Post by Michael Gray on May 23, 2007 11:32:00 GMT
It was take two in the second round of the Highland Amateur Cup second round as United locked horns with old rivals Halkirk for a the right to progress into round 3. With a stiff wind blowing from the road end of the ground to the Riding Centre the home side won the toss and decided to play with the wind. Halkirk skipper Steven Campbell almost gave his side the proverbial dream start when a long switch from Lee Elder found the midfielder on the left hand side of the box he cut back inside Lee Sutherland and drove in a shot that Gray grabbed at the second attempt. After ten minutes United should have taken the lead a Mackay-Steven corner was cleared as far as Bain on the right side of the box and his delightful cross picked out Brian Gray all alone at the back post but the defender’s header was badly mis-directed failing to trouble the keeper. The visiting support were then up in arms after quarter of an hour as quick feet just inside the penalty area on the right hand side saw Farquhar step away from the attentions of Henderson and Swanson only for his trailing leg to be nipped away, the striker could only look on in frustration as referee Gunn waved away the claims. United’s best move of the half then saw Bain release Farquhar down the left hand channel the tall striker took a touch before firing in at the near post McCulloch handling was assured although perhaps a cross to the inrushing Budge would have been a better option. United keeper Gray then caused a few hearts to flutter amongst his supporters when a vicious inswinging Bremner cross saw him clear the ball with his feet on the volley at the expense of a corner although how much control was in the unorthodox clearance is debateable. Liam Mackay excelled in the first game in Dunnet and he was very close to breaking the deadlock after a mazy run saw him with a clear shot at goal from 18 yards but the youngster couldn’t find enough direction in his finish and Gray gathered comfortably on the 6 yard line. Another sweeping move from Halkirk down the right saw the ball slipped into Adamson who in turn fed Chapman but the Dingwall striker’s finish on his left foot was wayward. Historically this match has always been one full of passion and spirit occasionally these things boil over and this happened right on half-time Farquhar stepped round Henderson and appeared to be impeded by the centre half the striker then returned the favour knocking over the defender who reacted by pushing Farquhar to the ground as he tried to get to his feet earning him the game’s first booking.
Half time
Halkirk 0-0 Pentland United
After a fairly even first half where neither side had really done enough to merit a lead United opened with a sense of purpose an early long throw from Brian Gray saw Farquhar flick the ball goalwards but McCulloch showed good hands holding the ball at full stretch. The same combination then linked up from a Mackay-Steven corner with Farquhar nodding the ball back into the danger area where it seemed Gray would break the deadlock but the defender didn’t get a clean touch on the ball and the Halkirk somehow smuggled the ball clear from the goal line. They repeated the escape act 5 minutes later when Bain found Budge on the run down the left he slipped away from Swanson before centring the ball the ball beat McCulloch at the near post but Henderson’s challenge on Farquhar stopped the striker getting any real contact on the ball. United were on top at the moment but Halkirk were sharp on the break and Lee Elder cut in from the right to fire in a good near post drive that Gray smothered with Chapman awaiting any mistake. Skipper Willie Inrig then decided to try his luck from distance after a series of one touch passes between Budge and Mackay-Steven saw Lee Sutherland lay the ball into the path of midfielder who from fully 30 yards struck the ball sweetly enough but it continued to rise all the way and McCulloch saw the ball safely over. Halkirk then had the most amazing escape when Farquhar met another Mackay-Steven, McCulloch did brilliantly to turn the ball on to the bar the ball then bounced off the bar for a second time then Gray tried to hook the ball home from the angle but only succeeded in hitting the post. There was a sense that tt really wasn’t Farquhar’s day in front of goal and this was confired when he found space 8 yards out he turned and fired goalwards only for the shot to be blocked on the goal line again and swept away to safety. The break through finally came just after the hour mark Budge was upended by Blackwood some 25 yards from goal, Mackay-Steven didn’t need a second invitation bending the ball round the wall with tremendous power and past the diving McCulloch for a superb opener. The same player then was denied again by the wood work when another wonderful sweeping move saw Budge fly down the left wing before clipping the ball into the tall midfielder who hit the ball first time on the volley crashing the ball off the face of the bar the ball then went into a scramble before referee Gunn intervened with an offside decision. With 20 minutes remaining Halkirk missed a glorious chance to draw level in what was a remarkably similar incident to the second equaliser in Dunnet Michael Bremner intercepted mid-way in his own half and broke at speed with a 4 v 2 in their favour Halkirk made 3 passes before the ball eventually fell to Adamson but he could not repeat last weeks exploits and as he fell back his shot was cleared away by Steven. McCulloch was then called into action again a spiralling kick from Gray saw Budge challenge Swanson and Blackwood the ball fell to Bain who was denied by an excellent save from the big keeper. The clincher came about 15 mins from the end a searching ball from Inrig over Swanson saw the centre back and Budge take off in a race the striker seemed to get there just in front of the defender who in attempting to turn swept the ball away with his arm, referee Gunn was perfectly positioned and awarded the spot-kick, Willie Inrig stepped up to sweep United into the next round. The game as a contest was pretty much killed as a result of the penalty and although both teams endeavoured to create more chances they were at a premium.
