Post by Michael Gray on Jul 31, 2006 11:17:20 GMT
United entered their second cup Quarter Final in 3 days keen to try and eradicate the memory of Saturdays defeat but yet again a match with Rovers was to end in frustration. The crowd had barely settled into the barriers when Rovers took the lead wonderful play down the right by McKiddie saw him skip away from Gary Mackay and whip in a fine cross for Weir who stole a march on Baker before toe poking the ball passed Gray. United were stung the front two of Cook and Cassidy tried to find a way back into the match but to often there was a disjoint at the crucial stage of the move that stopped them from really getting at the Rovers backline. A fine move down the right saw Cassidy pick he ball up on the right hand side of the box he twisted passed Muir before crossing low but the Rovers defence had retreated in numbers and Alan Sinclair cleared for a corner. Home skipper Gavin Bremner swung in the flag kick to the far post but Gray’s attempt to square with a header was blocked and cleared at the near post by Macdonald. After 15 mins McKiddie again raced clear clean through on Gray the young striker rounded the keeper but was forced suitably wide for Baker to get back and cover however he still managed to find Weir who rather scuffed his shot goalwards and the shot rebounded off the post and Gray gratefully smothered the loose ball. Minutes later a fine run by Gavin Sutherland was ended abruptly by Muir giving United a freekick on the right hand side of the box Bremner swept in the cross Brian Gray made a near post run but failed to get the necessary purchase on the shot. The visitors responded when Macleod broke up an attack and strode forward but with options either side he elected to shoot from the edge of the box it was partially blocked and Gray again dived on the ball gratefully. With twenty minutes gone Gray was thwarted again when he made a near post run to meet another Bremner corner but McGee was placed perfectly. However the game was to be turned on its head with 20 minutes left in the half when Colin Sinclair broke the offside trap and raced clear he attempted to round keeper Gray who went down at the midfielders feet and clawed the ball away only for referee Arrowsmith to blow his whistle and give a penalty to compound that decision he then sent the keeper packing to the bemusement of everyone in the ground. Sinclair dusted himself down before rifling in the penalty only to see stand in keeper Brian Gray brilliantly turn away the spot kick. However lady luck was not shining on the Dunnet side as shortly afterwards when they were reduced to 9 men temporarily as the medical team tried to stem the flow of blood from Gavin Sutherland’s nose after the winger took a bang in the face. It was during this time that United were further rocked when Sinclair received the ball on the edge of the box his drive looked harmless enough until it deflected of Martin Baker and completely wrong footed Gray to send Rovers 2 up.
Half time
Pentland Utd 0-2 Wick Rovers
United responded at the break by bringing on Mark Nichol to replace Gavin Sutherland who was unable to continue with a broken nose. The tall striker returning after an operation still looked sharp early on after more than a month out. He twisted and turned and found space to pick out Lee Sutherland on the charge down the left but he couldn’t quite manage to get in a shot but United were fighting hard although getting very little reward as time and time again they found space but couldn’t find the killer ball and all the time they were left vulnerable to the counter attack and the elusive running of McKiddie. Cook and Cassidy linked up well down the right that saw the Armadale man again make space for himself but Sinclair again got himself in the way of the centre. Nichol again showed impressive ball control before dinking a lovely bal into the path of Willie Inrig who had made a late dash into the box but the ball rather sat up awkwardly and the midfielder’s attempted lob found the roof of the net but unfortunately for the Dunnet men it was on the wrong side of the bar. Weir then was denied by a brave block from Baker after the centre forward had held his position on the edge of the box allowing Mckiddie to find him with a cut back after the young man had made a great run into the area. But United continued to hold the upper hand in spite of their numerical disadvantage Lee Sutherland made another impressive dash into the area onto an Inrig pass and seemed to be fouled by Davidson but carried on with his run despite being off balance and when he regained his composure the visiting defence managed to crowd out his effort. McGee was called into action only on one real occasion when he left his line to block a Mark Nichol effort after Lee Sutherland had climbed highest to knock down a Cook cross into the path of substitute but the keeper was brave and spread himself well. The final action of the night summed up the game for the home team, Inrig tried to prise open the defence with a freekick on halfway but Colin Sinclair intercepted and freed Macdonald who ran clear before producing a fine lob over the advancing Gray to complete a miserable night for the men in black and send Rovers into the semi-finals.
