Post by Michael Gray on Jul 13, 2008 20:42:19 GMT
It was depleted United side that travelled to Wick for the David Allan semi-final v Rovers looking to repeat their 2006 success. Despite missing a clutch of players United opened up very brightly taking the game to their opponents from the outset and could have taken a lead in 10 mins a long kick from Gray saw James Murray break clear and smuggle the ball passed Robertson to Jimmy Budge who retrieved the ball before firing in low and hard only for A Sinclair to make a fine goal line clearance. However the big sweeper wasn’t having things all his own way and Murray soon had him in trouble chasing an Inrig through ball, which ended up with the young striker going down after receiving a blow to the face, referee Tait awarded the foul but never deemed the offence serious enough for further action. Skipper Inrig lined up the freekick from 25 yards and was agonisingly close with a Ronaldo type effort bending away from the keeper. It certainly wasn’t one way traffic though, Rovers are a very accomplished side and they were creating problems of their own Harper forcing a diving save from Gray to his right when Cunningham’s corner was cleared back to the former Ross county man he floated in a high cross to the back post that picked out the winger perfectly. Centre back Colin Davidson was next up when he burst out of the back unit down the right hand side and capitalised on a short pass from Skinner to round Bell but Gray raced from his line to block the ball on the bye line and the ball was cleared away. United roared back when Willie Inrig sliced open the home defence for Darren Mackay to race down the left and slam the ball across goal for the incoming Jimmy Budge but Robertson at his near post clawed the ball away at the expense of a corner. From Mackay’s inswinger Lee Sutherland was inches away with connecting to the loose ball after Budge challenged with Sinclair. Rovers wingman Harper then tested Gray again with a decent volley from the edge of the area after a Sheppard cross was half cleared and it took Gray two attempts to get the ball under control and he was thankful of no strikers lurking around the area. Jimmy Budge then rippled the side net after reacting very quickly to a loose ball 10 yards out after pressure from Murray on Sheppard had created the chance. With just under ten minutes left in the half disaster struck for United for once Cunningham escaped the clutches of Inrig to race clear to the left bye line on to a Sinclair long ball, the retreating Gary Mackay threw himself in to block the cross but the midfielder showed great composure to walk round the tackle then lash the ball passed Gray from an acute angle as the keeper tried to close down the opportunity.
Half time
Rovers 1-0 Pentland United
United returned to the field seemingly unnerved at such a set back and continued in the same vein attacking the home back line and generally on top. With the pressure being applied a little of the Rovers composure started to drift away first Cunningham was booked for a cynical trip on Paterson as the wide midfielder looked to break then A Sinclair joined him for a crunching challenge on Darren Mackay, which left the midfielder writhing in pain on the edge of the box. Murray took the set-piece and elected for power and the ball was blocked away Budge lashed in the rebound but it suffered the same fate. Harper is a very powerful in the air and it is a strength the Rovers like to utilise at every opportunity looking to switch the ball from left to right but Bell was giving him no peace and turning in a very fine performance. Harper very nearly created a goal from Cunningham’s corner after 55 mins the winger rose highest and nodded the ball goalwards but it wouldn’t fall for a Rovers player and Inrig mopped up the danger. United drew level on the hour mark Gray sent a bye kick upfield where Jimmy Budge rose brilliantly to head flick the ball into the path of his strike partner Murray who raced clear to finish powerfully across Robertson for a deserved equaliser. United continued to hold the upper hand although it was still an intensively competitive game Murray was again very close after turning Sinclair 25 yards from goal he let fly but it drifted wide of Robertson’s right hand post. Youngster Murray though really was having a splendid game giving the Rovers defence no peace at all and Sheppard was forced into drastic action just outside the box on the left hand byeline to stop the striker bursting clear, Inrig took the freekick and Sinclair was at full stretch to clear the ball from danger. With quarter of an hour left Darren Mackay chased down a seemingly lost cause down the left with Colin Davidson but the wideman did brilliantly to rob the defender and break for the box only to be fouled by the centre back again skipper Inrig tested the home defence and but the stood firm and cleared to Bell 30 yards out the full back took a touch before sweeping in a great far post cross but Murray straining every muscle couldn’t quite get there. With less than five minutes left United spurned a great chance when Paterson so powerful on the run broke down the right and cut across the box on to his weaker left foot he was given a clear sight of Robertson who produced a fine point blank save but the ball broke to Budge whose first time effort was again very well saved by the keeper. With the very last kick of the ball Budge went even closer when he spun on a loose ball from an Inrig corner to fire in low and hard beating Robertson but not Macdonald on the line.
Full time
Rovers 1-1 Pentland United
United started as they had finished and missed another glorious chance when Murray raced clear down the right beating Mackay and bursting along the bye line before cutting the ball back for Budge who flicked the ball goalward only to see Sinclair again thwart him on the line a scramble ensued which resulted in Murray lashing the ball over from close range. Rovers then thought they had taken the lead good play from Harper down the right saw him work an opening for Lyall whose first shot was blocked by Steven straight back to the forward who appeared to control with his arm before lashing home. Jimmy Budge must have been wondering what he had to do to score after stealing a march on Sinclair to meet a Mackay cross it looked goal bound until Robertson stuck out a right hand.
