Post by Michael Gray on Apr 14, 2004 10:15:51 GMT
Incessant rainfall throughout the day had the left the usually immaculate Castletown surface soft and very heavy going. United opened with a 3-pronged attack of Mackenzie, Nichol and Cassidy in the attempt of trying to force the homeside onto the back foot. Castletown included new signings Calder, Mackay, MacDonald and Florence in the starting line-up with fellow debutante Lee Elder on the bench. Silky football given the conditions was never going to be the order of the day but United tried to impose themselves on the game from the outset and the early midfield exchanges were as fiercely contested as expected in a local derby. United’s first opportunity after 10 mins came when Bremner and Farmer linked allowing the skipper to float a beautiful pass over the home defence giving Nichol who had peeled away at the back post the chance the opportunity to drive the ball across goal forcing Mackay into a diving save to make the block with the ball spinning over the top for a corner. However United were to find A Calder in commanding form in the air all night and he cleared under pressure from B Gray at the far post. United weren’t having it all their own way and a good Coghill pass found G Calder in space on the left hand side he drove the ball into the danger area but Boyd made a great recovery tackle at the near post at the expense of a corner. From the Florence’s corner keeper Gray saw his first involvement claiming the corner on his 6-yard line. Farquhar almost immediately had a chance to open the scoring for the hoops when he found space on the edge of the box after good link up play from MacDonald and Mackenzie however his snapshot was just to straight with keeper Gray clutching the ball at shoulder height. Great interplay from Cassidy and Nichol then allowed Mackenzie a sight of goal but he could only find the side netting with a rasping drive from the edge of the box. United seemed to be getting the upper hand while still failing to create any real quality opportunities B Gray had an opening at the back post from a Bremner corner but his attempt was blocked away and Castletown counter-attacked, which resulted in Skinner intervening at the expense of a corner. Once again Florence took the flag kick, which had Gray at full stretch to fist away the ball under pressure from in-coming attackers, once again Farquhar seized on the loose ball but he fired wide as the United defenders encroached. Mid-way through the first half the deadlock was broken and it came for the visitors a clearance was met my Sutherland in the heart of the midfield and he found Inrig in space he immediately looked up and sent a brilliant through ball down the right hand channel for Nichol who had time to flight an inviting cross into the box that was met by the in-rushing Cassidy and he superbly volleyed home into the bottom corner of the net. The goal marked a huge difference in the tempo of the game Castletown lost the impetus they had held in the early part of the game and moments later survived huge penalty claims when a vicious Inrig drive from the edge of the box appeared to strike Coghill on the hand however referee Gunn waved away the protests. Cassidy then brought a good save from Mackay when he audaciously tried to volley a Nichol cross from practically the byeline into the net but the keeper did well to claw the ball away. Moments later the striker turned provider turning his marker on half-way he threaded a defence splitting pass through to Nichol who raced clear drawing Mackay before firing home via a post to double United’s advantage. This clearly rocked Castletown who had competed really well in the half yet found themselves two down with 10 minutes left in the half and the scoreline became even worse five minutes before the break. Cassidy chased a lost cause to the byeline and cut the ball back resulting in an almighty scramble and when the ball broke to Mackenzie 8 yards out he side footed the ball into the roof of the net to further increase the lead. In the dying minutes of the half it got have been even worse for the homeside again Cassidy got free on the right he broke a tackle before flighting a cross into the box that Nichol could only glance wide under pressure.
Half-time Castletown 0-3 Pentland United
The next goal in this game was always going to be crucial with the homeside knowing it would be a foothole back into the game while the visitors realising a four-goal advantage would surely end the contest. During the interval Castletown introduced Adamson and Elder at the expense of Florence who had done a sterling job on Mackenzie for the second time in as many games and G Calder. Welsh had an early opportunity when he broke free however he hadn’t reckoned on the recovery powers of Boyd who muscled him off the ball before clearing for a corner. United suffered an injury blow early in the second half when B Gray limped from the fray allowing Steven to enter the field this saw some re-organisation in the United camp with skipper Farmer moving to sweeper and Skinner assuming a marking role. The substitute nearly made an immediate impression on his old stamping ground when he cut in from the right but his drive from 20 yards was just off target. Mackenzie was certainly enjoying more freedom since the removal of Florence and he was becoming an ever increasing influence on the game down the left. Welsh created another opening for himself when he steam rollered his way through two tackles to the edge of the box but his shot lacked any real power and Gray clutched the ball gratefully to his chest. Boyd then had a powerfully shot from 25 yards blocked away on the edge of the box by Farquhar as he looked to add fresh impetus to the attack. The killer fourth goal finally came on the hour mark Steven strode forward in space 30 yards out and picked out Nichol as who had pulled away from his marker he took one touch before firing low and hard across the keeper from 16 yards. United then took a firm grip on the game and began to pick off the deflated Castletown side Cassidy and Mackenzie linked up well allowing the striker to run clear but his powerful shot only managed to ripple the sidenet. Mid-way through the half Beattie replaced Cassidy who had capped a fine display with the opening goal taking a well deserved break in the re-shuffle Steven moved up front with Beattie adopting a wide role. United then had their second good penalty shout turned away by referee Gunn when as Steven prepared to shoot he was unceremoniously dumped to the ground. Mackay showed good hands when a Sutherland shot from fully 25 yards flew towards the top corner but the keeper comfortably plucked the ball from the air. Quick feet on the edge of the box allowed Mackenzie to break free but when perhaps the cut back to that waiting Steven was the better option he opted to shoot and Mackay spread himself well to make the block at the expense of a corner. A third penalty appeal by the Dunnet men was again waved away by the referee who ruled the infringement to have been outside the box when Mackenzie showed Adamson a clean pair of heels only for his run to be brought to a shuddering halt as he broke clear. Baker then replaced the hard working Nichol on the right hand side of the park with Beattie moving up top. The Wick man nearly opened his season’s account moments later when a high Bremner cross was won by Steven and as the ball broke to him he fired the ball right across the face of the goal, which eventually ended up in a throw to Castletown. There seemed to be an air of acceptance from both teams as the sky darkened in the latter stages of the contest and when referee Gunn blew for full time with visibility very poor indeed neither team seemed too disappointed.
