Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 11, 2003 17:02:26 GMT
CAFA League Division One - Thursday 7th of August 2003
Pentland United 6 V Wick Groats 0 - By Michael Gray
The blistering sunshine over the previous few days had taken its toll on the local climate with haze like conditions never to far away around Dunnet although the sun was making every attempt to break through. United entered the final league game of the season knowing that a win was essential and furthermore the likelihood of goal difference coming into play was significant. United made one change to the side, which had been pushed hard on Monday night by the Groats, Willie Inrig made a welcome step up from the touch line to claim a midfield spot at the expensive of Boyd who dropped to the bench, Luke Cassidy and Derek Manson also joined him there after both returning from holidays.
Early nerves were apparent both on and off the field on the sidelines ears were regularly seen glued to mobile phones trying to establish just how proceedings were transpiring down in Wick. However on the field of play Willie Inrig was keen to make an early impression and his shot from fully twenty five yards stung the hands of Macleod who pushed the ball into the air and recovered well to hold on to the ball at the second attempt.
Groats had already shown earlier in the week that they were no push overs and were keen to re-establish that line of the thought in this fixture and one can't but help thinking if only this kind of spirit, determination and the quality had been shown throughtout the season they certainly would not have been playing 2nd division football next term.
Morris and Farquhar were never going to have an easy ride up front against the experienced duo of MacDonald and Miller roped in with the impressive Macgregor at the back combining to produce a solid defensive unit.
Beattie sent in a deep teasing cross for Morris to attack but although he managed to hold off Macgregor the centre half had done enough to prevent a clear header and the big man just couldn't quite find the target. Farquhar then missed a glorious chance fastening on to a Morris knockdown he found himself in the clear with only the keeper to beat but his finish was a disappointing attempted lob that landed harmlessly in the advancing Macleod's arms. Mackenzie did well down the left and cut back on to his right foot swinging in a tempting ball that eluded all the attackers and Beattie seemed to have done enough holding off Swanson but the ball just wouldn't sit down to allow him to shoot and once again the grateful keeper clutched the loose ball.
The opening goal finally did come after 25 mins a deep Inrig cross from the right saw Morris take one touch to kill the ball at the back post the next touch put United into the lead in a fashion very similar to his goal on the Monday night fixture.
Groats were still plugging away but for their possession couldn't really turn them into goal scoring opportunities although it wasn't for the lack of trying especially from the Ross brothers who were always willing outlets in fact at times maybe even a little too keen one such comment to referee Wheatcroft saw Craig enter the book for the game's first caution and he was quickly followed by Ross Sutherland who had failed to retreat ten yards from a freekick for the second time in five minutes.
United doubled their advantage ten minutes before the break a long Gray clearance was nodded down by Farquhar and Morris seized on the opportunity brushing aside MacDonald and laying the ball back for the inrushing Bremner who cracked a superb drive from the edge of the box into the net past Macleod who never moved.
Breathing space for United who now emitted a much more relaxed persona throughout and it could have got better when Farquhar got into tangle with Miller in the box but his appeal to referee Wheatcroft was in vain. A slack cross field pass from Swanson then saw Morris latch onto another opportunity but he sclaffed his shot from the edge of the box and the ball went wide in about the final chance of the half.
Half-time 2-0 to PUFC
United opened in the second 45 with clear intentions of trying to put the game beyond the Groats at the earliest opportunity but a combination of resolute defending and poor finishing meant that it was far from plain sailing. Martin Baker made a superb early run up the left hand side of the park linking with Nigel Mackenzie he cruised into the box and cut the ball back for Morris who took a touch but couldn't quite get his shot off quick enough as the Groats defence encroached and the ball deflected away for a corner the resulting flag kick also failed to produce a goal.
Bremner controlled a Beattie throw-in before lobbing a ball into Mackenzie who sent a superb volley in from the edge of the box but Macleod was equal to the effort and turned it over the bar. MacDonald then so nearly handed the Groats a lifeline back into the game linking well from the back he strode forward and from about twenty five yards and let fly with a vicious shot that had Gray scrambling to turn the ball round the post at the expense of a corner. From the resulting set piece the keeper struggled to get a touch to the ball but Miller couldn't get to the ball either and the ball span away for another corner however this time the keeper did collect the ball at the first time of asking.
Kyle Ross then had the keeper working again with a low drive from the edge of the box that the Gray deflected away from goal but as the attackers waited to pounce Skinner made the interception and cleared the danger.
The significance of the United defence holding firm during through this period was magnified further when Farquhar made it number three, Morris won a challenge with MacDonald on half-way but Macgregor intercepted the loose ball way but was short with the back pass allowing Farquhar to nip in round Macleod and score from a reasonably tight angle to all but put the game beyond Groats who had held the upper hand in the game for the ten minutes previous.