Half time – extra time
Rovers 1-1 Pentland United
United looked to be tiring at this point and Rovers stepped up their efforts to complete the job ahead of penalties. However chances were at a premium despite the home side enjoying a purple spell all they had to show were set pieces where twice Harper made contact with the ball but never troubled Gray
Full time – extra time
Rovers 1-1 Pentland United
Penalties
PU: Inrig scored
Rovers: Davidson scored
PU: Budge scored
Rovers: Reid scored
PU: Murray scored
Rovers: C Sinclair scored
PU: Skinner scored
Rovers: A Sinclair scored
PU: D Mackay scored
Rovers: Cunningham scored
PU: G Mackay scored
Rovers: S Muir scored
PU: Bell scored
Rovers: Macdonald missed
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. G Bell 4. G Steven 5. J Skinner 6. D Mackay 7. W Inrig (C) 8. L Sutherland 9. J Budge 10. J Murray 11. J Paterson (Wilkie 106)
Sub not used
View from the goal
Super result given how short we were on the night but the guys rallied really well in the start of a huge 4 weeks of games where everyone holds huge significance and will need to be approached in exactly the same manner as last night. Thought some of the individual performances were outstanding and worthy of a mention Murray and Bell in particular stood out on a night when there were no failures apart from Lee Sutherland who bottled the shoot-out.
Half time
Rovers 1-0 Pentland United
United returned to the field seemingly unnerved at such a set back and continued in the same vein attacking the home back line and generally on top. With the pressure being applied a little of the Rovers composure started to drift away first Cunningham was booked for a cynical trip on Paterson as the wide midfielder looked to break then A Sinclair joined him for a crunching challenge on Darren Mackay, which left the midfielder writhing in pain on the edge of the box. Murray took the set-piece and elected for power and the ball was blocked away Budge lashed in the rebound but it suffered the same fate. Harper is a very powerful in the air and it is a strength the Rovers like to utilise at every opportunity looking to switch the ball from left to right but Bell was giving him no peace and turning in a very fine performance. Harper very nearly created a goal from Cunningham’s corner after 55 mins the winger rose highest and nodded the ball goalwards but it wouldn’t fall for a Rovers player and Inrig mopped up the danger. United drew level on the hour mark Gray sent a bye kick upfield where Jimmy Budge rose brilliantly to head flick the ball into the path of his strike partner Murray who raced clear to finish powerfully across Robertson for a deserved equaliser. United continued to hold the upper hand although it was still an intensively competitive game Murray was again very close after turning Sinclair 25 yards from goal he let fly but it drifted wide of Robertson’s right hand post. Youngster Murray though really was having a splendid game giving the Rovers defence no peace at all and Sheppard was forced into drastic action just outside the box on the left hand byeline to stop the striker bursting clear, Inrig took the freekick and Sinclair was at full stretch to clear the ball from danger. With quarter of an hour left Darren Mackay chased down a seemingly lost cause down the left with Colin Davidson but the wideman did brilliantly to rob the defender and break for the box only to be fouled by the centre back again skipper Inrig tested the home defence and but the stood firm and cleared to Bell 30 yards out the full back took a touch before sweeping in a great far post cross but Murray straining every muscle couldn’t quite get there. With less than five minutes left United spurned a great chance when Paterson so powerful on the run broke down the right and cut across the box on to his weaker left foot he was given a clear sight of Robertson who produced a fine point blank save but the ball broke to Budge whose first time effort was again very well saved by the keeper. With the very last kick of the ball Budge went even closer when he spun on a loose ball from an Inrig corner to fire in low and hard beating Robertson but not Macdonald on the line.
Full time
Rovers 1-1 Pentland United
United started as they had finished and missed another glorious chance when Murray raced clear down the right beating Mackay and bursting along the bye line before cutting the ball back for Budge who flicked the ball goalward only to see Sinclair again thwart him on the line a scramble ensued which resulted in Murray lashing the ball over from close range. Rovers then thought they had taken the lead good play from Harper down the right saw him work an opening for Lyall whose first shot was blocked by Steven straight back to the forward who appeared to control with his arm before lashing home. Jimmy Budge must have been wondering what he had to do to score after stealing a march on Sinclair to meet a Mackay cross it looked goal bound until Robertson stuck out a right hand.
Half time – extra time
Rovers 1-1 Pentland United
United looked to be tiring at this point and Rovers stepped up their efforts to complete the job ahead of penalties. However chances were at a premium despite the home side enjoying a purple spell all they had to show were set pieces where twice Harper made contact with the ball but never troubled Gray
Full time – extra time
Rovers 1-1 Pentland United
Penalties
PU: Inrig scored
Rovers: Davidson scored
PU: Budge scored
Rovers: Reid scored
PU: Murray scored
Rovers: C Sinclair scored
PU: Skinner scored
Rovers: A Sinclair scored
PU: D Mackay scored
Rovers: Cunningham scored
PU: G Mackay scored
Rovers: S Muir scored
PU: Bell scored
Rovers: Macdonald missed
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. G Bell 4. G Steven 5. J Skinner 6. D Mackay 7. W Inrig (C) 8. L Sutherland 9. J Budge 10. J Murray 11. J Paterson (Wilkie 106)
Sub not used
View from the goal
Super result given how short we were on the night but the guys rallied really well in the start of a huge 4 weeks of games where everyone holds huge significance and will need to be approached in exactly the same manner as last night. Thought some of the individual performances were outstanding and worthy of a mention Murray and Bell in particular stood out on a night when there were no failures apart from Lee Sutherland who bottled the shoot-out.