Post by Michael Gray on Jun 24, 2008 20:32:21 GMT
United arrived in John O’Groats to face the undefeated league leaders for the second time this season late call off’s by Aarron Smith and Lee Sutherland left the United weakened slightly but with the return of Brian Kenny it was as strong as they could muster. Not surprisingly a stiff breeze greeted United, who held a sense on injustice after the first encounter and were keen to try and claw back their north coast rivals at the top of the division. United opened up brightly with Tony Farquhar the spearhead of the attack with the ever dangerous Granty Budge playing off the tall striker. Brian Thain created the first opportunity with an industrious run down the left before clipping the ball across goal that had Graeme Tait stretching to clear. The early running eventually paid off for United after 9 minutes a long Gary Mackay from the right throw saw Tony Farquhar top the ball on for Budge to volley home form close range to open the scoring. The front pair combined minutes later when a Bell freekick found Farquhar’s head and he deftly flicked the ball into Budge who beat Henderson to the ball but he couldn’t quite wrap his leg round the ball to finish the chance. The home side recognising the let off then stepped up their efforts and took the upper hand in the game prompted in midfield by the talented David Mowat. Martin Sinclair brought Gray into action for the first time cutting in from the left and shooting right footed forcing the keeper to tip away for a corner, which Mackay whipped in but the keeper grabbed on his 6 yard line. From a similar situation minutes later Groats thought they had equalised and to be fair if it was 3-4 decades ago it probably would have been allowed however Stuart Sinclair’s charge on keeper Gray as he plucked the corner from the air was rightly ruled out by referee Macdonald. However the pressure was building with United failing to have any decent possession and conceding territory far too easily and it was no more than Groats deserved on the balance of play when they equalised just after 20 minutes Stuart Sinclair playing as an auxiliary forward found himself with back to goal in the left back area however he managed to turn Gary Mackay and bend a ball into the bottom corner with a sweet right foot shot passed the outstretched Gray. This did spark United back into life but the wind was playing havoc anytime the ball went into the air, keeper Gray especially was toiling consistently slicing the ball out to the left must to the annoyance of his manager and to the delight of the prospective University Challenge contestants on the sidelines. John O’Groats certainly don’t mind the physical aspect of the game and referee Macdonald was having his work cut out just trying to keep a lid on things. The period pretty much right up until half time was even enough although perhaps Groats shaded with chances with the best falling to Martin Sinclair when a long ball over the top found him in a foot race with Grant Steven he managed to get to the ball first but never really got the purchase on the shot he required and Gray smothered the ball on the 6 yard line. Just when it seemed the teams would go in level United struck again a goal kick from Gray has met by Farquhar who flicked it into the area behind the Groats defence Tait under desperate pressure from Budge only managed to send the ball back in the general direction of Henderson who raced from his goal only to be beaten to the ball by Budge who rounded the keeper and tapped the ball into the empty net. There was still time for United to suffer a blow when Gary Mackay suffered a recurrence of a recent knee injury when he collided with keeper Gray who had raced from his line to recover a through ball the defender bravely struggled on to half time but was then replaced by Manson.
Half time
JOG 1-2 Pentland United
There was no prizes for guessing that the home team were going to throw everything plus the kitchen sink at the United back line to see what they could get especially given the reorganisation required upon Mackay’s injury. However chances were to be a at premium throughout the half to be honest one of the best fell to M Mackay within a few minutes of the restart when the ball was switched from the right to the back post finding the winger who took a good first touch but under pressure from the recovering Manson he lashed the ball into the side net. Given the tempo and physical nature of the game it was obvious that any newcomer to the game was going to get no time to settle and this was to be the same for Derek Manson who 3 times in the opening 10 minutes of the half was caught not knowing whether to commit himself to the ball or sit back and on each occasion he made the wrong choice but to be fair he then settled into a very effective performance however one such error led to a freekick opportunity for David Mowat on the edge of the box. The tall midfielder bent a superb effort round the wall passed the startled Gray but couldn’t believe his luck as it crashed off the bar. Brian Thain then had a good chance on the counter breaking down the left he managed to out muscle Ross and raced in on to his right foot but never really caught hold of his effort and it flew over. Skipper Willie Inrig was next to chance his hand and it certainly fell into the ambitious category as he shot from 5 yards passed the centre circle and it never looked likely to trouble Henderson. To be honest that pretty summed up the goal scoring chances of the second half, which was littered by freekicks, and scraps around the area but with little quality football being played it had resorted to a good old scrap with both teams trying to outmuscle the other into submission. Granted the surface isn’t exactly conducive to good football and the windy conditions did make things difficult but the there was a real lack of composure and the ability to lift a head and pick a pass was missing but perhaps what was at stake attributed to that. The goal that clinched the game came with just under ten minutes remaining when a long kick from Gray was missed by everyone allowing Grant Budge to race through and finish with some aplomb to keep a memorable night for striker. I think I am right in saying that is his first hat-trick for the club matching the feat of his brother in the first match of the season and lets hope it is not the last.