With twenty minutes to go this was further confirmed when Morris and Farquhar linked up again and it saw Farquhar clean in Macleod made a good diving save at the attackers feet but the ball ricocheted back off the helpless Macgregor and rolled into the unguarded net.
United were really turning the screw at this point and attacking at will with the Groats visibly rocked by the two goals in quick succession turning the whole game. The heart was really knocked out of the visitors and Farquhar made it 5 with 15 minutes to go and it was a peach, superb link up play down the right saw Beattie racing clear and he composed himself before delivering a superb near post ball that saw Farquhar get across his marker and finish the move in some style.
Not content with that Beattie wanted in on the act himself and with 10 minutes left he helped himself to the goal of the game and it was something of a role reversal from the previous effort. Farquhar did well to turn his man thirty yards out and towards the touch line allowing Beattie to go screaming past him and he played the ball in front of the wideman and he flashed the ball from just inside right hand side of the box across the keeper into the far corner of the net without even breaking stride.
This was to be his last involvement as he was replaced almost immediately by J Sutherland to a rousing reception from the home fans keen to recognise his involvement in the final two goals. The game fairly petered away in the last ten minutes as the urgency United had shown previous seemed to drain away.
M Gray, J Skinner, M Baker, R Farmer, R Sutherland, G Bremner, W Inrig,R Beattie (J Sutherland 80),
T Farquhar, K Morris, N Mackenzie. Subs not used - D Manson, G Elder, L Cassidy and H Boyd
An anxious 15 minutes later United were confirmed as the 1st division champions of Caithness once again and this crowned another marvellous season for the Canisbay team, committee and supporters alike.
I am sure everyone has their own highlight of the season but for me the semi final win over Wick Thistle in the E Macintosh Cup epitomised exactly what Pentland United are all about missing several key players and in fact only having 13 players available for the tie they produced a sterling performance against the then reigning league champions not only beating them but comfortably 4-0 was a tremendous effort.
All three county trophies in the bag are a sound return for the season's efforts and although the HA Cup exit was something of a disappointment I am sure there will be other opportunities to win that trophy back.
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the players to thank one and all for the support both on and off the field throughout the season and hopefully we will be toasting another great season at the same time next year. ;D
Pentland United 6 V Wick Groats 0 - By Michael Gray
The blistering sunshine over the previous few days had taken its toll on the local climate with haze like conditions never to far away around Dunnet although the sun was making every attempt to break through. United entered the final league game of the season knowing that a win was essential and furthermore the likelihood of goal difference coming into play was significant. United made one change to the side, which had been pushed hard on Monday night by the Groats, Willie Inrig made a welcome step up from the touch line to claim a midfield spot at the expensive of Boyd who dropped to the bench, Luke Cassidy and Derek Manson also joined him there after both returning from holidays.
Early nerves were apparent both on and off the field on the sidelines ears were regularly seen glued to mobile phones trying to establish just how proceedings were transpiring down in Wick. However on the field of play Willie Inrig was keen to make an early impression and his shot from fully twenty five yards stung the hands of Macleod who pushed the ball into the air and recovered well to hold on to the ball at the second attempt.
Groats had already shown earlier in the week that they were no push overs and were keen to re-establish that line of the thought in this fixture and one can't but help thinking if only this kind of spirit, determination and the quality had been shown throughtout the season they certainly would not have been playing 2nd division football next term.
Morris and Farquhar were never going to have an easy ride up front against the experienced duo of MacDonald and Miller roped in with the impressive Macgregor at the back combining to produce a solid defensive unit.
Beattie sent in a deep teasing cross for Morris to attack but although he managed to hold off Macgregor the centre half had done enough to prevent a clear header and the big man just couldn't quite find the target. Farquhar then missed a glorious chance fastening on to a Morris knockdown he found himself in the clear with only the keeper to beat but his finish was a disappointing attempted lob that landed harmlessly in the advancing Macleod's arms. Mackenzie did well down the left and cut back on to his right foot swinging in a tempting ball that eluded all the attackers and Beattie seemed to have done enough holding off Swanson but the ball just wouldn't sit down to allow him to shoot and once again the grateful keeper clutched the loose ball.
The opening goal finally did come after 25 mins a deep Inrig cross from the right saw Morris take one touch to kill the ball at the back post the next touch put United into the lead in a fashion very similar to his goal on the Monday night fixture.
