Post by Michael Gray on Jul 4, 2008 19:32:24 GMT
Cometh the hour cometh the man well as per usual Tony was late but better late than never and United can now look forward to a tie against one of the favourites remaining in the competition in Back on July 12th. June has brought in a really poor spell of weather and that continued on Saturday with heavy drizzle throughout and a breeze travelling down the park. Both teams opened up rather tentatively with few real chances being produced at either end but from the outset it was obvious the height of Pollock would be a problem for the United defence. In fact the tall striker had the first effort on goal after 12 mins rising highest to meet an Urquhuart cross but it never looked likely to cause Gray any problems. Former Ross County man Gordon Connelly was the heart beat of the Maryburgh side throughout and he was keen to stamp his influence on the game after United had conceded a cheap freekick for pushing 30 yards from goal the midfielder struck the ball well enough but Gary Mackay blocked before it reached the goalmouth. Alistair Mathieson in the visitor’s goal only real action was to come and pluck a couple of corners without any great pressure being applied. The opener came after 28 minutes from the penalty spot, it all came about from a Derek Manson throw into Farquhar who controlled instantly and looked to roll his marker Bremner who wrestled the big striker to the ground assistant linesman Tait had a perfect view of the infringement and immediately flagged for the foul and referee John pointed to the spot, Farquhar assumed responsibility for the kick and blasted the ball low passed the diving Mathieson. Maryburgh’s main attacking edge was coming from set plays and Bremner had an early chance to atone for his error in his own box when he outmuscled Farquhar to meet another Connelly freekick but could only head down into the turf and Gray gathered. However the centre half was a lot closer to squaring the match ten minutes before the break another pin point Connelly freekick was powerfully met by the central defender easily beating Gray but this time it crashed off the face of the bar and Gray gathered with a sigh of relief. United then created a great chance of their own Lee Sutherland robbed Connelly in central midfield and strode forward purposely before playing in Kyle Ross who slid into beat Mathieson to the ball but could only look on as his toe poke drifted wide of the post. Farquhar had the final opportunity of the half really when he managed to get free in the Maryburgh left back area and burst along the byeline and as he lifted his head to find the killer pass he somehow managed to tap the ball back into the keepers grateful arms
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 Maryburgh
With the elements now in their favour I am sure the sizeable United support would have been expecting their team to take the upper hand in the game however initially it was the visitors who assumed the ascendancy, Pollock and Macdonald desperately looking for an opening on the edge of the box ending with the latters shot being blocked by Gary Mackay. However United rallied and Farquhar thought he had doubled his account for the afternoon when he brilliantly headed an Inrig freekick past the diving Mathieson but assistant referee Duncan flagged for offside much to the dismay of the United support who clearly felt their man was onside. The game was definitely improving as a spectacle as both teams went on the offensive, Bell produced a wonderful last ditch tackle to deny Pollock a clear goal scoring opportunity after the big striker had bundled through a couple of half hearted challenges on the edge of the box. On the hour the second flash point of the game Ross in attempting to block Bremner’s clearance caught the defender’s boot who reacted by viciously swinging a boot in the general direction of the striker whether it was meant is open to interpretation on this occasion referee John sided with defender and let him off. Mid way through the half United extended their lead James Murray skipped past a couple of tackles in midfield and opened up the visiting defence beautifully for Kyle Ross to burst through and bend the ball right footed across keeper Mathieson with as superb finish. With a two goal advantage and the elements in their favour you would think United would have been able to see out the game without any real issue however they only held the two goal advantage for around 5 mins when superb link up play down the right between Uruquhart and Juwor saw them carve open the United left side leaving the full back to stride forward before delivering a superb far post cross for Pollock to rise highest and bullet home a header past the sprawling Gray. United were rocked and Maryburgh sensed blood and duly equalised with just over ten minutes remaining and it was an avoidable one as United got in 6’s and 7’s down the right and as the ball came into the box the home defence couldn’t clear their lines and the ball fell to Pollock who gleefully poked the ball passed Gray who looked to close the angle. Game on United withdrew Kyle Ross and replaced him with James Paterson as they tried to re-establish a foothold in the game and slowly they did firstly an Inrig freekick beat everyone apart from the diving Mathieson who pulled off an impressive save then the keeper was less convincing when Darren Mackay swept in a low cross that he deflected away with his feet but managed to recover before Lee Sutherland nipped in. Just when Maryburgh thought they had earned a replay United struck James Murray picked the ball up in half way before sending a great ball over the top for Farquhar to chase the big striker duly did out stripping the defence to slide in and force the ball passed Mathieson as the keeper encroached to send the United support into raptures celebrating with a Klinnsman style dive and not a cow in sight. Maryburgh looked to kick on but the reserves were depleted Flu victim Jimmy Budge came off the bench for the last 5 mins or so and was heavily involved firstly latching on to a Farquhar knock down but he couldn’t steer the ball goalwards with his left foot then he delightfully flicked the ball home only again for assistant Duncan to rule offside however the United fans and players were soon celebrating again as referee John brought proceedings to a close.