Full time
Halkirk 0-2 Pentland United
(Mackay-Steven 63, Inrig 74 (pen))
1. M Gray 2. M Steven 3. J Skinner 4. B Gray 5. L Sutherland 6. S Mackay-Steven 7. G Mackay (B Thain 76) 8. W Inrig (c) T Farquhar 10. G Budge (D Manson 78) 11. M Bain (G Mackenzie 81)
View from the goal
A good second half display against a stuffy Halkirk side who play very well on the counter attack and we took a while to cope with their system. A super strike from Scotty to break the deadlock and we never looked back after that although we did have a massive let off when they broke 4 on 2 but given we were denied so many times by the woodwork and off the goal line credit to the lads for sticking to their task.
Half time
Halkirk 0-0 Pentland United
After a fairly even first half where neither side had really done enough to merit a lead United opened with a sense of purpose an early long throw from Brian Gray saw Farquhar flick the ball goalwards but McCulloch showed good hands holding the ball at full stretch. The same combination then linked up from a Mackay-Steven corner with Farquhar nodding the ball back into the danger area where it seemed Gray would break the deadlock but the defender didn’t get a clean touch on the ball and the Halkirk somehow smuggled the ball clear from the goal line. They repeated the escape act 5 minutes later when Bain found Budge on the run down the left he slipped away from Swanson before centring the ball the ball beat McCulloch at the near post but Henderson’s challenge on Farquhar stopped the striker getting any real contact on the ball. United were on top at the moment but Halkirk were sharp on the break and Lee Elder cut in from the right to fire in a good near post drive that Gray smothered with Chapman awaiting any mistake. Skipper Willie Inrig then decided to try his luck from distance after a series of one touch passes between Budge and Mackay-Steven saw Lee Sutherland lay the ball into the path of midfielder who from fully 30 yards struck the ball sweetly enough but it continued to rise all the way and McCulloch saw the ball safely over. Halkirk then had the most amazing escape when Farquhar met another Mackay-Steven, McCulloch did brilliantly to turn the ball on to the bar the ball then bounced off the bar for a second time then Gray tried to hook the ball home from the angle but only succeeded in hitting the post. There was a sense that tt really wasn’t Farquhar’s day in front of goal and this was confired when he found space 8 yards out he turned and fired goalwards only for the shot to be blocked on the goal line again and swept away to safety. The break through finally came just after the hour mark Budge was upended by Blackwood some 25 yards from goal, Mackay-Steven didn’t need a second invitation bending the ball round the wall with tremendous power and past the diving McCulloch for a superb opener. The same player then was denied again by the wood work when another wonderful sweeping move saw Budge fly down the left wing before clipping the ball into the tall midfielder who hit the ball first time on the volley crashing the ball off the face of the bar the ball then went into a scramble before referee Gunn intervened with an offside decision. With 20 minutes remaining Halkirk missed a glorious chance to draw level in what was a remarkably similar incident to the second equaliser in Dunnet Michael Bremner intercepted mid-way in his own half and broke at speed with a 4 v 2 in their favour Halkirk made 3 passes before the ball eventually fell to Adamson but he could not repeat last weeks exploits and as he fell back his shot was cleared away by Steven. McCulloch was then called into action again a spiralling kick from Gray saw Budge challenge Swanson and Blackwood the ball fell to Bain who was denied by an excellent save from the big keeper. The clincher came about 15 mins from the end a searching ball from Inrig over Swanson saw the centre back and Budge take off in a race the striker seemed to get there just in front of the defender who in attempting to turn swept the ball away with his arm, referee Gunn was perfectly positioned and awarded the spot-kick, Willie Inrig stepped up to sweep United into the next round. The game as a contest was pretty much killed as a result of the penalty and although both teams endeavoured to create more chances they were at a premium.
Full time
Halkirk 0-2 Pentland United
(Mackay-Steven 63, Inrig 74 (pen))
1. M Gray 2. M Steven 3. J Skinner 4. B Gray 5. L Sutherland 6. S Mackay-Steven 7. G Mackay (B Thain 76) 8. W Inrig (c) T Farquhar 10. G Budge (D Manson 78) 11. M Bain (G Mackenzie 81)
View from the goal
A good second half display against a stuffy Halkirk side who play very well on the counter attack and we took a while to cope with their system. A super strike from Scotty to break the deadlock and we never looked back after that although we did have a massive let off when they broke 4 on 2 but given we were denied so many times by the woodwork and off the goal line credit to the lads for sticking to their task.