Post by Michael Gray on Aug 1, 2007 11:38:40 GMT
What a difference 3 days can make United so positive on the Saturday slump to almost certainly end their title challenge with a very poor show. The absence of so many names was no excuse for a lacklustre performance and in fact Pentlands were well worth their point. The standard was set early doors when slack play at the back allowed Wheeler Macintyre to wander in unchallenged but his shot lacked conviction and it drifted wide. United then had a glorious chance to break the deadlock after 5 mins when a deep cross from Bain picked out Richardson who nodded the ball down for Jocky Sutherland but the little striker slightly off balance lashed the ball over the bar. Martin Bain was then given the chance to run in on goal when Begg slipped the ball inside the ball inside Polson but just as the wing man was set to accelerate away he stood on the ball allowing the defence to re-group. United squandered another great chance after 20 mins when Scott Begg did brilliantly down the left before whipping in a teasing cross for Richardson but once again the finish was off target much to the disappointment of the home support. The visitors were making United work for every opening but the chances were still coming a Begg freekick from the left was headed away by Chadwick back to Begg who swept in another superb centre picking out Brian Gray all alone on the penalty spot but the defender’s touch let him down at the crucial point and Henderson cleared away. Scott Begg then forced Reid Anderson into a save low at his left hand post with a freekick from 20 yards resulting in a corner but again United failed to make the breakthrough. Ten minutes before the interval Richardson had United’s best chance of the game when again Scott Begg did well once again down the left before delivering a pin point cross on to the head of the inrushing striker but from 6 yards he bulleted his header straight at Anderson who did very well to claw the ball to safety. The final action of the half saw trialists Kevin Keenan crowded out after a Brian Gray long throw created a bit of panic but the visitors survived again although they had defended well.
Half time
Pentland United 0-0 Thurso Pentland
It was quite obvious that the United side were starting to feel the heat and becoming increasingly desperate for the opener and their town opponents were sensing the desperation and playing on the counter very well. Jocky Sutherland had the first real effort of the second period shooting from fully 25 yards but never likely to trouble Anderson. Another one of Brian Gray’s booming long throws again caused a little excitement but yet again neither the composure nor the quality was there and the Pentland’s defence mopped up the trouble without too much problem. Michael Foubister was at full stretch to deny Andrew Richardson as the tall frontman looked to burst on to an Inrig through pass after 55 mins. Slowly though the town side began to believe they could get something from the game an excellent run from Petrie saw him make good ground down the right before delivering an accurate near post cross where former United man Adam Sutherland stole a march on his marker Steven but could only look on as the shot slipped just past. Referee Wheatcroft incurred the wrath of the United contingent when Bain slipped a fine fall into the box for Begg who cleverly turned Foubister who appeared to catch the midfielder with his trailing leg but the referee saw no infringement. United welcomed back Scott Mackay-Steven for the last 20 mins after a 2 month lay off through injury and he had the best chance of the half for the home side when he was picked out at the far post by Bain the ball sat up nicely for the tall striker but his shot flew into the side net. The home side's composure was now definitely on the wane and Martin Bain’s effort from 25 yards on the stretch typified that never ever looking like troubling the visiting keeper. Things were bad enough for United but got a whole lot worse 10 minutes from time when skipper Inrig booked in the first half tripped Chadwick after losing out on a challenge on half way received a second yellow and for the second time in the season headed for an early bath. Veteran Jocky Begg again entered the fray as United desperately searched for a winner and the striker showed plenty of gile and effort and even tested Anderson from fully 30 yards but the keeper showed good hands. The closest anyone came in the game was Adam Sutherland 5 mins from time racing on to a Petrie pass the striker hit a dipping volley that crashed of the cross bar via the finger tips of Gray. The Begg Father and Son combination had United’s final chance when Scott picked out Jocky at the front post with a corner from the right but the header lacked power and Anderson held on comefortably. Right at the death Pentlands had a glorious chance to steal the game when another former United man Rob Bell dispossessed Steven 25 yards from goal and raced unchallenged in on Gray but he screwed his shot wide of the far post and with that referee Wheatcroft brought proceedings to a close and quite possibly United’s title challenge at the same time.
