Post by Michael Gray on Jun 6, 2008 19:53:23 GMT
United’s first home tie in the Highland Amateur Cup ended with a comfortable 6-0 win over Sutherland side Embo on Saturday the Dunnet side can now look to the draw on Sunday to see what fate awaits them. A positive early start was what manager Duncan Gray demanded and he got exactly that after some early meaty challenges from the East Coast village side United eventually capitalised. Jimmy Budge burst through the middle MacAffer brought his run to a halt referee Tait blew for the foul but quick thinking from Tony Farquhar saw him slip in James Murray for his second goal in consecutive games. United were relaxed now and playing decent stuff in beautiful Caithness weather, Jimmy Budge flashed one over the top from a Darren Mackay cut back before the creator turned scorer, Farquhar found space down the left before hooking a ball across goal from the midfield dynamo to light up Ham Park with a superb volley only for Bonthrone to dim the lights with a wonderful save but quick as a flash Mackay reacted to knock the ball home. It was an ideal start 10 minutes in and two goals to the good heading up the slope United were well on top, after quarter of an hour skipper Inrig seemed to mis-time his jump to meet a Mackay corner and only succeeded in heading over with the goal at his mercy. Embo continued to work hard all over the pitch but their hosts were dominating the proceedings and it really was no surprise when they extended their lead further after twenty minutes. Once again Farquhar was the focal point of the attack with Darren Mackay picking him out down the left he slipped C Mackay on the bye line before crossing the ball only for MacAffer to deflect past his own goalkeeper. United were flying now with both widemen doing extremely well stretching the visitors at every opportunity Mackay especially was having a particularly fine afternoon and with a little more luck and composure I am sure he would have ended up with a hat-trick he was marginally off target on the half hour mark when one of his brothers freekicks into the box caused havoc allowing the ball to drop down to him 18 yards out and he showed excellent technique to get over the ball but his shot shaved the cross bar. Embo did have a couple of long range efforts with former Brora man Lewis leading the resistance but that was all but crushed minutes before half time when Grant Steven from deep inside his own half picked a superb through ball for Jimmy Budge the big striker took a delightful touch setting the ball out in front of him before drawing the keeper and slipping the ball passed him into the unguarded net to cap off a fine move and half of football from United.
Half time
Pentland United 4-0 Embo
Neither the heat or the upper hand United held were to falter in the second half in fact the final score could have been worse as the Dunnet side had countless attempts kicked of the line by their resilient opponents. Right from the off heading down the Ham Park slope United played with purpose although at times their finishing lacked concentration as if they thought it wouldn’t matter as another chance will be along soon, probably not out of the text book of footballing mentality. Darren Mackay created the first chance for Jimmy Budge within 5 mins when he broke down the left and cut the ball back for the big striker his effort was partially blocked but he reacted quickly to nod the ball goal wards but was left shaking his head when Mackay cleared the ball off the line. Mackay himself was similarly thwarted when he managed to force in a shot that looked destined for the net until the intervention of Mackay once again. On the hour mark Bonthrone pulled off a brilliant save from Budge who had beat the offside trap and looked to bend the ball into the net but the big keeper was match for the effort and turned the ball away for the corner. Tony Farquhar has been on a decent scoring run of late and he opened his account for the afternoon with just over 25 mins left in the play James Murray and Budge linked up brilliantly to release the striker in the right hand channel and from 12 yards he volleyed the ball low past the helpless keeper. Manager Gray didn’t leave it too much longer before introducing Brian Thain and Michael Smith and Smith had the ball with practically his first touch however the goal was ruled out after James Murray was deemed to have strayed offside in the build up. Manager Gray played his last card with around 15 minutes left to play and it was an inspired decision as young Gordon Mackenzie created a goal with his first real involvement strolling forward from the right back position he flighted in a quite superb cross into the box for the inrushing Daren Mackay to complete the scoring with a fine downward header. In the dying stages Embo managed to force a coupe of corners and exert a little pressure with a steely determination they searched on for their consolation goal but it was not to be and United made it home with their goal intact
Full time
Pentland United 6-0 Embo
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay (G Mackenzie 75) 3. G Bell 4. G Steven 5. J Skinner 6. D Mackay (c) 7. L Sutherland 8. W Inrig (c) (B Thain 70) 9. J Budge) 10. T Farquhar (M Smith 70) 11. J Murray
View from the goal
Nice to be through into round 3 it is starting to get interesting now and there is some good teams out there but we are doing ok at the moment although need to keep our feet on the ground. We ran off 2-3 results earlier in the season then came a cropper so it is all about the old football adage one game at a time just now. We now move across the bay to Castletown in the Macintosh Cup semi-final in what is sure to be a stern test for our boys.
Half time
Pentland United 4-0 Embo
Neither the heat or the upper hand United held were to falter in the second half in fact the final score could have been worse as the Dunnet side had countless attempts kicked of the line by their resilient opponents. Right from the off heading down the Ham Park slope United played with purpose although at times their finishing lacked concentration as if they thought it wouldn’t matter as another chance will be along soon, probably not out of the text book of footballing mentality. Darren Mackay created the first chance for Jimmy Budge within 5 mins when he broke down the left and cut the ball back for the big striker his effort was partially blocked but he reacted quickly to nod the ball goal wards but was left shaking his head when Mackay cleared the ball off the line. Mackay himself was similarly thwarted when he managed to force in a shot that looked destined for the net until the intervention of Mackay once again. On the hour mark Bonthrone pulled off a brilliant save from Budge who had beat the offside trap and looked to bend the ball into the net but the big keeper was match for the effort and turned the ball away for the corner. Tony Farquhar has been on a decent scoring run of late and he opened his account for the afternoon with just over 25 mins left in the play James Murray and Budge linked up brilliantly to release the striker in the right hand channel and from 12 yards he volleyed the ball low past the helpless keeper. Manager Gray didn’t leave it too much longer before introducing Brian Thain and Michael Smith and Smith had the ball with practically his first touch however the goal was ruled out after James Murray was deemed to have strayed offside in the build up. Manager Gray played his last card with around 15 minutes left to play and it was an inspired decision as young Gordon Mackenzie created a goal with his first real involvement strolling forward from the right back position he flighted in a quite superb cross into the box for the inrushing Daren Mackay to complete the scoring with a fine downward header. In the dying stages Embo managed to force a coupe of corners and exert a little pressure with a steely determination they searched on for their consolation goal but it was not to be and United made it home with their goal intact
Full time
Pentland United 6-0 Embo
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay (G Mackenzie 75) 3. G Bell 4. G Steven 5. J Skinner 6. D Mackay (c) 7. L Sutherland 8. W Inrig (c) (B Thain 70) 9. J Budge) 10. T Farquhar (M Smith 70) 11. J Murray
View from the goal
Nice to be through into round 3 it is starting to get interesting now and there is some good teams out there but we are doing ok at the moment although need to keep our feet on the ground. We ran off 2-3 results earlier in the season then came a cropper so it is all about the old football adage one game at a time just now. We now move across the bay to Castletown in the Macintosh Cup semi-final in what is sure to be a stern test for our boys.