Post by Michael Gray on Jul 30, 2007 11:33:48 GMT
United welcomed back Scott Begg and Michael Steven for the return fixture against Thurso Acks, the Thurso side may have had an indifferent season but they had showed on the Monday previous versus Swifts they were pushovers and they were to do so again tonight. The home side nearly scored after 5 minutes United had begun in a careless fashion and surrendered possession cheaply to Wann whose deep cross was tipped on to the cross bar by the back pedalling Gray with Steven completing the clearance. However that early scare barely woke United from their slumber as they continued to plod along without any real conviction although Brian Mackay made a smart save after 15 mins when Grant Budge played the ball into the path of Andrew Richardson. Gary Macleod the Brora based striker has been in decent form for Acks all year scoring twice on the Monday night v Swifts he was looking lively and it took all of Michael Steven’s pace and strength to stop him running clear mid way through the half on to a Coghill through pass. The mediocrity of the half was lit up by a finish of sheer quality on the half hour mark, Scott Begg whipped in a freekick from the right that Ross Sutherland flicked on at the near post allowing Budge to rise at the far post place a header into the top right corner of Brian Mackay’s goal leaving the keeper with no chance. Former Castletown and Workshop’s man Stevie Bain had the final chance of the half picking up the ball on the edge of the box his low drive deflected off Skinner but Gray re-adjusted his feeting to save low down to his left. The referee really did everyone a favour when he called time on the half as very little quality football coupled with very few clear cut goal scoring chances made for a very disappointing first half where Acks probably felt more than a little hard done going in behind.
Half time
Acks 0-1 Pentland United
The Thurso side had an excellent chance to level the game 5 mins into the second half when a great run from Wann saw him play Macleod in down the right he managed to clip the ball back across goal for the inrushing Robert Mackay but the ball was slightly behind the striker and he couldn’t quite connect with the attempted volley. Former Acks man Martin Bain then tried to end his former teams hopes after setting of on a winding run he managed to step clear of a couple of lunges from the home defence before rather scuffing his shot at Brian Mackay who held on confidently. The frustration with the performance was starting to bubble in the United camp and was evident no more so than when Michael Steven was forced to haul down Macleod in the left back area giving Acks an excellent set-piece opportunity, which Steven Bain fired into the side net. United finally gave themselves some breathing space after 65 mins a Grant Budge took off on a mazy run driving down the left before cutting back into the half of skipper Willie Inrig who never broke stride before firing in low and hard with his side foot from 12 yards. Scott Begg then had a glorious opportunity to put the game beyond all doubt racing clear on to an Inrig through ball his first touch was perfect but he then sclaffed an attempted chip straight into the arms of the advancing Mackay. That was to prove a turning point as the home side roared back into the game when Allan Sutherland took a quick freekick 30 yards from goal releasing Wann inside the box the youngster showed great composure to slip the ball passed Gray at his near post although no doubt the keeper would have been disappointed to have been beaten in that area. The nerves re-surfaced quickly amongst the United camp and they came perilously close to losing an equaliser when Brian Gray surrendered possession cheaply in the left back area to Steven Bain who in turn swept in a super cross and it took a last gasp tackle from Steven to deny substitute Wann a goal scoring opportunity. Acks were now on top trying desperately to find an equaliser with United left to try and hit on the counter although one such break saw Gary Mackay float a quite brilliant cross for Budge on the volley the connection was perfect but it just shaved the outside of Mackay’s left hand post. At the death Acks had one final chance for parity when sweeper Moodie ventured upfield and into the box but was denied by a blocking tackle form Gray before the defender swept the ball upfield and there was more than a sigh of relief when referee Gunn brought proceedings to a close.
Full time
Acks 1-2 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. J Skinner 4. B Gray 5. M Bain 6. M Steven 7. R Sutherland 8. W Inrig (c) 9. A Richardson 10. G Budge 11. S Begg
Subs not used
S Swanson, G Mackenzie
View from the goal
Far from a classic but we ground out the 3 points and that was important, far to often we isolated Granty and never gave him the proper service. Once we got 2 up it should have been game over but we let them in with a fairly cheap goal and I have to hold my hands up and take the fair share of the blame as I got my angles wrong. Positives are the three points and the fact even though we played very poorly we dug in and got the win.
Half time
Acks 0-1 Pentland United
The Thurso side had an excellent chance to level the game 5 mins into the second half when a great run from Wann saw him play Macleod in down the right he managed to clip the ball back across goal for the inrushing Robert Mackay but the ball was slightly behind the striker and he couldn’t quite connect with the attempted volley. Former Acks man Martin Bain then tried to end his former teams hopes after setting of on a winding run he managed to step clear of a couple of lunges from the home defence before rather scuffing his shot at Brian Mackay who held on confidently. The frustration with the performance was starting to bubble in the United camp and was evident no more so than when Michael Steven was forced to haul down Macleod in the left back area giving Acks an excellent set-piece opportunity, which Steven Bain fired into the side net. United finally gave themselves some breathing space after 65 mins a Grant Budge took off on a mazy run driving down the left before cutting back into the half of skipper Willie Inrig who never broke stride before firing in low and hard with his side foot from 12 yards. Scott Begg then had a glorious opportunity to put the game beyond all doubt racing clear on to an Inrig through ball his first touch was perfect but he then sclaffed an attempted chip straight into the arms of the advancing Mackay. That was to prove a turning point as the home side roared back into the game when Allan Sutherland took a quick freekick 30 yards from goal releasing Wann inside the box the youngster showed great composure to slip the ball passed Gray at his near post although no doubt the keeper would have been disappointed to have been beaten in that area. The nerves re-surfaced quickly amongst the United camp and they came perilously close to losing an equaliser when Brian Gray surrendered possession cheaply in the left back area to Steven Bain who in turn swept in a super cross and it took a last gasp tackle from Steven to deny substitute Wann a goal scoring opportunity. Acks were now on top trying desperately to find an equaliser with United left to try and hit on the counter although one such break saw Gary Mackay float a quite brilliant cross for Budge on the volley the connection was perfect but it just shaved the outside of Mackay’s left hand post. At the death Acks had one final chance for parity when sweeper Moodie ventured upfield and into the box but was denied by a blocking tackle form Gray before the defender swept the ball upfield and there was more than a sigh of relief when referee Gunn brought proceedings to a close.
Full time
Acks 1-2 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. J Skinner 4. B Gray 5. M Bain 6. M Steven 7. R Sutherland 8. W Inrig (c) 9. A Richardson 10. G Budge 11. S Begg
Subs not used
S Swanson, G Mackenzie
View from the goal
Far from a classic but we ground out the 3 points and that was important, far to often we isolated Granty and never gave him the proper service. Once we got 2 up it should have been game over but we let them in with a fairly cheap goal and I have to hold my hands up and take the fair share of the blame as I got my angles wrong. Positives are the three points and the fact even though we played very poorly we dug in and got the win.