Post by Michael Gray on May 21, 2007 11:04:58 GMT
United travelled east along the north coast for another rural derby against John O’Groats a team they have struggled with since their entry to the County league as it would turn out the Dunnet sides best performance of the season would yield an excellent 3 points. The home side as expected came out the blocks in their usual all action style forcing a couple of corners one in particular from Rosie swept right across the goalmouth begging to be turned but no takers were at hand. Slowly however Scott Mackay-Steven, Willie Inrig and Lee Sutherland started to dictate play a triangular move between Mackay-Steven, Budge and Farquhar saw the latter race clear but as Henderson closed the angle the striker’s finish only succeeded in finding the side net. Five minutes later all was forgiven in remarkably similar fashion top the previous opportunity the Groats defence were opened up for the Milton based striker to race in again and this time he made no mistake clipping the ball passed the keeper who had sought to close the angle. Grant Budge was been in decent scoring form recently but the Lybster man’s golden touch deserted him minutes later as he cut inside from the left on to an Aarron Smith pass only to pull his shot wide. However the extension of the lead was only momentarily delayed a long through ball from Inrig saw Farquhar ad Stuart Sinclair (younger) take off in chase Sinclair was to lose his feeting at the worst possible time allowing the striker to run in and finish with ease. The elder Stuart Sinclair epitomises the spirit Groats have to game he is all action and is constantly trying to drive his team forward and his 20 yard drive wasn’t to far away from pulling his team back into contention. Groats were enjoying a slight resurgence at this point and Derek Munro then appealed for hand ball after cutting in from the left and driving in a shot from the edge of the box his shot struck Steven but the defenders pose afterwards suggested the ball never struck that part of his anatomy. Grant Budge then made it 3-0 when Aarron Smith cut in from the left before producing a fine reverse pass allowing Budge to race in and whip a shot across Henderson into the far corner. Ten minutes before the beak Lee Sutherland tried to get in on the action when he lashed a right foot shot from fully 25 yards high over the bar as United were now rampant the slick interplay giving the Groats defence a torrid time and there could be no complaints when number four arrived. Mackay-Steven dinked a ball into the penalty area from a freekick 35 yards from goal the ball went through a series of head tennis before centre half Gray acrobatically scissor kicked in a volley from 12 yards.
Half time
JOG 0-4 Pentland United
It was going to take a mammoth effort for Groats to turn this around but with the introduction of Henstridge they were going to go for it. Farquhar had a glorious chance within 10 mins to put to bed any lingering doubts when he again raced clear but just when a hat-trick looked on the cards the strikers finish deserted him. Golspie winger Smith however showed the striker how it should be done, Martin Bain released Budge down the right the striker stepped by Ross before whipping a beautiful cross for the little winger to finish in emphatic style on the volley from 16 yards. Groats had a chance to hit back immediately when the United defence was caught at 6’s and 7’s allowing Derek Munro to play in Henstridge whose initial shot with the outside of the foot was blocked by keeper Gray the striker reacted first but could only knock the rebound wide with his head. Martin Bain who is still to get of the mark when it comes to goals, then produced a dazzling run down the right that saw him clear in on goal at the angle however Henderson produced a fine save to deny the winger. Drew Richardson was the next up after great interplay saw the tall midfielder race into the box but unfortunately on his weaker left foot and that told in the finish. Fellow central midfielder Lee Sutherland found himself in a similar position racing on to a great Mackay-Steven through ball but unfortunately once again the left foot finish lacked power. United were very much in the ascendancy at this point and were dominant from midfield forward Smith was next up cutting in from the left his right foot finish was pulled wide much to his frustration. Grant Budge’s final involvement of the night was another desperately close effort great interplay saw Mackay-Steven release Smith down the left the speedy winger outstripped the defence and fed the ball into Budge who deftly slipped the ball away from Sinclair before reversing the shot back across goal narrowly missing the far post. Keeper Gray nearly presented Groats with a consolation when he failed to hold on to a routine centre sparking a mass scramble which ended in Skinner clearing the ball off the line from a Munro effort.
Full time
JOG 0-5 Pentland United
(Farquhar 18, 27, Budge 33, B Gray 41, Smith 61)
1. M Gray 2. M Steven (G Mackay 66) 3. J Skinner 4. B Gray 5. L Sutherland 6. S Mackay-Steven 7. A Smith 8. W Inrig (c) (58). T Farquhar 10. G Budge (D Manson 74) 11. M Bain
View from the goal
A super performance some really slick football where we opened up Groats regularly something we have always struggled to do especially out there. It was a great response to what was a desperately disappointing performance at the weekend and hopefully a catalyst to better things. I can’t speak to highly of the attitude and effort that was displayed in what is always a very tricky fixture lets keep it going.
Half time
JOG 0-4 Pentland United
It was going to take a mammoth effort for Groats to turn this around but with the introduction of Henstridge they were going to go for it. Farquhar had a glorious chance within 10 mins to put to bed any lingering doubts when he again raced clear but just when a hat-trick looked on the cards the strikers finish deserted him. Golspie winger Smith however showed the striker how it should be done, Martin Bain released Budge down the right the striker stepped by Ross before whipping a beautiful cross for the little winger to finish in emphatic style on the volley from 16 yards. Groats had a chance to hit back immediately when the United defence was caught at 6’s and 7’s allowing Derek Munro to play in Henstridge whose initial shot with the outside of the foot was blocked by keeper Gray the striker reacted first but could only knock the rebound wide with his head. Martin Bain who is still to get of the mark when it comes to goals, then produced a dazzling run down the right that saw him clear in on goal at the angle however Henderson produced a fine save to deny the winger. Drew Richardson was the next up after great interplay saw the tall midfielder race into the box but unfortunately on his weaker left foot and that told in the finish. Fellow central midfielder Lee Sutherland found himself in a similar position racing on to a great Mackay-Steven through ball but unfortunately once again the left foot finish lacked power. United were very much in the ascendancy at this point and were dominant from midfield forward Smith was next up cutting in from the left his right foot finish was pulled wide much to his frustration. Grant Budge’s final involvement of the night was another desperately close effort great interplay saw Mackay-Steven release Smith down the left the speedy winger outstripped the defence and fed the ball into Budge who deftly slipped the ball away from Sinclair before reversing the shot back across goal narrowly missing the far post. Keeper Gray nearly presented Groats with a consolation when he failed to hold on to a routine centre sparking a mass scramble which ended in Skinner clearing the ball off the line from a Munro effort.
Full time
JOG 0-5 Pentland United
(Farquhar 18, 27, Budge 33, B Gray 41, Smith 61)
1. M Gray 2. M Steven (G Mackay 66) 3. J Skinner 4. B Gray 5. L Sutherland 6. S Mackay-Steven 7. A Smith 8. W Inrig (c) (58). T Farquhar 10. G Budge (D Manson 74) 11. M Bain
View from the goal
A super performance some really slick football where we opened up Groats regularly something we have always struggled to do especially out there. It was a great response to what was a desperately disappointing performance at the weekend and hopefully a catalyst to better things. I can’t speak to highly of the attitude and effort that was displayed in what is always a very tricky fixture lets keep it going.