Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 3, 2003 17:02:27 GMT
Highland Amateur Cup Quarter Final Replay - Saturday 26th of July 2003
Pentland United 3 V Portree 4 - By Michael Gray
The changeable Caithness weather continued on Saturday early bright sunshine was replaced by a torrential down pour around noon however the day did dry up in preparation for this HA Cup replay. United fielded an unchanged line-up from the team that comprehensively beat Rovers on the Tuesday previous with no late recoveries by Boyd, R Sutherland or Inrig.
Both sides opened up rather tentively sizing up their opposite numbers and generally playing in a contained manner although the home side attacks seemed to contain greater urgency with the visitors adopting a more controlled style.
Gavin Bremner came the closest early on his low drive through a ruck of players left the goalkeeper unsighted however he reacted at the last second to knock the ball off the line with his foot. At the other end a corner a corner found Davidson in a good position but Martin Baker put the midfielder under just enough pressure so that he couldn't get a clean shot away and keeper Gray gratefully smothered the ball.
Bremner then forced the keeper into another unorthodox save from a freekick on the edge of the box he curled the ball round the wall but the keeper two handed pushed the ball away at the far post as the ball bounced of the turf.
It was very much still a scrappy affair with neither team really showing any real form of dominance although it certainly appeared that the Portree team had settled better in the tie. After nearly twenty minutes however United made the break through Mackay did well on the left bye line and cut the ball back for Cassidy who took one touch before dispatching the ball into the net with a clinical finish to give United the lead.
This marked a really poor spell for the home side they failed to cope convincingly with any pressure put on them and the equaliser came within ten minutes. Baker stretching managed to head clear Gannon's attempted through ball and Skinner cleared for a corner when it came in the bounce deceived Mackay and when Steele drove the ball back across goal Gray's attempted clearance flew into the net to rather sum up the team's lack of composure following taking the lead.
However United did respond positively to being back level when Morris played in Mackenzie the wideman at an angle could only screw his left foot shot wide under pressure from retreating defenders.
Then another moment of brilliance put the home side back in front the Portree must have thought they had done everything right clearing Bremner's corner out 25 yards but they never reckoned on Mackenzie unleashing a superb 25 yard volley straight back into the net for a sensational goal.
But again United retreated back into their shell and within five minutes Gannon had a glorious opportunity to square the match his quick feet took him past Gray and left him a clear run in on goal only to shoot tamely at keeper Gray who recovered the ball at the second attempt.
But two minutes before half time disaster struck for United again Farquhar received the ball under pressure 30 yards out and he tried in vain to slip the ball to Mackay but he was beaten by Steele who raced on into the box and shoot but the shot turned into a cross for Macleod at the back post and he easily turned the ball home with Gray beaten a bitter pill for the home team to swallow so late in the half.
Half-time 2-2
Steele who was prominent throughout this game and gave the home side an early chance but as Gray marshalled the ball safely through to his goalkeeper Gannon challenged dangerously resulting in the keeper requiring treatment and left him unable to kick with his right leg for the remainder of the game, although certain people reckon he never could.
Minutes later the salt was rubbed into the wound a cross from the right was only partially cleared by a stretching Gray and Gannon latched on to the ball to fire home and give Portree the lead for the first time in the game.
Within a couple of minutes the same player was clean in on Gray again but this time shot straight at the keeper with United at sixes and sevens. However the Portree hitman had only a couple more minutes to double his tally as that man Steele sent in an inswinging cross, which attracted keeper Gray into what was to prove a costly decision to come for the ball when Gannon beat him to the ball and flick into the net and give the visitors a two goal advantage.
United were visibly rocked and were struggling to come to terms with the situation their play dropped into a rather disjointed desperate looking style. But they continued to battle on and United are nothing if not persistent, good play from Mackenzie saw him hit the bye line and cut the ball back for the inrushing Cassidy and he drove the ball goalwards only to see a brilliant save deny him handing United a lifeline.
But it was only delayed momentarily when wicked corner delivered in from the left by Bremner was fired goalwards by Farquhar and appeared to be stopped by a hand on the line but the resultant scramble saw the ball fly into the net with a defender getting the last touch.
Russel Beattie had entered the fray at this point replacing Andy Mackay and he took of on a great run opening up the defence but his final ball just left Jocky Sutherland, who had replaced the tiring Cassidy to much to do.
Brian Gray had a big appeal for a penalty turned away by referee Wheatcroft when the centre back appeared to be pushed to the ground as he attacked the ball from a Beattie corner.
Mackenzie then saw things open up for him when he cut in from the left and drew the defence, which left an opportunity to play in Sutherland but he elected to shoot and could only drag the ball wide as the crowd urged on the home team to somehow find an equaliser.
With 5 minutes left Bremner came within inches of levelling the game a tremendous freekick from fully 25 yards after he himself had been impeded crashed off the bar with the keeper beaten all ends up the rebound landed kindly for the visitors as they weathered the final storm to claim their spot in the semi-final.
A tough defeat for United to take on heir own patch although I wouldn't say the Portree were technically any better than United but they did cope with the situation better and also played better football. I think the United side battled really well to the last with little or no breaks in front of goal and that in the end was the major difference.
Good luck to Portree they showed a fantastic spirit throughout the tie although they rode their luck at times I think on the balance of play they deserved the victory and I would now say are hot favourites to win the trophy.
M Gray, B Gray, J Skinner, M Baker, R Farmer, G Bremner, A Mackay (Beattie 65),T Farquhar, L Cassidy
(J Sutherland 75), K Morris, N Mackenzie.
