Post by Michael Gray on Jul 14, 2006 11:29:51 GMT
United’s penultimate home league fixture of the 2006 season saw them face a Groats scrapping for their first division status, the Wick side have endured some horrendous luck with injuries this season leaving them perilously close to the drop. United made a few changes to the cup winning side on Saturday Tony Farquhar, John Skinner, Martyn Cook and Scott Mackay-Steven missed out with Grant Budge and trialists Stevie Gray and Ewen ‘Large Edward’ Boyd making up the compliment. The visitors had a great early chance when a good ball down the right from Sheppard released Davidson who drove to the byeline before centring the ball via Gary Mackay’s boot, Greg Shearer reacted first and was inches away with Gray beaten at his near post. United responded in earnest and took the lead with pretty much their first real attack with just under ten minutes gone Ross Sutherland took a short throw on the left with Adam Sutherland before whipping a superb cross that picked out Grant Budge 8 yards out and he made no mistake with a firm header. This was a massive blow to the fragile confidence of the young Wick side they continued to battle but United were now up and running and hungry for more goals a good exchange between Cassidy and Budge saw the Armadale man drive a powerful shot into the sidenetting as United continued in the ascendancy. Number two came just after the 20 minute mark and just as it seemed perhaps Groats were starting to come back into it, Gavin Bremner picked the ball up 35 yards from goal and produced a delicate chipped pass that dissected the visiting defence allowing that man Budge to race away and flick the ball passed the diving Miller. United were dominant at this point although the willing Duffy was always a good outlet for the Wick side ably assisted by Sinclair and Taylor in the midfield. A quite superb exchange then between Cassidy, Budge and Lee Sutherland then tore open the Groats defence it was Sutherland whose through ball released Cassidy the striker elected to square the ball rather than shoot but Grant Budge couldn’t quite reach the cross and the chance petered out. Groats did have a half chance to claw a way back into the game after a powerful run from the ever willing Davidson down the right hand channel but he failed to get any purchase behind the shot from 12 yards at the angle and the chance disappeared wide of the post. The fine line between success and failure was highlighted further just moments later when Brian Gray picked the ball up 30 yards from goal there seemed no danger but the centre back already has an impressive haul to his name and he unleashed a howitzer that Miller did brilliantly to turn against the bar on the stretch only to look on in despair as Lee Sutherland following up composed himself before finding the net. Budge then had a chance to complete his hat-trick linking with Cassidy before setting of on another bounding run towards goal before being thwarted by Miller who again stood up well and gathered the ball at the second attempt. The tempo of the half then dropped as United seemed content with their half’s work and Groats looking for the break and a chance to re-organise
Half time
Pentland United 3-0 Wick Groats
United were forced to withdraw Luke Cassidy at half time after the striker aggravated a knee problem during the warm-up and felt unable to continue his position was taken by Adam Sutherland while substitute Stevie Gray took up a position on the left hand side of the park. The opening exchanges were fairly bright, Budge again menacing but failing to find the target and Sutherland harrassing the United defence. But gradually the Groats started to find their feet and always seemed to have an extra man with Duffy racing forward at every opportunity they got a goal back after 55 mins when Davidson collected the ball on the left and drove towards goal before attempting to play in Taylor only for the retreating Inrig in his attempt to clear the ball fire it passed the helpless Gray. Suddenly the belief started to return to the Groats side and United who had been in control for so long started to look ragged the passing so crisp and accurate in the first period started to become wayward, the ball retention was no longer there and he pressure started to rise. Bain had Gray scrambling to get a freekick away for a corner after the fullback drove in a swerving shot from 20 yards forcing the keeper into an ungainly save with his feet. Moments later Taylor had the keeper scrambling again after he bent a shot round the wall from the left in all probability the ball would have gone wide but Gray was taking no chances. Still the play raged towards the United goal as they seemed unable to hold the ball for any length of time, Taylor had a good opportunity on the bounce after the United defence had failed to deal with a high ball the chance fell to the midfielder but the chance slipped passed the post. The game was effectively killed as a contest with just over 20 mins to go and once again it was that man Budge latching on to an Inrig pass on half way he raced away from his marker Mackillop nipped to the byeline before cutting the ball back into the path of Bremner and the skipper made no mistake from 10 yards firing high into the roof of the net. It was a real sickener for visitors who had really penned in the home side for more or loss the entire half but with the goal Groats spirit slipped away. United withdrew the tiring Adam Sutherland and replaced him with Ewen ‘Large Edward’ Boyd and the big lad got stuck in straight away offering an entirely different proposition upfront. With 15 minutes left Grant Budge had a glorious chance to complete his hat-trick when he was picked out by a Gavin Bremner corner 6 yards out but just when everyone expected the net bulge the ball flew passed for a goalkick. The delay however was only for 5 minutes as Boyd picked the ball up on halfway turned and laid a superb pass into the path of Budge who ran to finish with some aplomb. With less than 5 minutes left the big fella nearly created another chance wandering to the byeline before sidestepping passed Mackillop however his centre was cleared away by Kevin Miller.
