Post by Michael Gray on May 29, 2008 15:50:00 GMT
I spoke with a man down under and he said after the Rovers game you better run you better take cover against Groats. Well this was as good as United have played since the Swifts game against a tidy energetic Groats side after taking the lead they never looked back how 6 days can make a difference. Duncan Gray made three changes to the starting line up with Brian Kenny joining Grant Steven in central defence, Aarron Smith taking up a position on the left and finally Tony Farquhar leading the attack with Grant Budge leaving a bench of Willie Inrig, Jimmy Budge and Shane Macginley. The early stages were very even, Groats have racked up some impressive results in the early stages of the season and it was obvious to see why great running off the ball and playing at a good tempo meant United probably started on the back foot a little until they got to grips with their opponents. However after perhaps enjoying the brighter start Groats were seriously testing the United back line with a couple of corners all they really had to show for their efforts, United on the other hand were desperately close not to take the lead after 15 mins Tony Farquhar linked up well with Lee Sutherland who drove forward before slicing open the home defence allowing Smith to shoot first time but he could only look on in agony as his shot slipped wide. However they continued to search for the opener as slowly the United midfield started to get on top of the game great play from Smith down the left saw him fire a cross into the back post where Murray volleyed into the ground, the ball bounced up with Williamson at full stretch to half stop the shot but it took an acrobatic goal line clearance from player/ manager Stewart Ross to save the day. However the visitors were not to be denied and promptly took the lead a couple of minutes later Smith linked up well with Budge down the left the pacey front man raced away before firing in a low cross that Macgregor under pressure from Murray fairly lashed the ball passed his own goalkeeper. There is always two ways to react when you score sit back and see how the opposition respond or continue to press home the initiative well United certainly chose the latter and duly doubled their advantage less than 5 minutes later when Tony Farquhar picked out Smith who drove inside before feeding Grant Budge who knocked the ball round Williamson but pushed himself too wide but still had the presence of mind to look up and pick out Farquhar who stole a march on his marker Mackay to deftly flick the ball passed the helpless Williamson for his 5th goal in 4 games. To be fair to the Groats they never gave in and continued to work very hard Derek Shearer and Kyle Ross working the United backline at every opportunity but this was a much more resolute United backline lead by the impressive Kenny who seemed to mop every high ball with ease. Just around the half hour mark Groats thought they had finally created a great goal scoring opportunity when Sutherland found space down the right before feeding into Shearer who broke one tackle but just as he prepared to shoot Gary Mackay came in with a brilliant blocking challenge. United replied in the perfect way Farquhar was fouled by a combination of Ross and Stewart 30 yards from goal allowing James Murray to sweep in a delightful ball that picked out Farquhar at the far post and he picked his spot with glee for his third successive brace all as skipper maybe Brora should have made him skipper in the winter. The goal had a pretty devastating effect on the Groats morale the body language of their team suggested they would really struggle to get back into the game and were desperately looking for half time to re-group. As it was they could have slipped further behind when another Murray freekick found Farquhar who brought out a decent save from Williamson low to his right and then Smith seemed to be bundled to the ground by Stewart Ross as he attempted to retrieve the ball.
Half time
Wick Groats 0-3 Pentland United
It was quite predictable that United wouldn’t enjoy the same superiority in the second half as they had finished the first Stewart Ross had mustered the troops and they weren’t about to roll over and take a pounding. The home side came out the blocks quickest obviously with the intention of nicking a quick goal and putting some pressure on the United rear guard however as much as they tried especially the energetic Greg Shearer they were rarely creating goals coring chances and were resorting to long range efforts with Stewart Ross and Martin Sutherland both wildly off target with long range efforts. At the other end Farquhar was close to completing his hat trick rising highest to meet a Murray corner under pressure from keeper Williamson he could only find the roof of the net. On the hour mark Gary Mackay was denied by a brave block from Stewart Ross after a Murray corner had been flicked on by Budge at the near post the full back showed great technique to control the ball on his chest before firing a shot goalwards only to be thwarted by the Wick Academy man. As Groats continued to press on gaps did start to appear at the back and Aarron Smith started to come into his own setting off on several mazy runs which left defenders trailing in his wake unfortunately there was no final product to his endeavour. Keeper Gray almost landed his team in it minutes later when he dallied on a passback allowing Shearer to close him down what transpired next is open to interpretation some may say it was slight of foot that saw him evade the striker and knock the ball wide to Bell others will say it was sheer luck one final point worth noting is that Gray considers himself to be an extremely unlucky fellow. For all both teams efforts the second half was proving to be one of very little chances in fact I cannot recall either keeper having any real save of note both fielding pass backs and cross balls but very little else through a combination of last ditch tackles and wayward shooting. With just under 20 to go Gray made his first change with joint top scorer Jimmy Budge replacing Tony Farquhar who had drawn level with him during the course of the game. It didn’t take long for him to have an impact with a delightful flick into the path of his brother but Grant couldn’t quite squeeze a shot through. However moments later Jimmy himself had the chance to add to his 6 goals so far when Smith was released down the left he raced into the box only to be brought crashing to the ground by Ross’s ill timed intervention referee John had no option but to point to the spot the big striker wasted no time in planting a beautiful penalty in the bottom corner what Mr Abramovich would have paid for such technique when Mr Anelka stepped up. Returning from injury Willie Inrig then replaced Darren Mackay and shortly after young Shane Macginley replaced James Murray both showed up well although I am sure Inrig will want to step up his match fitness in the coming week or so.