Full time
Pentland United 0-0 Thurso Pentland
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. M Steven 4. B Gray 5. M Bain 6. K Keenan (S Mackay-Steven 70) 7. A Richardson 8. W Inrig (c) 9. J Sutherland 10. S Begg 11. G Mackenzie (J Begg 80)
Subs not used
S Swanson
View from the goal
Very disappointing indeed but can’t argue with the scoreline basically our finishing was diabolical we had numerous chances to score but lacked composure at the crucial stage. If our title challenge was in problems before the game it is on life support now but we must try to re-group for Wednesday in the show down v Castletown.
Half time
Pentland United 0-0 Thurso Pentland
It was quite obvious that the United side were starting to feel the heat and becoming increasingly desperate for the opener and their town opponents were sensing the desperation and playing on the counter very well. Jocky Sutherland had the first real effort of the second period shooting from fully 25 yards but never likely to trouble Anderson. Another one of Brian Gray’s booming long throws again caused a little excitement but yet again neither the composure nor the quality was there and the Pentland’s defence mopped up the trouble without too much problem. Michael Foubister was at full stretch to deny Andrew Richardson as the tall frontman looked to burst on to an Inrig through pass after 55 mins. Slowly though the town side began to believe they could get something from the game an excellent run from Petrie saw him make good ground down the right before delivering an accurate near post cross where former United man Adam Sutherland stole a march on his marker Steven but could only look on as the shot slipped just past. Referee Wheatcroft incurred the wrath of the United contingent when Bain slipped a fine fall into the box for Begg who cleverly turned Foubister who appeared to catch the midfielder with his trailing leg but the referee saw no infringement. United welcomed back Scott Mackay-Steven for the last 20 mins after a 2 month lay off through injury and he had the best chance of the half for the home side when he was picked out at the far post by Bain the ball sat up nicely for the tall striker but his shot flew into the side net. The home side's composure was now definitely on the wane and Martin Bain’s effort from 25 yards on the stretch typified that never ever looking like troubling the visiting keeper. Things were bad enough for United but got a whole lot worse 10 minutes from time when skipper Inrig booked in the first half tripped Chadwick after losing out on a challenge on half way received a second yellow and for the second time in the season headed for an early bath. Veteran Jocky Begg again entered the fray as United desperately searched for a winner and the striker showed plenty of gile and effort and even tested Anderson from fully 30 yards but the keeper showed good hands. The closest anyone came in the game was Adam Sutherland 5 mins from time racing on to a Petrie pass the striker hit a dipping volley that crashed of the cross bar via the finger tips of Gray. The Begg Father and Son combination had United’s final chance when Scott picked out Jocky at the front post with a corner from the right but the header lacked power and Anderson held on comefortably. Right at the death Pentlands had a glorious chance to steal the game when another former United man Rob Bell dispossessed Steven 25 yards from goal and raced unchallenged in on Gray but he screwed his shot wide of the far post and with that referee Wheatcroft brought proceedings to a close and quite possibly United’s title challenge at the same time.
Full time
Pentland United 0-0 Thurso Pentland
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. M Steven 4. B Gray 5. M Bain 6. K Keenan (S Mackay-Steven 70) 7. A Richardson 8. W Inrig (c) 9. J Sutherland 10. S Begg 11. G Mackenzie (J Begg 80)
Subs not used
S Swanson
View from the goal
Very disappointing indeed but can’t argue with the scoreline basically our finishing was diabolical we had numerous chances to score but lacked composure at the crucial stage. If our title challenge was in problems before the game it is on life support now but we must try to re-group for Wednesday in the show down v Castletown.