Post by Michael Gray on May 23, 2007 11:41:16 GMT
After a tough cup game at the weekend probably the last thing United needed was another battle in the form of old foes the Acks but that is the hand they were dealt. United’s team sheet boasted a familiar name in the form of Begg not Jocky but son Scott whose contract with Ross County has just expired and with the uncertainty surrounding the club had decided to return north. In the early exchanges the Dunnet side were nearly given a helping hand from former player Allan Sutherland who in trying to guide a Brian Gray header back to Brian Mackay forced his keeper into a desperate save the ball eventually bounced off a post and the keeper gathered although quite what he said to his central defender is another matter. The Acks have been improving steadily of late boosted with the return of long term casualty Murray Coghill they were competing well against a United side who were slick one minute then careless the next, Robert Mackay had a chance from distance after Begg was penalised for a foul on G Coghill the midfielder’s shot was powerful enough but to high. United as mentioned earlier having good phases of play but not quite finding the killer touch Bain outstripped the defence down the left before centring the ball for Begg who beautifully stepped away from the lunging Sutherland but Moodie at full stretch prevented the midfielder from marking his debut with a goal. Mid-way through the half United had an escape after a concentration lapse from a throw saw Martin Murray manage to turn drive in an angled shot but Gray was down low to save. There was a slight breeze in the Dunnet sky travelling from the cattle end (so named after Tony Farquhar’s celebration there) up the slope but it wasn’t necessarily assisting United although a drifting cross from Mackay-Steven picked out Budge but the striker’s header was to high with Ross Sutherland behind claiming to be in a better position. On the half hour mark another Mackay-Steven corner saw the ball half cleared to Martin Bain 25 yards out the winger hit the ball sweetly on the volley but again the effort was to high. Ten minutes before the break United had a bit of a let off when slackness in the midfield saw Niall Murray break free, cut in from the right and drive for goal but Steven blocked away then Martin Murray had a go but Brian Gray got in the road of the effort and eventually United smuggled the ball away. Gavin Cunningham had produced a decent shift and he showed plenty of confidence moments later stepping on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and fire in a first time effort that went narrowly wide. However right on half-time United should have broken the deadlock superb play saw Mackay-Steven nip away from the attentions of Moodie and drive to the bye line his cut back evaded Inrig but found Budge all alone 6 yards from goal but his left foot effort failed to trouble Mackay in the visitors nets.
Half time
Pentland United 0-0 Acks
In recent matches United have returned to the field buzzing and once again it was no different as they looked for the early break through, it was quite obvious the tempo had been stepped up considerably, Budge produced a superb twist and turn away from Sutherland but Brian Mackay produced an excellent reflex save at the near post to turn the ball away for a corner. However the town side also had a great chance to break the dead lock when a long high ball saw the United defence struggle to clear and R Mackay burst clear his first time effort was tipped round the post by Gray. Martin Bain then tested his former team-mate again after cutting in from the left after linking with Inrig the winger fired in a low drive at the near post that again Mackay dealt with very well. The breakthrough finally came midway through the half when a way wayward pass put Sutherland in all sorts of bother and Budge immediately capitalised racing into the box he stepped passed a couple of despairing lunges before firing into the empty net as Sinclair desperately tried to get back and clear off the line. United had now stepped up a gear and were hungry for the second goal more good play between Begg and Lee Sutherland saw Budge again picked out in the area his first touch took him away from Sutherland but this time help was on hand to smother the situation. The second came courtesy of a set-piece with Scotty Mackay-Steven helping himself to another goal this time on the right side of the box bending the ball right footed around the wall and into the net via the outstretched arm of Mackay who made a desperate attempt to keep the ball out but unfortunately it was in vain. Budge was desperate to add to his personal tally and he again found space in the box when he was picked out by a superb Derek Manson cross but the Lybster man just couldn’t find the necessary direction with his header. Brian Mackay had to look smart with 15 minutes remaining when Mackay Steven found space on the right side of the box he drove to the bye line before centring but the keeper managed to claw the ball over the bar as Budge waited to pounce. Murray Coghill had a chance to pull Acks back into the match late on when some good inter play down their right saw Martin Murray float in a cross that wasn’t dealt with and the ball fell to the midfielder but he failed to make proper connection and Gray gathered but it may have been different had Coghill received a shout of how much time he had. The game was killed stone dead in the dying minutes another Mackay-Steven corner was floated in and met by B Gray who thundered a header back across goal for Grant Budge to flick home from close range.