Full time
Pentland Utd 0-3 Wick Rovers
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. M Baker 4. B Gray 5. G Sutherland 6. G Bremner (c) 7. L Sutherland 8. W Inrig 9. L Cassidy 10. M Cook 11. B Thain
View from the goal
A very harsh scoreline that doesn’t really tell the full story we started poorly and to be fair Rovers were the sharper and deservedly went ahead but after that it was all about the refereeing decision to send myself off. I actually think it was shame on Rovers as well as it took the gloss of a good performance and great result for them but there you go. I always try to be honest in my reports and this is no different I got a clear hand to the ball and completely changed the path it was taking so in my mind there is no way it could have been a penalty far less a sending off but that is history now. Thought the guys showed tremendous spirit and effort but never got a break in front of goal hard to take two defeats so close together but we can’t afford to feel sorry for ourselves as there is still the league to contend with starting with a tough match in Thurso v Swifts on Wednesday night.
Half time
Pentland Utd 0-2 Wick Rovers
United responded at the break by bringing on Mark Nichol to replace Gavin Sutherland who was unable to continue with a broken nose. The tall striker returning after an operation still looked sharp early on after more than a month out. He twisted and turned and found space to pick out Lee Sutherland on the charge down the left but he couldn’t quite manage to get in a shot but United were fighting hard although getting very little reward as time and time again they found space but couldn’t find the killer ball and all the time they were left vulnerable to the counter attack and the elusive running of McKiddie. Cook and Cassidy linked up well down the right that saw the Armadale man again make space for himself but Sinclair again got himself in the way of the centre. Nichol again showed impressive ball control before dinking a lovely bal into the path of Willie Inrig who had made a late dash into the box but the ball rather sat up awkwardly and the midfielder’s attempted lob found the roof of the net but unfortunately for the Dunnet men it was on the wrong side of the bar. Weir then was denied by a brave block from Baker after the centre forward had held his position on the edge of the box allowing Mckiddie to find him with a cut back after the young man had made a great run into the area. But United continued to hold the upper hand in spite of their numerical disadvantage Lee Sutherland made another impressive dash into the area onto an Inrig pass and seemed to be fouled by Davidson but carried on with his run despite being off balance and when he regained his composure the visiting defence managed to crowd out his effort. McGee was called into action only on one real occasion when he left his line to block a Mark Nichol effort after Lee Sutherland had climbed highest to knock down a Cook cross into the path of substitute but the keeper was brave and spread himself well. The final action of the night summed up the game for the home team, Inrig tried to prise open the defence with a freekick on halfway but Colin Sinclair intercepted and freed Macdonald who ran clear before producing a fine lob over the advancing Gray to complete a miserable night for the men in black and send Rovers into the semi-finals.
Full time
Pentland Utd 0-3 Wick Rovers
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. M Baker 4. B Gray 5. G Sutherland 6. G Bremner (c) 7. L Sutherland 8. W Inrig 9. L Cassidy 10. M Cook 11. B Thain
View from the goal
A very harsh scoreline that doesn’t really tell the full story we started poorly and to be fair Rovers were the sharper and deservedly went ahead but after that it was all about the refereeing decision to send myself off. I actually think it was shame on Rovers as well as it took the gloss of a good performance and great result for them but there you go. I always try to be honest in my reports and this is no different I got a clear hand to the ball and completely changed the path it was taking so in my mind there is no way it could have been a penalty far less a sending off but that is history now. Thought the guys showed tremendous spirit and effort but never got a break in front of goal hard to take two defeats so close together but we can’t afford to feel sorry for ourselves as there is still the league to contend with starting with a tough match in Thurso v Swifts on Wednesday night.