Full time
Pentland United 5-1 Wick Groats
(Budge 7, 21, 80, L Sutherland 34, Bremner 69)
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. R Sutherland 4. B Gray 5. D Manson 6. G Bremner (c) 7. A Sutherland (E Boyd 72) 8. W Inrig 9. G Budge 10. L Cassidy (S Gray 45) 11. L Sutherland
View from the goal
Another valuable 3 points it was very much a tale of two halves the first we were dominant, slick and played some really neat stuff the second for around 20-25 minutes we couldn’t get a hold of the ball. Credit to Groats they stuck to their task and played some pretty decent stuff with a young team and they spirit they showed is essential if they are to somehow survive. Offensively Granty is just in a class of his own with the ball at his feet it he is just superb and took his goals really well and he is the kind of player that makes the difference. Small mention for Large Edward who certainly had an effect on the game when he came on and not just the wiping out of Mildoo.
Half time
Pentland United 3-0 Wick Groats
United were forced to withdraw Luke Cassidy at half time after the striker aggravated a knee problem during the warm-up and felt unable to continue his position was taken by Adam Sutherland while substitute Stevie Gray took up a position on the left hand side of the park. The opening exchanges were fairly bright, Budge again menacing but failing to find the target and Sutherland harrassing the United defence. But gradually the Groats started to find their feet and always seemed to have an extra man with Duffy racing forward at every opportunity they got a goal back after 55 mins when Davidson collected the ball on the left and drove towards goal before attempting to play in Taylor only for the retreating Inrig in his attempt to clear the ball fire it passed the helpless Gray. Suddenly the belief started to return to the Groats side and United who had been in control for so long started to look ragged the passing so crisp and accurate in the first period started to become wayward, the ball retention was no longer there and he pressure started to rise. Bain had Gray scrambling to get a freekick away for a corner after the fullback drove in a swerving shot from 20 yards forcing the keeper into an ungainly save with his feet. Moments later Taylor had the keeper scrambling again after he bent a shot round the wall from the left in all probability the ball would have gone wide but Gray was taking no chances. Still the play raged towards the United goal as they seemed unable to hold the ball for any length of time, Taylor had a good opportunity on the bounce after the United defence had failed to deal with a high ball the chance fell to the midfielder but the chance slipped passed the post. The game was effectively killed as a contest with just over 20 mins to go and once again it was that man Budge latching on to an Inrig pass on half way he raced away from his marker Mackillop nipped to the byeline before cutting the ball back into the path of Bremner and the skipper made no mistake from 10 yards firing high into the roof of the net. It was a real sickener for visitors who had really penned in the home side for more or loss the entire half but with the goal Groats spirit slipped away. United withdrew the tiring Adam Sutherland and replaced him with Ewen ‘Large Edward’ Boyd and the big lad got stuck in straight away offering an entirely different proposition upfront. With 15 minutes left Grant Budge had a glorious chance to complete his hat-trick when he was picked out by a Gavin Bremner corner 6 yards out but just when everyone expected the net bulge the ball flew passed for a goalkick. The delay however was only for 5 minutes as Boyd picked the ball up on halfway turned and laid a superb pass into the path of Budge who ran to finish with some aplomb. With less than 5 minutes left the big fella nearly created another chance wandering to the byeline before sidestepping passed Mackillop however his centre was cleared away by Kevin Miller.
Full time
Pentland United 5-1 Wick Groats
(Budge 7, 21, 80, L Sutherland 34, Bremner 69)
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. R Sutherland 4. B Gray 5. D Manson 6. G Bremner (c) 7. A Sutherland (E Boyd 72) 8. W Inrig 9. G Budge 10. L Cassidy (S Gray 45) 11. L Sutherland
View from the goal
Another valuable 3 points it was very much a tale of two halves the first we were dominant, slick and played some really neat stuff the second for around 20-25 minutes we couldn’t get a hold of the ball. Credit to Groats they stuck to their task and played some pretty decent stuff with a young team and they spirit they showed is essential if they are to somehow survive. Offensively Granty is just in a class of his own with the ball at his feet it he is just superb and took his goals really well and he is the kind of player that makes the difference. Small mention for Large Edward who certainly had an effect on the game when he came on and not just the wiping out of Mildoo.