Post by Michael Gray on Jul 4, 2008 19:43:59 GMT
They say that May comes in like a lion and out like a lamb well United had a similar approach last night with a superb first half hour of movement and passing but a final hour littered with mistakes and poor decision making. United flew out the blocks Jimmy Budge the nearest of margins away after a neat reverse pass from Murray released the striker. But the big striker wasn’t to be denied and after 8 mins he opened the scoring Grant Budge released Gary Mackay down the right the full back raced clear before sweeping in a far post cross the Jimmy volleyed back against the balance of Harper and into the net. The first division side were knocking the ball about really well maintaining possession and creating great angles to receive the ball and Harper made a great block at the expense of a corner when J Budge was again allowed space to run in on the keeper. After quarter of an hour J Murray brilliantly doubled the lead showing fantastic feetwork to step inside Bremner and angle a low drive across Harper from 16 yards into the bottom left corner. The young forward should have doubled his tally minutes later when Darren Mackay brilliantly dispossessed Gunn allowing Murray to race clear unchallenged from the half way line but his finish lacked conviction as he floated a lob well over the bar from 20 yards as Harper looked to close the angle. Lee Sutherland perhaps United’s best performer on the night was doing superbly breaking up play and linking with the attacking players and he carved out a decent chance for Grant Budge but the forward couldn’t beat Harper who pushed away his powerful effort on the turn. Jimmy Budge then had another decent chance after brother Grant raced away down the right before crossing to the far post the ball was delivered at that height when you can choose to volley or head Jimmy chose the former and duly flicked the ball wide prompting manager Gray to ask “James, excuse me why did you not header the ball rather than volley it”. The third came after 32 minutes when Lee Sutherland strode forward again before firing in a low shot that Harper pushed away Darren Mackay raced to retrieve the ball but was clipped by the retreating Reid leaving referee Tait no option but to point to the spot and skipper Willie Inrig made an immaculate job of finding the bottom corner. United then stopped playing their game and started 50 yard cross field passes and trying to thread the ball through the eye of a needle bunching the game up and allowing FSC right back into the game and just before the break they had a great chance Macdonald swept in a fine far post free kick that picked out Bremner all alone at the far post but the centre half’s header was just off target with the inquest into the defensive marking still ongoing.
Half time
FSC 0-3 Pentland United
As much as manager Gray tried to shake up his team it was plainly clear they thought they had already done enough and were to turn out a very unimpressive second period. It is a real pity that United collectively decided to start playing in such a manner as in the first half hour they were excellent knocking the ball about making space and competing really well. Jimmy Budge sniffed a good early chance from nothing really through applying pressure to Bremner on a long through ball the striker bundled his way passed the central defender to flick the ball passed Harper only to see the shot come back off the post the striker reacted first to fire goalwards but Harper recovered brilliantly to turn the shot away. FSC were coming into the game they had adopted an adventurous attacking formation and were starting to come at United Mark Banks with a typically powerfully long range effort was held on he line by Gray with United suddenly not getting things their own way any longer. Jimmy Budge was beginning to get sick of the sight of keeper Harper as once again the keeper brought of a fine diving save to his right when Granty Budge cut along the byeline before knocking the ball back for Budge who thought his side foot effort was goal bound. On the hour mark another surging Lee Sutherland run saw him feed Darren Mackay in an excellent position coming in from the right hand side of the box but the midfielder’s effort sliced into the side net. A few minutes later full back Derek Manson missed a decent opportunity with his head after good work on the right saw James Murray break a couple of tackles before looping in a cross to the far post, which Manson seemed to rather get under and headed the ball well over. The Francis Street then nearly nicked one back to make things interesting some shabby defending allowed substitute Mackay space in the box but keeper Gray managed to close the space by time the winger had managed to turn his shot goalwards. Top scorer Jimmy Budge then wrapped the game up from an Inrig corner the big striker stole a march on his marker to flick the ball home at the near post to complete the scoring. Manager Gray started to ring the changes through a combination of looking ahead to his fixture schedule and also to the abysmal second half performance Murray, Inrig and J Budge were all withdrawn in a ten min spell allowing Michael Smith, Scott Wilkie and Shaun Swanson to enter the game all three showed good energy and Swanson in fact nearly scored with his first touch attempting to chip Harper from 25 yards but the keeper recovered. The final real opportunity fell to Gary Mackay after the full back brilliantly linked up with Grant Budge the wide man burst to the byeline before cutting the ball back but Mackay elected to take a touch allowing Harper to close the angle and make another super block.
Full time
FSC 0-4 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. D Manson 4. G Steven 5. B Kenny 6. D Mackay 7. W Inrig (C) (S Wilkie 75) 8. L Sutherland 9. J Budge (S Swanson 80) 10. G Budge 11. J Murray (M Smith 71)
Sub not used
View from the goal
Less said about the final hour the better even the hardy souls on the sidelines were asking to be put out their misery such a shame really after a really positive first half hour
Half time
FSC 0-3 Pentland United
As much as manager Gray tried to shake up his team it was plainly clear they thought they had already done enough and were to turn out a very unimpressive second period. It is a real pity that United collectively decided to start playing in such a manner as in the first half hour they were excellent knocking the ball about making space and competing really well. Jimmy Budge sniffed a good early chance from nothing really through applying pressure to Bremner on a long through ball the striker bundled his way passed the central defender to flick the ball passed Harper only to see the shot come back off the post the striker reacted first to fire goalwards but Harper recovered brilliantly to turn the shot away. FSC were coming into the game they had adopted an adventurous attacking formation and were starting to come at United Mark Banks with a typically powerfully long range effort was held on he line by Gray with United suddenly not getting things their own way any longer. Jimmy Budge was beginning to get sick of the sight of keeper Harper as once again the keeper brought of a fine diving save to his right when Granty Budge cut along the byeline before knocking the ball back for Budge who thought his side foot effort was goal bound. On the hour mark another surging Lee Sutherland run saw him feed Darren Mackay in an excellent position coming in from the right hand side of the box but the midfielder’s effort sliced into the side net. A few minutes later full back Derek Manson missed a decent opportunity with his head after good work on the right saw James Murray break a couple of tackles before looping in a cross to the far post, which Manson seemed to rather get under and headed the ball well over. The Francis Street then nearly nicked one back to make things interesting some shabby defending allowed substitute Mackay space in the box but keeper Gray managed to close the space by time the winger had managed to turn his shot goalwards. Top scorer Jimmy Budge then wrapped the game up from an Inrig corner the big striker stole a march on his marker to flick the ball home at the near post to complete the scoring. Manager Gray started to ring the changes through a combination of looking ahead to his fixture schedule and also to the abysmal second half performance Murray, Inrig and J Budge were all withdrawn in a ten min spell allowing Michael Smith, Scott Wilkie and Shaun Swanson to enter the game all three showed good energy and Swanson in fact nearly scored with his first touch attempting to chip Harper from 25 yards but the keeper recovered. The final real opportunity fell to Gary Mackay after the full back brilliantly linked up with Grant Budge the wide man burst to the byeline before cutting the ball back but Mackay elected to take a touch allowing Harper to close the angle and make another super block.
Full time
FSC 0-4 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. D Manson 4. G Steven 5. B Kenny 6. D Mackay 7. W Inrig (C) (S Wilkie 75) 8. L Sutherland 9. J Budge (S Swanson 80) 10. G Budge 11. J Murray (M Smith 71)
Sub not used
View from the goal
Less said about the final hour the better even the hardy souls on the sidelines were asking to be put out their misery such a shame really after a really positive first half hour