on the run down the right his first cross was intercepted by Warner at the near post cleared but 2 mins later the same combination saw the young defender race clear before driving the ball across goal Mackay half cut out the cross but only as far as Lee Sutherland who fired high into the net. Once again United changed things round replacing Cassidy and Cook with Adam Sutherland and Derek Manson both substitutes again showed up well Sutherland in particular with a forceful run won a corner to waste some more of the remaining seconds before referee Wheatcroft brought it all to a close.
Full time
Pentland United 3-0 Acks
(Gray 27, Bremner 79, L Sutherland 86)
1. M Gray 2. J.W Skinner 3. R Sutherland 4. B Gray 5. S Mackay-Steven 6. G Bremner (c) (G Mackay 80) 7. M Cook (D Manson 85) 8. W Inrig 9. T Farquhar 10. L Cassidy (A Sutherland 85) 11. L Sutherland
View from the goal
Well it was high energy high action match I thought our distribution and retention of the ball especially in the first half was a little disappointing but the work rate and attitude was excellent. I think on the balance of play we were a little fortunate to be 1 up at the break but we were better in the second half and forced them into long range shooting more often than not. So we have managed to land the first trophy of the season but now we go on to face another series of tough assignments starting with Wick Groats on Wednesday they impressed be in our first game and even though they are in a perilious position we will need to be up for the game or we will get nothing. last word is for Man of the match Gavin who deserves a lot of credit he was clearly under the weather but did tremendously well to last the pace even popping up with a super finish to put the final out of reach.