Full time
Wick Groats 0-4 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. G Bell 4. G Steven 5. B Kenny 6. D Mackay (W Inrig 75) 7. L Sutherland 8. A Smith 9. T Farquhar (c) (J Budge 72) 10. G Budge 11. J Murray (S Macginley 80)
View from the goal
What a transformation a week makes last Friday we were appalling especially second half this week a super first half laid the foundations for a very impressive victory although we now need to roll off a few more just to keep in touch with the leaders. I have to say the first goal in these fixtures is quite often crucial and once again it was paramount to our success we relaxed and built on the lead playing nice slick football, which the Groats couldn’t match however I don’t doubt if they had snatched the lead could have been different. I was really impressed with some of their young guys who showed great energy throughout but never perhaps got a break. We now move on to another stiff week Tues, Thursday and Saturday with Rovers, Acks and Embo lying ahead.
Half time
Wick Groats 0-3 Pentland United
It was quite predictable that United wouldn’t enjoy the same superiority in the second half as they had finished the first Stewart Ross had mustered the troops and they weren’t about to roll over and take a pounding. The home side came out the blocks quickest obviously with the intention of nicking a quick goal and putting some pressure on the United rear guard however as much as they tried especially the energetic Greg Shearer they were rarely creating goals coring chances and were resorting to long range efforts with Stewart Ross and Martin Sutherland both wildly off target with long range efforts. At the other end Farquhar was close to completing his hat trick rising highest to meet a Murray corner under pressure from keeper Williamson he could only find the roof of the net. On the hour mark Gary Mackay was denied by a brave block from Stewart Ross after a Murray corner had been flicked on by Budge at the near post the full back showed great technique to control the ball on his chest before firing a shot goalwards only to be thwarted by the Wick Academy man. As Groats continued to press on gaps did start to appear at the back and Aarron Smith started to come into his own setting off on several mazy runs which left defenders trailing in his wake unfortunately there was no final product to his endeavour. Keeper Gray almost landed his team in it minutes later when he dallied on a passback allowing Shearer to close him down what transpired next is open to interpretation some may say it was slight of foot that saw him evade the striker and knock the ball wide to Bell others will say it was sheer luck one final point worth noting is that Gray considers himself to be an extremely unlucky fellow. For all both teams efforts the second half was proving to be one of very little chances in fact I cannot recall either keeper having any real save of note both fielding pass backs and cross balls but very little else through a combination of last ditch tackles and wayward shooting. With just under 20 to go Gray made his first change with joint top scorer Jimmy Budge replacing Tony Farquhar who had drawn level with him during the course of the game. It didn’t take long for him to have an impact with a delightful flick into the path of his brother but Grant couldn’t quite squeeze a shot through. However moments later Jimmy himself had the chance to add to his 6 goals so far when Smith was released down the left he raced into the box only to be brought crashing to the ground by Ross’s ill timed intervention referee John had no option but to point to the spot the big striker wasted no time in planting a beautiful penalty in the bottom corner what Mr Abramovich would have paid for such technique when Mr Anelka stepped up. Returning from injury Willie Inrig then replaced Darren Mackay and shortly after young Shane Macginley replaced James Murray both showed up well although I am sure Inrig will want to step up his match fitness in the coming week or so.
Full time
Wick Groats 0-4 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. G Bell 4. G Steven 5. B Kenny 6. D Mackay (W Inrig 75) 7. L Sutherland 8. A Smith 9. T Farquhar (c) (J Budge 72) 10. G Budge 11. J Murray (S Macginley 80)
View from the goal
What a transformation a week makes last Friday we were appalling especially second half this week a super first half laid the foundations for a very impressive victory although we now need to roll off a few more just to keep in touch with the leaders. I have to say the first goal in these fixtures is quite often crucial and once again it was paramount to our success we relaxed and built on the lead playing nice slick football, which the Groats couldn’t match however I don’t doubt if they had snatched the lead could have been different. I was really impressed with some of their young guys who showed great energy throughout but never perhaps got a break. We now move on to another stiff week Tues, Thursday and Saturday with Rovers, Acks and Embo lying ahead.