Full-time Castletown 0-4 Pentland United
An excellent start for United in a notoriously difficult ground to win points early doors there was a rustiness about the performance but the opening goal seemed to add a spring to the step of the players. Heavy underfoot conditions made free flowing football extremely difficult but United did come to grips with the elements eventually with their range of passing and movement off the ball. A solid performance with no real star performers on the night more of a workman like shift delivering exactly what was required. Castletown competed really well for the majority of the first half with MacDonald and Farquhar showing great energy in the midfield and Mackenzie always a willing outlet up front. Second half they found it a little harder going as United stepped up the pace and made greater movement off the ball. No doubting most teams will find Castletown a difficult venue to come and grab points their energy and combative spirit will see to that.
Half-time Castletown 0-3 Pentland United
The next goal in this game was always going to be crucial with the homeside knowing it would be a foothole back into the game while the visitors realising a four-goal advantage would surely end the contest. During the interval Castletown introduced Adamson and Elder at the expense of Florence who had done a sterling job on Mackenzie for the second time in as many games and G Calder. Welsh had an early opportunity when he broke free however he hadn’t reckoned on the recovery powers of Boyd who muscled him off the ball before clearing for a corner. United suffered an injury blow early in the second half when B Gray limped from the fray allowing Steven to enter the field this saw some re-organisation in the United camp with skipper Farmer moving to sweeper and Skinner assuming a marking role. The substitute nearly made an immediate impression on his old stamping ground when he cut in from the right but his drive from 20 yards was just off target. Mackenzie was certainly enjoying more freedom since the removal of Florence and he was becoming an ever increasing influence on the game down the left. Welsh created another opening for himself when he steam rollered his way through two tackles to the edge of the box but his shot lacked any real power and Gray clutched the ball gratefully to his chest. Boyd then had a powerfully shot from 25 yards blocked away on the edge of the box by Farquhar as he looked to add fresh impetus to the attack. The killer fourth goal finally came on the hour mark Steven strode forward in space 30 yards out and picked out Nichol as who had pulled away from his marker he took one touch before firing low and hard across the keeper from 16 yards. United then took a firm grip on the game and began to pick off the deflated Castletown side Cassidy and Mackenzie linked up well allowing the striker to run clear but his powerful shot only managed to ripple the sidenet. Mid-way through the half Beattie replaced Cassidy who had capped a fine display with the opening goal taking a well deserved break in the re-shuffle Steven moved up front with Beattie adopting a wide role. United then had their second good penalty shout turned away by referee Gunn when as Steven prepared to shoot he was unceremoniously dumped to the ground. Mackay showed good hands when a Sutherland shot from fully 25 yards flew towards the top corner but the keeper comfortably plucked the ball from the air. Quick feet on the edge of the box allowed Mackenzie to break free but when perhaps the cut back to that waiting Steven was the better option he opted to shoot and Mackay spread himself well to make the block at the expense of a corner. A third penalty appeal by the Dunnet men was again waved away by the referee who ruled the infringement to have been outside the box when Mackenzie showed Adamson a clean pair of heels only for his run to be brought to a shuddering halt as he broke clear. Baker then replaced the hard working Nichol on the right hand side of the park with Beattie moving up top. The Wick man nearly opened his season’s account moments later when a high Bremner cross was won by Steven and as the ball broke to him he fired the ball right across the face of the goal, which eventually ended up in a throw to Castletown. There seemed to be an air of acceptance from both teams as the sky darkened in the latter stages of the contest and when referee Gunn blew for full time with visibility very poor indeed neither team seemed too disappointed.
Full-time Castletown 0-4 Pentland United
An excellent start for United in a notoriously difficult ground to win points early doors there was a rustiness about the performance but the opening goal seemed to add a spring to the step of the players. Heavy underfoot conditions made free flowing football extremely difficult but United did come to grips with the elements eventually with their range of passing and movement off the ball. A solid performance with no real star performers on the night more of a workman like shift delivering exactly what was required. Castletown competed really well for the majority of the first half with MacDonald and Farquhar showing great energy in the midfield and Mackenzie always a willing outlet up front. Second half they found it a little harder going as United stepped up the pace and made greater movement off the ball. No doubting most teams will find Castletown a difficult venue to come and grab points their energy and combative spirit will see to that.