Groats were still plugging away but for their possession couldn't really turn them into goal scoring opportunities although it wasn't for the lack of trying especially from the Ross brothers who were always willing outlets in fact at times maybe even a little too keen one such comment to referee Wheatcroft saw Craig enter the book for the game's first caution and he was quickly followed by Ross Sutherland who had failed to retreat ten yards from a freekick for the second time in five minutes.
United doubled their advantage ten minutes before the break a long Gray clearance was nodded down by Farquhar and Morris seized on the opportunity brushing aside MacDonald and laying the ball back for the inrushing Bremner who cracked a superb drive from the edge of the box into the net past Macleod who never moved.
Breathing space for United who now emitted a much more relaxed persona throughout and it could have got better when Farquhar got into tangle with Miller in the box but his appeal to referee Wheatcroft was in vain. A slack cross field pass from Swanson then saw Morris latch onto another opportunity but he sclaffed his shot from the edge of the box and the ball went wide in about the final chance of the half.
Half-time 2-0 to PUFC
United opened in the second 45 with clear intentions of trying to put the game beyond the Groats at the earliest opportunity but a combination of resolute defending and poor finishing meant that it was far from plain sailing. Martin Baker made a superb early run up the left hand side of the park linking with Nigel Mackenzie he cruised into the box and cut the ball back for Morris who took a touch but couldn't quite get his shot off quick enough as the Groats defence encroached and the ball deflected away for a corner the resulting flag kick also failed to produce a goal.
Bremner controlled a Beattie throw-in before lobbing a ball into Mackenzie who sent a superb volley in from the edge of the box but Macleod was equal to the effort and turned it over the bar. MacDonald then so nearly handed the Groats a lifeline back into the game linking well from the back he strode forward and from about twenty five yards and let fly with a vicious shot that had Gray scrambling to turn the ball round the post at the expense of a corner. From the resulting set piece the keeper struggled to get a touch to the ball but Miller couldn't get to the ball either and the ball span away for another corner however this time the keeper did collect the ball at the first time of asking.
Kyle Ross then had the keeper working again with a low drive from the edge of the box that the Gray deflected away from goal but as the attackers waited to pounce Skinner made the interception and cleared the danger.
The significance of the United defence holding firm during through this period was magnified further when Farquhar made it number three, Morris won a challenge with MacDonald on half-way but Macgregor intercepted the loose ball way but was short with the back pass allowing Farquhar to nip in round Macleod and score from a reasonably tight angle to all but put the game beyond Groats who had held the upper hand in the game for the ten minutes previous.
With twenty minutes to go this was further confirmed when Morris and Farquhar linked up again and it saw Farquhar clean in Macleod made a good diving save at the attackers feet but the ball ricocheted back off the helpless Macgregor and rolled into the unguarded net.
United were really turning the screw at this point and attacking at will with the Groats visibly rocked by the two goals in quick succession turning the whole game. The heart was really knocked out of the visitors and Farquhar made it 5 with 15 minutes to go and it was a peach, superb link up play down the right saw Beattie racing clear and he composed himself before delivering a superb near post ball that saw Farquhar get across his marker and finish the move in some style.
Not content with that Beattie wanted in on the act himself and with 10 minutes left he helped himself to the goal of the game and it was something of a role reversal from the previous effort. Farquhar did well to turn his man thirty yards out and towards the touch line allowing Beattie to go screaming past him and he played the ball in front of the wideman and he flashed the ball from just inside right hand side of the box across the keeper into the far corner of the net without even breaking stride.
This was to be his last involvement as he was replaced almost immediately by J Sutherland to a rousing reception from the home fans keen to recognise his involvement in the final two goals. The game fairly petered away in the last ten minutes as the urgency United had shown previous seemed to drain away.
M Gray, J Skinner, M Baker, R Farmer, R Sutherland, G Bremner, W Inrig,R Beattie (J Sutherland 80),
T Farquhar, K Morris, N Mackenzie. Subs not used - D Manson, G Elder, L Cassidy and H Boyd
An anxious 15 minutes later United were confirmed as the 1st division champions of Caithness once again and this crowned another marvellous season for the Canisbay team, committee and supporters alike.
I am sure everyone has their own highlight of the season but for me the semi final win over Wick Thistle in the E Macintosh Cup epitomised exactly what Pentland United are all about missing several key players and in fact only having 13 players available for the tie they produced a sterling performance against the then reigning league champions not only beating them but comfortably 4-0 was a tremendous effort.
All three county trophies in the bag are a sound return for the season's efforts and although the HA Cup exit was something of a disappointment I am sure there will be other opportunities to win that trophy back.
I would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the players to thank one and all for the support both on and off the field throughout the season and hopefully we will be toasting another great season at the same time next year. ;D