Sub not used - D Manson
Pentland United 3 V Portree 4 - By Michael Gray
The changeable Caithness weather continued on Saturday early bright sunshine was replaced by a torrential down pour around noon however the day did dry up in preparation for this HA Cup replay. United fielded an unchanged line-up from the team that comprehensively beat Rovers on the Tuesday previous with no late recoveries by Boyd, R Sutherland or Inrig.
Both sides opened up rather tentively sizing up their opposite numbers and generally playing in a contained manner although the home side attacks seemed to contain greater urgency with the visitors adopting a more controlled style.
Gavin Bremner came the closest early on his low drive through a ruck of players left the goalkeeper unsighted however he reacted at the last second to knock the ball off the line with his foot. At the other end a corner a corner found Davidson in a good position but Martin Baker put the midfielder under just enough pressure so that he couldn't get a clean shot away and keeper Gray gratefully smothered the ball.
Bremner then forced the keeper into another unorthodox save from a freekick on the edge of the box he curled the ball round the wall but the keeper two handed pushed the ball away at the far post as the ball bounced of the turf.
It was very much still a scrappy affair with neither team really showing any real form of dominance although it certainly appeared that the Portree team had settled better in the tie. After nearly twenty minutes however United made the break through Mackay did well on the left bye line and cut the ball back for Cassidy who took one touch before dispatching the ball into the net with a clinical finish to give United the lead.
This marked a really poor spell for the home side they failed to cope convincingly with any pressure put on them and the equaliser came within ten minutes. Baker stretching managed to head clear Gannon's attempted through ball and Skinner cleared for a corner when it came in the bounce deceived Mackay and when Steele drove the ball back across goal Gray's attempted clearance flew into the net to rather sum up the team's lack of composure following taking the lead.
However United did respond positively to being back level when Morris played in Mackenzie the wideman at an angle could only screw his left foot shot wide under pressure from retreating defenders.
Then another moment of brilliance put the home side back in front the Portree must have thought they had done everything right clearing Bremner's corner out 25 yards but they never reckoned on Mackenzie unleashing a superb 25 yard volley straight back into the net for a sensational goal.
But again United retreated back into their shell and within five minutes Gannon had a glorious opportunity to square the match his quick feet took him past Gray and left him a clear run in on goal only to shoot tamely at keeper Gray who recovered the ball at the second attempt.
But two minutes before half time disaster struck for United again Farquhar received the ball under pressure 30 yards out and he tried in vain to slip the ball to Mackay but he was beaten by Steele who raced on into the box and shoot but the shot turned into a cross for Macleod at the back post and he easily turned the ball home with Gray beaten a bitter pill for the home team to swallow so late in the half.
Half-time 2-2
Steele who was prominent throughout this game and gave the home side an early chance but as Gray marshalled the ball safely through to his goalkeeper Gannon challenged dangerously resulting in the keeper requiring treatment and left him unable to kick with his right leg for the remainder of the game, although certain people reckon he never could.
Minutes later the salt was rubbed into the wound a cross from the right was only partially cleared by a stretching Gray and Gannon latched on to the ball to fire home and give Portree the lead for the first time in the game.
Within a couple of minutes the same player was clean in on Gray again but this time shot straight at the keeper with United at sixes and sevens. However the Portree hitman had only a couple more minutes to double his tally as that man Steele sent in an inswinging cross, which attracted keeper Gray into what was to prove a costly decision to come for the ball when Gannon beat him to the ball and flick into the net and give the visitors a two goal advantage.
United were visibly rocked and were struggling to come to terms with the situation their play dropped into a rather disjointed desperate looking style. But they continued to battle on and United are nothing if not persistent, good play from Mackenzie saw him hit the bye line and cut the ball back for the inrushing Cassidy and he drove the ball goalwards only to see a brilliant save deny him handing United a lifeline.
But it was only delayed momentarily when wicked corner delivered in from the left by Bremner was fired goalwards by Farquhar and appeared to be stopped by a hand on the line but the resultant scramble saw the ball fly into the net with a defender getting the last touch.
Russel Beattie had entered the fray at this point replacing Andy Mackay and he took of on a great run opening up the defence but his final ball just left Jocky Sutherland, who had replaced the tiring Cassidy to much to do.
Brian Gray had a big appeal for a penalty turned away by referee Wheatcroft when the centre back appeared to be pushed to the ground as he attacked the ball from a Beattie corner.
Mackenzie then saw things open up for him when he cut in from the left and drew the defence, which left an opportunity to play in Sutherland but he elected to shoot and could only drag the ball wide as the crowd urged on the home team to somehow find an equaliser.
With 5 minutes left Bremner came within inches of levelling the game a tremendous freekick from fully 25 yards after he himself had been impeded crashed off the bar with the keeper beaten all ends up the rebound landed kindly for the visitors as they weathered the final storm to claim their spot in the semi-final.
A tough defeat for United to take on heir own patch although I wouldn't say the Portree were technically any better than United but they did cope with the situation better and also played better football. I think the United side battled really well to the last with little or no breaks in front of goal and that in the end was the major difference.
Good luck to Portree they showed a fantastic spirit throughout the tie although they rode their luck at times I think on the balance of play they deserved the victory and I would now say are hot favourites to win the trophy.
M Gray, B Gray, J Skinner, M Baker, R Farmer, G Bremner, A Mackay (Beattie 65),T Farquhar, L Cassidy
(J Sutherland 75), K Morris, N Mackenzie.
Sub not used - D Manson