Full time
Pentland United 3-0 Acks
(Budge 66 & 82, Mackay-Steven 74)
1. M Gray 2. M Steven 3. G Mackay 4. B Gray 5. R Sutherland (D Manson 76) 6. S Mackay-Steven 7. S Begg 8. W Inrig (c) B Thain (L Sutherland 62) 10. G Budge 11. M Bain (G Mackenzie 81)
View from the goal
Slow to get going again and perhaps that was to do with personnel changes but in parts there was great some super football and we really opened up the Acks but then we would give the ball away cheaply and cause ourselves no end of trouble. Consistency is the key and what we are striving for but the lads are gelling all the time so it bodes well.
Half time
Pentland United 0-0 Acks
In recent matches United have returned to the field buzzing and once again it was no different as they looked for the early break through, it was quite obvious the tempo had been stepped up considerably, Budge produced a superb twist and turn away from Sutherland but Brian Mackay produced an excellent reflex save at the near post to turn the ball away for a corner. However the town side also had a great chance to break the dead lock when a long high ball saw the United defence struggle to clear and R Mackay burst clear his first time effort was tipped round the post by Gray. Martin Bain then tested his former team-mate again after cutting in from the left after linking with Inrig the winger fired in a low drive at the near post that again Mackay dealt with very well. The breakthrough finally came midway through the half when a way wayward pass put Sutherland in all sorts of bother and Budge immediately capitalised racing into the box he stepped passed a couple of despairing lunges before firing into the empty net as Sinclair desperately tried to get back and clear off the line. United had now stepped up a gear and were hungry for the second goal more good play between Begg and Lee Sutherland saw Budge again picked out in the area his first touch took him away from Sutherland but this time help was on hand to smother the situation. The second came courtesy of a set-piece with Scotty Mackay-Steven helping himself to another goal this time on the right side of the box bending the ball right footed around the wall and into the net via the outstretched arm of Mackay who made a desperate attempt to keep the ball out but unfortunately it was in vain. Budge was desperate to add to his personal tally and he again found space in the box when he was picked out by a superb Derek Manson cross but the Lybster man just couldn’t find the necessary direction with his header. Brian Mackay had to look smart with 15 minutes remaining when Mackay Steven found space on the right side of the box he drove to the bye line before centring but the keeper managed to claw the ball over the bar as Budge waited to pounce. Murray Coghill had a chance to pull Acks back into the match late on when some good inter play down their right saw Martin Murray float in a cross that wasn’t dealt with and the ball fell to the midfielder but he failed to make proper connection and Gray gathered but it may have been different had Coghill received a shout of how much time he had. The game was killed stone dead in the dying minutes another Mackay-Steven corner was floated in and met by B Gray who thundered a header back across goal for Grant Budge to flick home from close range.
Full time
Pentland United 3-0 Acks
(Budge 66 & 82, Mackay-Steven 74)
1. M Gray 2. M Steven 3. G Mackay 4. B Gray 5. R Sutherland (D Manson 76) 6. S Mackay-Steven 7. S Begg 8. W Inrig (c) B Thain (L Sutherland 62) 10. G Budge 11. M Bain (G Mackenzie 81)
View from the goal
Slow to get going again and perhaps that was to do with personnel changes but in parts there was great some super football and we really opened up the Acks but then we would give the ball away cheaply and cause ourselves no end of trouble. Consistency is the key and what we are striving for but the lads are gelling all the time so it bodes well.