Post by Michael Gray on May 6, 2008 15:08:24 GMT
United were left to rue two contentious decisions by referee Anderson in the draw at Ham Park last night that stopped them from landing all 3 points. It had looked so positive at half time battling up the slope against a stiff wind a moment of sheer brilliance from Grant Budge separated the sides at the break but a second half counter from Alan Davis squared the game. The visitors sprang a surprise in their line-up when they fielded Portgower based keeper Alan Bokas in place of the usual custodian Henderson. United won the toss and elected to play against the elements in the first period, which they did reasonably well. The first opportunity of the half went the way of the visitors from a Mackay corner all the big men attacked the ball but it took a great header from the returning Ross Sutherland to clear the danger. JOG have built a reputation on high tempo physical football and that was plainly evident last night several crunching tackles early on meant referee Anderson’s whistle was never to far away from his lips. After fifteen minutes young James Murray brought out a decent diving save from Bokas with a set piece from the edge of the box. Groats were trying to use the early diagonal ball to Mathew Mackay on the left wing at every opportunity but Murray and Gary Mackay between them were managing to nullify that area with good effect. The nearest the visitors came was Stuart Sinclair (snr) snap shot from the edge of the box that slipped passed the post. United on the other hand were making good inroads the Budge brothers and Murray the main focal points of their attack supplemented well by Darren Mackay and Lee Sutherland. The breakthrough came mid-way Lee Sutherland fed the ball into Grant Budge’s feet in the centre circle and with a sublime turn he took out the entire JOG defence raced clear and slipped the ball passed the helpless Bokas for an outstanding individual effort. United with their tails up now started to take a grip on proceedings and only a last ditch block from Mowat prevented Jimmy Budge adding to his 5 goals so far after James Murray laid the ball on a plate to him with a quite sensational run leaving 3 defenders lying his wake coming in from the right wing. United continued to hold the upper hand and twice in the closing stages of the half put the Groats defence under severe pressure with James Murray whipping in corners but they continued to prove a tough nut to crack.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 JOG
Any thoughts United had of the job being complete were dispelled early in the second period. United made a bright enough start Darren Mackay won the ball in midfield strode forward until the edge of the box but he rather pulled his right foot drive and it flew wide. But Groats stepped up their effort and took a stranglehold on the game and duly equalised ten minutes into the second half Henstridge picked up the ball on the edge of the box with Kenny for company the big defender seemed to have marshalled him into a decent area but somehow the striker managed to squeeze the ball into the near post where Davis beat the collective challenge of Steven and Gray to clip the ball into the top corner of the net. United were stung and for the next 10 minutes they looked ragged getting pulled all over the park eventually culminating in Kenny receiving a caution for a hard challenge on Martin Sinclair. Gray caused heart palpitations in the home fans when he came to deal with a long through ball and made a complete hash of his clearance and he was grateful to Gary Mackay for producing a last ditch tackle to keep the score level. It was Groats turn then for a lucky escape when after a Murray corner the ball broke to Jimmy Budge whose shot on the turn looked a winner only to be charged down by Mowat who in the attempt to block the ball appeared to use his arms. It was real end-to-end stuff but United looked the livelier with Grant Budge causing havoc and he was marginally off target after cutting in from the right. There couldn’t have been enough salt in the air last night as no less than 5 players within a ten minute spell went down with cramp however one such incident called into question the sporting behaviour of the visitors when after suggesting they were going to kick the ball back after the game was stopped they attempted to attack causing uproar and leaving a question over their sportsmanship. Then came the games talking point well to be honest it wasn’t a talking point it was a straight forward mistake from the man in the middle Grant Budge again showing some sublime skills cutting in from the right only to be toppled by a rash lunge from Sinclair them game almost stopped in expectancy but to everyone’s astonishment the referee waved play on and for a second time United were denied a stick on penalty. The visitors last real effort came with about ten minutes left when Rosie picked out Campbell on the edge of the box and he spun and fired a shot goalwards that Gray grabbed at the second attempt. United did have a great chance to snatch the game at the death when Murray robbed Tait 25 yards out and broke to the edge of the box before drilling in a shot that Bokas did very well to turn away although perhaps the youngster could have kept going in on the keeper.
Full time
Pentland United 1-1 JOG
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. D Manson 4. G Steven 5. B Kenny 6. D Mackay 7. L Sutherland 8. R Sutherland (c) 9. G Budge 10. J Murray 11. J Budge
Subs unused
G Mackenzie
W Inrig
G Sutherland
View from the goal
Tough tough game first half we played very well against the elements and probably should have taken a two goal lead in but the first 20 mins of the second period rocked us with JOG forcing the issue and obviously equalising. But we battled back into the match and for me we had two stonewall penalty claims turned away, which is disappointing but what can you do but pick yourselves up as we head to Halkirk on Wednesday for another rural battle.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 JOG
Any thoughts United had of the job being complete were dispelled early in the second period. United made a bright enough start Darren Mackay won the ball in midfield strode forward until the edge of the box but he rather pulled his right foot drive and it flew wide. But Groats stepped up their effort and took a stranglehold on the game and duly equalised ten minutes into the second half Henstridge picked up the ball on the edge of the box with Kenny for company the big defender seemed to have marshalled him into a decent area but somehow the striker managed to squeeze the ball into the near post where Davis beat the collective challenge of Steven and Gray to clip the ball into the top corner of the net. United were stung and for the next 10 minutes they looked ragged getting pulled all over the park eventually culminating in Kenny receiving a caution for a hard challenge on Martin Sinclair. Gray caused heart palpitations in the home fans when he came to deal with a long through ball and made a complete hash of his clearance and he was grateful to Gary Mackay for producing a last ditch tackle to keep the score level. It was Groats turn then for a lucky escape when after a Murray corner the ball broke to Jimmy Budge whose shot on the turn looked a winner only to be charged down by Mowat who in the attempt to block the ball appeared to use his arms. It was real end-to-end stuff but United looked the livelier with Grant Budge causing havoc and he was marginally off target after cutting in from the right. There couldn’t have been enough salt in the air last night as no less than 5 players within a ten minute spell went down with cramp however one such incident called into question the sporting behaviour of the visitors when after suggesting they were going to kick the ball back after the game was stopped they attempted to attack causing uproar and leaving a question over their sportsmanship. Then came the games talking point well to be honest it wasn’t a talking point it was a straight forward mistake from the man in the middle Grant Budge again showing some sublime skills cutting in from the right only to be toppled by a rash lunge from Sinclair them game almost stopped in expectancy but to everyone’s astonishment the referee waved play on and for a second time United were denied a stick on penalty. The visitors last real effort came with about ten minutes left when Rosie picked out Campbell on the edge of the box and he spun and fired a shot goalwards that Gray grabbed at the second attempt. United did have a great chance to snatch the game at the death when Murray robbed Tait 25 yards out and broke to the edge of the box before drilling in a shot that Bokas did very well to turn away although perhaps the youngster could have kept going in on the keeper.
Full time
Pentland United 1-1 JOG
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. D Manson 4. G Steven 5. B Kenny 6. D Mackay 7. L Sutherland 8. R Sutherland (c) 9. G Budge 10. J Murray 11. J Budge
Subs unused
G Mackenzie
W Inrig
G Sutherland
View from the goal
Tough tough game first half we played very well against the elements and probably should have taken a two goal lead in but the first 20 mins of the second period rocked us with JOG forcing the issue and obviously equalising. But we battled back into the match and for me we had two stonewall penalty claims turned away, which is disappointing but what can you do but pick yourselves up as we head to Halkirk on Wednesday for another rural battle.