Post by Michael Gray on May 18, 2007 11:27:14 GMT
Funny how 5 days can make such a huge difference in football United finished Monday night’s encounter superbly knocking the ball about to great effect and giving their opponents a torrid time but come 4.45 on Saturday May 12th it was quite the opposite. There is a saying that May comes in like a lion and out like a lamb well this match was quite the opposite. United started brightly enough with Martin Bain looking the most likely threat down the left the young winger has had a relatively quiet start to his career in Dunnet but now looks like coming to the fore and throughout this encounter he was to be United’s best player although quite how much a compliment that is to him is questionable. The Halkirk based wideman had the game’s first effort of any real note when he struck a clearance from Graham Swanson first time on the half volley with McCulloch having to look sharp to turn the daisy cutter around the post. Halkirk responded with a Michael Bremner strike from the edge of the 18 yard box that whizzed just wide of Gray’s top right hand corner as both sides attempted to dominate proceedings but were failing to assert the necessary pressure. Dingwall recruit Chapman then had a chance for the visitors when he burst clear down the left past Skinner but the frontman’s touch was a tad heavy as he reached the box and Gray managed to smuggle the ball away for a corner. United responded again through Bain who latched on to a nice pass from Gray and drove into the box as the angle reduced he let fly but only found the side net much to his frustration. Farquhar then latched on to a long kick from Gray his first touch was sublime killing the ball but his second let him down badly hooking the ball over the bar. Brian Gray’s long throws always are a good source of attack and with Tony Farquhar in vicinity chances are always likely and on several different occasions in the half scrambles ensued but still United lacked that vital spark I could go on to make a ‘all at seas’ remark but that would be just to corny. With less than 5 minutes to go before the break the deadlock was broken in sensational fashion. McCulloch’s byekick picked out Mackay-Steven 30 yards from goal the striker took a poor first touch but more than made up for it with a quite sensational volley that flew into the top corner leaving the keeper helpless and send United in one up at the break.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 Halkirk
United kicked off the second half in a fashion that would sum up their entire second half display they gave the ball away twice in quick succession and within a few minutes Skinner had been harshly penalised on the right hand side of the box worse was to follow for the sweeper as when Michael Bremner swept in a flat inswinging freekick the Ross-shire man's attempted headed clearance flew into the top corner past a startled Gray. This wasn’t part of the script as far as United were concerned and their play suffered for a 10 minute period when they failed to get to grips with the game but gradually they came back into the game another great run from Bain released Farquhar down the left his first time cross eluded Mackay-Steven but was inch perfect for skipper Bremner but his first time effort went wide although perhaps the midfielder had a little more time than he realised. Minutes later the first controversial moment of the game Bain played the ball into Farquhar who stepped away from Liam Bremner only to be brought crashing to the ground in what looked a certain penalty referee Gunn waved play on much to the bemusement of the home fans and players. Within 5 minutes there was a second talking point when Willie Inrig burst into the box again he went to ground under the challenge this time of Michael Bremner not quite so clear cut but still a decent shout however once again referee Gunn saw no infringement. With just under 20 to go United went into the lead again in spectacular fashion Bain and Mackay-Steven so often the attacking force in the United side on the day combined to feed the ball into Farquhar who in a flash turned and hit an unstoppable volley passed McCulloch. United then instead of relaxing and trying to close the game out went in search of the third and surely killer goal and they were to pay for their cavalier attitude as with ajust over 10 minutes left they were caught on the counter attack a lung bursting run from Michael Bremner saw him feed Adamson who bent a superb effort round Gray from 18 yards for the equaliser. Worse was to follow for United when after Steven was adjudged to have fouled Mackay on the right hand side of the park given some of the tackles that had gone on previously referee Gunn’s decision to book the young defender for the second time seemed harsh a final warning would have been more like common sense. If that was bad then minutes later disaster struck Bain was adjudged to have fouled Elder and Inrig in sheer frustration lashed the ball away having been booked in the first half referee Gunn had absolutely no option but to issue his second red card of the game. Amazingly United then had two quality openings even with nine men the first fell to Lee Sutherland when he latched on to a Farquhar knock down 16 yards from goal but failed to control his shot that rose high over the bar and then Farquhar with what was a guilt edged opportunity after Mackay-Steven had played him in at the angle. Right at the death Halkirk had a half chance to kill the game when Adamson found time and space to control a looping pass from Bremner but the ball just wouldn’t fall quick enough and the strikers shot flew over to bring to an end a action packed second half full of incident.