Full time
JOG 1-3 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay (D Manson 45) 3. G Bell 4. G Steven 5. B Kenny 6. D Mackay 7. B Thain 8. W Inrig (c) 9. T Farquhar 10. G Budge (J Budge 85) 11. J Murray
Sub not used
G Mackenzie, L Sutherland
View from the goal
Well what can I say assignments don’t come much tougher and although perhaps the quality was missing the effort and battling qualities certainly weren’t. We knew Groats would be fired up for the game and there is no doubting their Championship winning credentials as they are in a great position but we have to keep chipping away and hope things turn for us but it is still very much a game of catch up.
Half time
JOG 1-2 Pentland United
There was no prizes for guessing that the home team were going to throw everything plus the kitchen sink at the United back line to see what they could get especially given the reorganisation required upon Mackay’s injury. However chances were to be a at premium throughout the half to be honest one of the best fell to M Mackay within a few minutes of the restart when the ball was switched from the right to the back post finding the winger who took a good first touch but under pressure from the recovering Manson he lashed the ball into the side net. Given the tempo and physical nature of the game it was obvious that any newcomer to the game was going to get no time to settle and this was to be the same for Derek Manson who 3 times in the opening 10 minutes of the half was caught not knowing whether to commit himself to the ball or sit back and on each occasion he made the wrong choice but to be fair he then settled into a very effective performance however one such error led to a freekick opportunity for David Mowat on the edge of the box. The tall midfielder bent a superb effort round the wall passed the startled Gray but couldn’t believe his luck as it crashed off the bar. Brian Thain then had a good chance on the counter breaking down the left he managed to out muscle Ross and raced in on to his right foot but never really caught hold of his effort and it flew over. Skipper Willie Inrig was next to chance his hand and it certainly fell into the ambitious category as he shot from 5 yards passed the centre circle and it never looked likely to trouble Henderson. To be honest that pretty summed up the goal scoring chances of the second half, which was littered by freekicks, and scraps around the area but with little quality football being played it had resorted to a good old scrap with both teams trying to outmuscle the other into submission. Granted the surface isn’t exactly conducive to good football and the windy conditions did make things difficult but the there was a real lack of composure and the ability to lift a head and pick a pass was missing but perhaps what was at stake attributed to that. The goal that clinched the game came with just under ten minutes remaining when a long kick from Gray was missed by everyone allowing Grant Budge to race through and finish with some aplomb to keep a memorable night for striker. I think I am right in saying that is his first hat-trick for the club matching the feat of his brother in the first match of the season and lets hope it is not the last.
Full time
JOG 1-3 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay (D Manson 45) 3. G Bell 4. G Steven 5. B Kenny 6. D Mackay 7. B Thain 8. W Inrig (c) 9. T Farquhar 10. G Budge (J Budge 85) 11. J Murray
Sub not used
G Mackenzie, L Sutherland
View from the goal
Well what can I say assignments don’t come much tougher and although perhaps the quality was missing the effort and battling qualities certainly weren’t. We knew Groats would be fired up for the game and there is no doubting their Championship winning credentials as they are in a great position but we have to keep chipping away and hope things turn for us but it is still very much a game of catch up.