Post by Michael Gray on May 10, 2007 11:37:20 GMT
United arrived in Castletown on the back of a big victory versus Thurso Pentland on the Friday night but knowing their opponents had also started well taking a deserved point from Swifts in their previous game. As it would turn out the Castletown men were to show the greater appetite for the match to run out deserved winners. Although prominent in the early stages Castletown never really created anything until the 15 min when Steven Macdonald found space just inside the box but as he tried to shift the ball Michael Steven intervened and cleared for a corner from the resulting flagkick, Gavin Henderson rose highest at the far post but failed to get any purchase on the header. The majority of the traffic continued to flow towards the United end as the Dunnet men struggled to find any rhythm or fluency rarely breaking free with any conviction. Referee Makhouli turned away half hearted claims for a penalty for United when Scott Mackay-Steven made excellent progress down the left before whipping in a teasing cross for Farquhar who seemed odds on favourite until eased out of it by Florence. But it was still the homeside who held the upper hand earning a series of set pieces around the area that had Gray and his backline at full stretch to deal with. Mid-way through the half the deadlock was broken Henderson picked the ball up on the right broke a tackle before firing in a flat cross, Manson had gambled early and dived to send a header high passed Gray into the top corner from 6 yards. United’s response was immediate another loping run from Mackay saw a high ball floated into the box Sinclair failed to gather under pressure from Grant Budge the ball dropped to skipper Bremner who flashed a shot inches wide from 20 yards. But still the lethargy and flatness was all too apparent in the United line-up although Morris picked up the games first booking handling the ball trying to cut out a pass from Brian Gray. Henderson brought out a decent save from Gray with 10 minutes left in the half running on to a long Florence pass he hammered in a volley from 18 yards that Gray turned away for a corner at his near post. Sutherland had a couple of decent runs into the right channel as Castletown looked to turn the screw and the pacey frontman certainly had the United defence at full stretch but he just couldn’t quite find the killer pass.
Half time
Castletown 1-0 Pentland United
Surely United would rally and try to drag themselves back into the game must have been the thoughts of their supporters and surely they couldn’t turn out another half of such poor appetite however the early signs weren’t great although competing much better they were making next to no head-way. The alarming thing was the amount of wasted set-pieces countless freekicks and corners the running off the ball and the delivery both culminating in wasted chances to draw level. Ten minutes into the half disaster struck again MacDonald picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and drove towards goal before letting fly from just over 20 yards his sclaffed effort however landed straight at the feet of Manson who couldn’t believe his luck and slammed the ball passed the advancing Gray. However moments later United were handed a lifeline when a Bremner corner was half cleared to Martin Bain who hooked the ball back into the danger area as Brian Gray attempted to retrieve the ball for a second time Henderson pushed him in the back giving referee Makhouli no option but to point to the spot, Willie Inrig stepped after some completely unnecessary comments swept the ball into the net, game on you would have thought. Castletown had brought on former referee Colin Macleod in the aim to add a more physical presence up front and within 5 mins of United being back into the game they were back to square one again Manson was heavily involved down the left hand side of the park whipping in a testing cross Macleod attempted to head goalwards but only succeeded in flicking the ball over Steven however it dropped sweetly for Sutherland who sent a brilliant volley rocketing past Gray to re-establish the two goal cushion. Asa Sinclair who had hardly been involved up until that point then produced an excellent save at his near post as Budge looked to first time a shot into the top corner. The keeper however was helpless moments last when a beautifully angled Gavin Bremner pass found Farquhar on the penalty spot the striker killed the ball on the chest before firing passed the encroaching Sinclair again you would think game on but Castletown weren’t going to buckle and with just under 10 to go they killed the contest a super pass from Macdonald into the left channel saw Manson race clear and fire high into the net via Gray’s outstretched arm for a super hat-trick. United did show character in the remaining minutes with Farquhar twice bringing out decent saves from Sinclair from set-pieces but the keeper’s handling was as assured as his team-mates performance and they held on for a deserved 4-2 victory
Full time
Castletown 4-2 Pentland United
(Inrig 58, Farquhar 78)
1. M Gray 2. M Bain (A Richardson 72) 3. R Sutherland (G Mackay 65) 4. B Gray 5. M Steven 6. G Bremner (c) 7. L Sutherland 8. W Inrig 9. G Budge 72 10. T Farquhar 11. S Mackay-Steven
Subs not used
Cook, G Mackenzie
View from the goal
Disappointment doesn’t even come close to the feeling after the game we were poor and got what we deserved whether we just thought we had to turn up and it would be ok or what I don’t know but it never happened at all for us and I have no complaints about the scoreline. I know there was fortune to at least two of their goals but no-one can begrudge them the victory that puts them in pole position for the league championship we on the other hand must re-group for another rural derby versus Halkirk on Monday.
Half time
Castletown 1-0 Pentland United
Surely United would rally and try to drag themselves back into the game must have been the thoughts of their supporters and surely they couldn’t turn out another half of such poor appetite however the early signs weren’t great although competing much better they were making next to no head-way. The alarming thing was the amount of wasted set-pieces countless freekicks and corners the running off the ball and the delivery both culminating in wasted chances to draw level. Ten minutes into the half disaster struck again MacDonald picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and drove towards goal before letting fly from just over 20 yards his sclaffed effort however landed straight at the feet of Manson who couldn’t believe his luck and slammed the ball passed the advancing Gray. However moments later United were handed a lifeline when a Bremner corner was half cleared to Martin Bain who hooked the ball back into the danger area as Brian Gray attempted to retrieve the ball for a second time Henderson pushed him in the back giving referee Makhouli no option but to point to the spot, Willie Inrig stepped after some completely unnecessary comments swept the ball into the net, game on you would have thought. Castletown had brought on former referee Colin Macleod in the aim to add a more physical presence up front and within 5 mins of United being back into the game they were back to square one again Manson was heavily involved down the left hand side of the park whipping in a testing cross Macleod attempted to head goalwards but only succeeded in flicking the ball over Steven however it dropped sweetly for Sutherland who sent a brilliant volley rocketing past Gray to re-establish the two goal cushion. Asa Sinclair who had hardly been involved up until that point then produced an excellent save at his near post as Budge looked to first time a shot into the top corner. The keeper however was helpless moments last when a beautifully angled Gavin Bremner pass found Farquhar on the penalty spot the striker killed the ball on the chest before firing passed the encroaching Sinclair again you would think game on but Castletown weren’t going to buckle and with just under 10 to go they killed the contest a super pass from Macdonald into the left channel saw Manson race clear and fire high into the net via Gray’s outstretched arm for a super hat-trick. United did show character in the remaining minutes with Farquhar twice bringing out decent saves from Sinclair from set-pieces but the keeper’s handling was as assured as his team-mates performance and they held on for a deserved 4-2 victory
Full time
Castletown 4-2 Pentland United
(Inrig 58, Farquhar 78)
1. M Gray 2. M Bain (A Richardson 72) 3. R Sutherland (G Mackay 65) 4. B Gray 5. M Steven 6. G Bremner (c) 7. L Sutherland 8. W Inrig 9. G Budge 72 10. T Farquhar 11. S Mackay-Steven
Subs not used
Cook, G Mackenzie
View from the goal
Disappointment doesn’t even come close to the feeling after the game we were poor and got what we deserved whether we just thought we had to turn up and it would be ok or what I don’t know but it never happened at all for us and I have no complaints about the scoreline. I know there was fortune to at least two of their goals but no-one can begrudge them the victory that puts them in pole position for the league championship we on the other hand must re-group for another rural derby versus Halkirk on Monday.