Full time
Pentland United 2-2 Halkirk
(Mackay-Steven 42, Farquhar 72)
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. J Skinner 4. B Gray 5. M Steven 6. G Bremner (c) (A Richardson 75) 7. L Sutherland 8. W Inrig 9. T Farquhar 10. S Mackay-Steven 11. M Bain
View from the goal
We are still in the competition is about the only consolation we can take out the game we were subdued for spells in the first half and always seemed to be playing within ourselves but all the same had some decent chances and got what seemed the all important opener. Second half started sloppy and it took 10 minutes after the leveller to get going however again we got ahead but showed a bit of naivety when we charged forward looking for the third when there was no need but fair play to Halkirk they took full advantage. We will now have to do it all again next Saturday where I hope we will get a positive response to the game in which will be another extremely competitive fixture.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 Halkirk
United kicked off the second half in a fashion that would sum up their entire second half display they gave the ball away twice in quick succession and within a few minutes Skinner had been harshly penalised on the right hand side of the box worse was to follow for the sweeper as when Michael Bremner swept in a flat inswinging freekick the Ross-shire man's attempted headed clearance flew into the top corner past a startled Gray. This wasn’t part of the script as far as United were concerned and their play suffered for a 10 minute period when they failed to get to grips with the game but gradually they came back into the game another great run from Bain released Farquhar down the left his first time cross eluded Mackay-Steven but was inch perfect for skipper Bremner but his first time effort went wide although perhaps the midfielder had a little more time than he realised. Minutes later the first controversial moment of the game Bain played the ball into Farquhar who stepped away from Liam Bremner only to be brought crashing to the ground in what looked a certain penalty referee Gunn waved play on much to the bemusement of the home fans and players. Within 5 minutes there was a second talking point when Willie Inrig burst into the box again he went to ground under the challenge this time of Michael Bremner not quite so clear cut but still a decent shout however once again referee Gunn saw no infringement. With just under 20 to go United went into the lead again in spectacular fashion Bain and Mackay-Steven so often the attacking force in the United side on the day combined to feed the ball into Farquhar who in a flash turned and hit an unstoppable volley passed McCulloch. United then instead of relaxing and trying to close the game out went in search of the third and surely killer goal and they were to pay for their cavalier attitude as with ajust over 10 minutes left they were caught on the counter attack a lung bursting run from Michael Bremner saw him feed Adamson who bent a superb effort round Gray from 18 yards for the equaliser. Worse was to follow for United when after Steven was adjudged to have fouled Mackay on the right hand side of the park given some of the tackles that had gone on previously referee Gunn’s decision to book the young defender for the second time seemed harsh a final warning would have been more like common sense. If that was bad then minutes later disaster struck Bain was adjudged to have fouled Elder and Inrig in sheer frustration lashed the ball away having been booked in the first half referee Gunn had absolutely no option but to issue his second red card of the game. Amazingly United then had two quality openings even with nine men the first fell to Lee Sutherland when he latched on to a Farquhar knock down 16 yards from goal but failed to control his shot that rose high over the bar and then Farquhar with what was a guilt edged opportunity after Mackay-Steven had played him in at the angle. Right at the death Halkirk had a half chance to kill the game when Adamson found time and space to control a looping pass from Bremner but the ball just wouldn’t fall quick enough and the strikers shot flew over to bring to an end a action packed second half full of incident.
Full time
Pentland United 2-2 Halkirk
(Mackay-Steven 42, Farquhar 72)
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. J Skinner 4. B Gray 5. M Steven 6. G Bremner (c) (A Richardson 75) 7. L Sutherland 8. W Inrig 9. T Farquhar 10. S Mackay-Steven 11. M Bain
View from the goal
We are still in the competition is about the only consolation we can take out the game we were subdued for spells in the first half and always seemed to be playing within ourselves but all the same had some decent chances and got what seemed the all important opener. Second half started sloppy and it took 10 minutes after the leveller to get going however again we got ahead but showed a bit of naivety when we charged forward looking for the third when there was no need but fair play to Halkirk they took full advantage. We will now have to do it all again next Saturday where I hope we will get a positive response to the game in which will be another extremely competitive fixture.