Full time
Pentland United 3-2 Maryburgh
1. M Gray 2. D Manson (J Budge 85) 3. G Bell 4. G Steven 5. G Mackay 6. D Mackay 7. W Inrig (C) 8. L Sutherland 9. K Ross (J Paterson 74) 10. T Farquhar 11. J Murray
Sub not used
I Semple
View from the goal
First half very even and to be honest both teams were pretty evenly matched throughout no doubting the height of Pollock was a significant problem but we did ok against apart from that 5 min spell when we lost concentration. Quarter finals now against one of the favourites in Back and a very different proposition we will have to be positive but we are there and anything can happen but the games keeping rolling in Mon night v FSC and then Thurs v Castletown no room for tired legs.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 Maryburgh
With the elements now in their favour I am sure the sizeable United support would have been expecting their team to take the upper hand in the game however initially it was the visitors who assumed the ascendancy, Pollock and Macdonald desperately looking for an opening on the edge of the box ending with the latters shot being blocked by Gary Mackay. However United rallied and Farquhar thought he had doubled his account for the afternoon when he brilliantly headed an Inrig freekick past the diving Mathieson but assistant referee Duncan flagged for offside much to the dismay of the United support who clearly felt their man was onside. The game was definitely improving as a spectacle as both teams went on the offensive, Bell produced a wonderful last ditch tackle to deny Pollock a clear goal scoring opportunity after the big striker had bundled through a couple of half hearted challenges on the edge of the box. On the hour the second flash point of the game Ross in attempting to block Bremner’s clearance caught the defender’s boot who reacted by viciously swinging a boot in the general direction of the striker whether it was meant is open to interpretation on this occasion referee John sided with defender and let him off. Mid way through the half United extended their lead James Murray skipped past a couple of tackles in midfield and opened up the visiting defence beautifully for Kyle Ross to burst through and bend the ball right footed across keeper Mathieson with as superb finish. With a two goal advantage and the elements in their favour you would think United would have been able to see out the game without any real issue however they only held the two goal advantage for around 5 mins when superb link up play down the right between Uruquhart and Juwor saw them carve open the United left side leaving the full back to stride forward before delivering a superb far post cross for Pollock to rise highest and bullet home a header past the sprawling Gray. United were rocked and Maryburgh sensed blood and duly equalised with just over ten minutes remaining and it was an avoidable one as United got in 6’s and 7’s down the right and as the ball came into the box the home defence couldn’t clear their lines and the ball fell to Pollock who gleefully poked the ball passed Gray who looked to close the angle. Game on United withdrew Kyle Ross and replaced him with James Paterson as they tried to re-establish a foothold in the game and slowly they did firstly an Inrig freekick beat everyone apart from the diving Mathieson who pulled off an impressive save then the keeper was less convincing when Darren Mackay swept in a low cross that he deflected away with his feet but managed to recover before Lee Sutherland nipped in. Just when Maryburgh thought they had earned a replay United struck James Murray picked the ball up in half way before sending a great ball over the top for Farquhar to chase the big striker duly did out stripping the defence to slide in and force the ball passed Mathieson as the keeper encroached to send the United support into raptures celebrating with a Klinnsman style dive and not a cow in sight. Maryburgh looked to kick on but the reserves were depleted Flu victim Jimmy Budge came off the bench for the last 5 mins or so and was heavily involved firstly latching on to a Farquhar knock down but he couldn’t steer the ball goalwards with his left foot then he delightfully flicked the ball home only again for assistant Duncan to rule offside however the United fans and players were soon celebrating again as referee John brought proceedings to a close.
Full time
Pentland United 3-2 Maryburgh
1. M Gray 2. D Manson (J Budge 85) 3. G Bell 4. G Steven 5. G Mackay 6. D Mackay 7. W Inrig (C) 8. L Sutherland 9. K Ross (J Paterson 74) 10. T Farquhar 11. J Murray
Sub not used
I Semple
View from the goal
First half very even and to be honest both teams were pretty evenly matched throughout no doubting the height of Pollock was a significant problem but we did ok against apart from that 5 min spell when we lost concentration. Quarter finals now against one of the favourites in Back and a very different proposition we will have to be positive but we are there and anything can happen but the games keeping rolling in Mon night v FSC and then Thurs v Castletown no room for tired legs.