Post by Michael Gray on Apr 19, 2007 11:24:57 GMT
It was a case of starting as you finished as Rovers returned to Dunnet for the first game of the 2007 season. Manager Duncan Gray had been busy during the winter months with no less than 5 new faces in the squad against the bogey team of last season. The scorching weather of the weekend had subsided and frequent wintery showers were less than ideal for the start of the summer season. The home side opened brightly with loping runs of Grant Budge so often a feature of his game last season proving extremely elusive to the Wick defence. The opening goal came just after the 15 min mark Ross Sutherland picked the ball up on half way and floated a pass over the head of Macdonald allowing G Budge to race clear before whipping in an early shot leaving Kelly helpless. The keeper did well however minutes later to claw away a wicked Bremner corner kick at the near post the midfielder picked up the loose ball and whipped in another tempting cross, which Sutherland powered back into the danger area but the ever alert Alan Sinclair cleared the ball away. Rovers proved to be a tough nut to crack for United last season and they have strengthened their squad this season so United couldn’t afford to rest on their laurels especially with the impressive Brian McKiddie in midfield. However United were continuing to impress Jimmy Budge who had notched a goal in the Rural league v Halkirk expertly rolled Alan Sinclair as the central defender tried to get tight to the striker but he delayed his shot and eventually his layback to Willie Inrig was cut out. The second goal was delayed to shortly before the half hour mark another Gavin Bremner corner caused confusion with the ball landing at Grant Budge’s feet the striker took at touch that seemed to close his angle but he still managed to whip in an unstoppable right foot shot. 2-0 can be a strange scoreline as when you are leading you don’t know whether to stick or twist and United did seem to stall at this point and gave away a few corners which had a few hearts in mouths. Firstly John Harper rose unchallenged at the back post to power a header wide although to be fair Grant Budge on the line had it covered. Then Brian McKiddie stole a march on his marker and flicked a header right across goal begging to be finished. The Wick side then had their best chance of the half with around 5 minutes to half time when a neat interchange saw Colin McKiddie released on the angle he hit a powerful shot straight at Gray who parried for a corner. The final chance of the half came when tremendous pressure from Martin Bain and Jimmy Budge saw Alan Sinclair lose possession on the left hand side of the park, Grant Budge capitalised on the loose ball racing goalwards he was pulled back by Colin Davidson. From resultant freekick Gavin Bremner smacked a powerful drive into the wall and the ball was cleared to safety.
Half time
Pentland United 2-0 Wick Rovers
I am sure there is a song ‘Four Seasons in one Day’ and the weather during this game was entirely to that tune, hail, wind, sun and rain all appearing at various occasions through the half. After the turn around United had the stiff breeze at the their backs as the attacked up the gentle slope of Ham Park, however right from the off it was apparent that James Robertson and his management team had re-focussed their teams efforts and they attacked United with a renewed vigour and less than ten minutes into the half they got their rewards when a loose pass from Steven in the Rovers half was seized upon by Davidson and he floated a long through ball splitting the United defence allowing Reid to race clear draw Gray and fire a shot via the underside of the keeper into the net from 12 yards. With the tails clearly up Rovers pressed on Colin McKiddie did well down the right beating Bain before firing in a low cross that keeper Gray cut out with his feet and the ball rebounded of Steven for a corner. But is was all to turn sour, Colin Sinclair booked in the first half for rash high challenge on centre half Gray was guilty of another very late challenge on the same player after he cleared the ball giving referee Anderson absolutely no option but to order the forward from the field. This spelled disaster for the Wick side as within 5 mins United had re-established their two goal cushion Willie Inrig picked the ball up on the right hand side of the park ten yards inside the Rovers half and he swept a high tantalising cross into the area looking for Grant Budge, Macdonald met the ball but could only look on in anguish as his header beat Kelly and landed in the corner of the net. This was to be a fatal blow to the visitors hopes caught between trying to salvage something from the game with 10 men they were getting picked off at every opportunity as the United midfield stamped their authority on the game. Jimmy Budge was loudly applauded by the healthy crowd for his efforts as he was replaced by Andrew Richardson he quickly took up the mantle winning a corner on the right, Bremner’s flagkick was cleared away for another corner this time taken by Ross Sutherland his wicked inswinger was touched by Kelly only for Brian Gray to force over the line amid claims by his fellow defender that the ball had already crossed the line, an argument that will rage all year no doubt. Manager Gray wasted no time in stripping his remaining subs Mackay-Steven replaced skipper Bremner and quickly linked brilliantly with Richardson who deftly backheeled the ball into the striker’s path only for the substitute’s route to goal being blocked away. Then 15 year old Gordon Mackenzie replace Gary Mackay and settled in very well looking calm on the ball and solid in the tackle basically everything his Father Gordon snr a former captain and chairman wasn’t. United continued to knock the ball about comfortably without really looking like adding to the scoreline in fact Rovers substitute Weir almost had the last say when he broke clear down the left before sending a powerful drive from 18 yards just past the post.
Full time
Pentland United 4-1Wick Rovers
(G Budge 17 & 26, P Macdonald OG 62, B Gray 73)
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay (G Mackenzie 79) 3. R Sutherland 4. B Gray 5. M Steven 6. G Bremner (c) (S Mackay-Steven 74) 7. L Sutherland 8. W Inrig 9. J Budge (A Richardson 72) 10. G Budge 11. M Bain
Subs not used
S Moodie
View from the goal
Super start thought we opened up well Granty causing havoc upfront and Jimmy also showing up very well. Went to sleep a little after the second goal and probably took them scoring for us to snap out of it. The sending off was obviously pivotal and how the game would have finished if they had remained with 11 is anyone’s guess but that is football. Thought the whole squad looked good though and we had strong bench, which bodes well as the months go on we will need strength in depth something we couldn’t boast last year. Thought all the new boys settled in very well as if they had been here for years and the nucleus of the squad is now a good age. Final mention for young Gordon not everyday a 15 year old makes his debut for the club but he has all the right attributes to an excellent player in the future. I am sure Rovers will regroup and are certain to be a force in Caithness this year and will be looking to add to the silverware they won last year.
Half time
Pentland United 2-0 Wick Rovers
I am sure there is a song ‘Four Seasons in one Day’ and the weather during this game was entirely to that tune, hail, wind, sun and rain all appearing at various occasions through the half. After the turn around United had the stiff breeze at the their backs as the attacked up the gentle slope of Ham Park, however right from the off it was apparent that James Robertson and his management team had re-focussed their teams efforts and they attacked United with a renewed vigour and less than ten minutes into the half they got their rewards when a loose pass from Steven in the Rovers half was seized upon by Davidson and he floated a long through ball splitting the United defence allowing Reid to race clear draw Gray and fire a shot via the underside of the keeper into the net from 12 yards. With the tails clearly up Rovers pressed on Colin McKiddie did well down the right beating Bain before firing in a low cross that keeper Gray cut out with his feet and the ball rebounded of Steven for a corner. But is was all to turn sour, Colin Sinclair booked in the first half for rash high challenge on centre half Gray was guilty of another very late challenge on the same player after he cleared the ball giving referee Anderson absolutely no option but to order the forward from the field. This spelled disaster for the Wick side as within 5 mins United had re-established their two goal cushion Willie Inrig picked the ball up on the right hand side of the park ten yards inside the Rovers half and he swept a high tantalising cross into the area looking for Grant Budge, Macdonald met the ball but could only look on in anguish as his header beat Kelly and landed in the corner of the net. This was to be a fatal blow to the visitors hopes caught between trying to salvage something from the game with 10 men they were getting picked off at every opportunity as the United midfield stamped their authority on the game. Jimmy Budge was loudly applauded by the healthy crowd for his efforts as he was replaced by Andrew Richardson he quickly took up the mantle winning a corner on the right, Bremner’s flagkick was cleared away for another corner this time taken by Ross Sutherland his wicked inswinger was touched by Kelly only for Brian Gray to force over the line amid claims by his fellow defender that the ball had already crossed the line, an argument that will rage all year no doubt. Manager Gray wasted no time in stripping his remaining subs Mackay-Steven replaced skipper Bremner and quickly linked brilliantly with Richardson who deftly backheeled the ball into the striker’s path only for the substitute’s route to goal being blocked away. Then 15 year old Gordon Mackenzie replace Gary Mackay and settled in very well looking calm on the ball and solid in the tackle basically everything his Father Gordon snr a former captain and chairman wasn’t. United continued to knock the ball about comfortably without really looking like adding to the scoreline in fact Rovers substitute Weir almost had the last say when he broke clear down the left before sending a powerful drive from 18 yards just past the post.
Full time
Pentland United 4-1Wick Rovers
(G Budge 17 & 26, P Macdonald OG 62, B Gray 73)
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay (G Mackenzie 79) 3. R Sutherland 4. B Gray 5. M Steven 6. G Bremner (c) (S Mackay-Steven 74) 7. L Sutherland 8. W Inrig 9. J Budge (A Richardson 72) 10. G Budge 11. M Bain
Subs not used
S Moodie
View from the goal
Super start thought we opened up well Granty causing havoc upfront and Jimmy also showing up very well. Went to sleep a little after the second goal and probably took them scoring for us to snap out of it. The sending off was obviously pivotal and how the game would have finished if they had remained with 11 is anyone’s guess but that is football. Thought the whole squad looked good though and we had strong bench, which bodes well as the months go on we will need strength in depth something we couldn’t boast last year. Thought all the new boys settled in very well as if they had been here for years and the nucleus of the squad is now a good age. Final mention for young Gordon not everyday a 15 year old makes his debut for the club but he has all the right attributes to an excellent player in the future. I am sure Rovers will regroup and are certain to be a force in Caithness this year and will be looking to add to the silverware they won last year.