Post by Michael Gray on Jul 27, 2008 15:34:24 GMT
United’s bid to once again retain the Eann Macintosh Cup ended in failure after a late Martin Sinclair goal denied them at the final hurdle. It had all looked so positive at half time a goal to the good thanks to Tony Farquhar’s fine finish from an excellent Derek Manson through ball but by full time it was the Groats contingent that were lifting the trophy. Former United man Luke Cassidy up on a flying visit from Edinburgh was the first to threaten for JOG when he made a trademark burst down the left hand side before sweeping in a cross with his left foot along the 6 yard line but Gray at full stretch just about managed to hang on to with Martin Sinclair charging in at the far post. There was a very stiff wind travelling towards the school corner of the park and this was making conditions very tricky to play any standard of football however it did allow Swanson to be able to deliver some wicked corners from the riding Centre corner, which United did very well to deal with. Groats suffered a huge blow on the 15 minute mark when influential midfielder David Mowat hobbled out of action with a recurrence of a calf problem suffered v Wick Groats on the previous Wednesday. Tony Farquhar by far United’s top man on the day was doing very well holding the ball up and also bringing others into play via head flicks etc. United’s best chance early on came via a set-piece when James Murray was fouled by Graeme Tait on the edge of the area but the youngster elected for power rather than guile and the wall did its job. Skipper Inrig elected to try his luck from a similar position after again Tait had been involved in an altercation this time suffering a caution for his efforts. United broke the deadlock midway through the half and it was all about a delightful through ball from Derek Manson who picked the ball up 35 yards from goal and split the Groats defence down the middle for Tony Farquhar to run on and register his 13th strike of the season from a narrow angle. The remainder of the half was pretty even although the ever dangerous Cassidy was the focal point for the Groats attacks and he earned a dubious foul on the edge of the box after a Grant Steven challenge although if there was any contact it would have been minimal. The striker dusted himself down but his effort suffered the same as Inrig and Murray before him crashing into the wall and easily mopped up.
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 John O’Groats
United very nearly enjoyed the dream start to the second period when Farquhar and Murray linked very well through intelligent headers resulting in the young striker getting a clear sight of goal 16 yards out but Henderson made a smart save down to his left from the volley. From a dream it started to turn into a nightmare for the United side as they lost concentration momentarily and were punished by their north coast rivals. There seemed little danger when Stuart Sinclair picked the ball up in the right back area but after bursting passed Gary Bell the opportunity opened up and he fed Cassidy down the right channel who swept in a teasing cross that Sinclair turned high into the net from 6 yards. The game became rather scrappy from this point on with neither team really exerting any sustained periods of pressure or create any golden opportunities although Alan Davis did have a half chance when he found space just inside the box after a looping ball into the United area wasn't dealt with properly and the midfielder latched on to it in a flash but couldn’t keep the shot down. Groats then had an enormous escape when Sinclair slipped as he tried to get tight to Farquhar in the box and as the defender fell to the floor he sent the striker crashing to the ground the whole park looked to referee Wheatcroft for a decision, which seemed a stick on penalty but the veteran referee from his vantage point ruled in favour of the defender. United then seemed to harbour a real sense of injustice over the decision and it seemed to affect their play for the next ten minutes or so. The grievance was further fuelled when another very clumsy challenge this time by Fearns on Lee Sutherland as the flame haired midfielder seemed to lead with his arm when challenging with the Forss based man, who had already suffered one disappointment at the County Show earlier in the day when his prize gimmer only made second place in the Overall Sheep Championship went down heavily. Then with less than ten minutes remaining the roof fell in on the United performance as Groats countered down the left a sweeping cross from Cassidy had Skinner at full stretch and his header sat up perfectly for Martin Sinclair to become the toast of Groats as he beat Gray who had thrown his himself at the ball to block the effort. There was still time for one final opportunity when a long freekick from Inrig went right to the far post and picked out the unmarked Gary Mackay who couldn’t react after only seeing the ball late as the ball stuck his knee and looped up into the arms of Henderson
Full time
Pentland United 1-2 John O’Groats
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. G Bell (I Semple 88) 4. G Steven 5. J Skinner 6. D Mackay 7. W Inrig (c) 8. L Sutherland 9. J Budge 10. J Murray (J Budge 85) 11. D Manson
Subs not used
G Mackenzie
View from the goal
Huge disappointment losing the game so late and although I didn’t really think we deserved to win the game we didn’t really deserve to lose it either but them are the breaks and you must learn to take them on the chin and move on. My congratulations to John O’Groats I think given their recent history and the fact they have been there or there abouts over the last few years probably merits a trophy just wish it was at someone else’s expense. However on the positive side of things still 3 trophies to play for so we must re-group starting with Keiss on Monday and move forward
Half time
Pentland United 1-0 John O’Groats
United very nearly enjoyed the dream start to the second period when Farquhar and Murray linked very well through intelligent headers resulting in the young striker getting a clear sight of goal 16 yards out but Henderson made a smart save down to his left from the volley. From a dream it started to turn into a nightmare for the United side as they lost concentration momentarily and were punished by their north coast rivals. There seemed little danger when Stuart Sinclair picked the ball up in the right back area but after bursting passed Gary Bell the opportunity opened up and he fed Cassidy down the right channel who swept in a teasing cross that Sinclair turned high into the net from 6 yards. The game became rather scrappy from this point on with neither team really exerting any sustained periods of pressure or create any golden opportunities although Alan Davis did have a half chance when he found space just inside the box after a looping ball into the United area wasn't dealt with properly and the midfielder latched on to it in a flash but couldn’t keep the shot down. Groats then had an enormous escape when Sinclair slipped as he tried to get tight to Farquhar in the box and as the defender fell to the floor he sent the striker crashing to the ground the whole park looked to referee Wheatcroft for a decision, which seemed a stick on penalty but the veteran referee from his vantage point ruled in favour of the defender. United then seemed to harbour a real sense of injustice over the decision and it seemed to affect their play for the next ten minutes or so. The grievance was further fuelled when another very clumsy challenge this time by Fearns on Lee Sutherland as the flame haired midfielder seemed to lead with his arm when challenging with the Forss based man, who had already suffered one disappointment at the County Show earlier in the day when his prize gimmer only made second place in the Overall Sheep Championship went down heavily. Then with less than ten minutes remaining the roof fell in on the United performance as Groats countered down the left a sweeping cross from Cassidy had Skinner at full stretch and his header sat up perfectly for Martin Sinclair to become the toast of Groats as he beat Gray who had thrown his himself at the ball to block the effort. There was still time for one final opportunity when a long freekick from Inrig went right to the far post and picked out the unmarked Gary Mackay who couldn’t react after only seeing the ball late as the ball stuck his knee and looped up into the arms of Henderson
Full time
Pentland United 1-2 John O’Groats
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. G Bell (I Semple 88) 4. G Steven 5. J Skinner 6. D Mackay 7. W Inrig (c) 8. L Sutherland 9. J Budge 10. J Murray (J Budge 85) 11. D Manson
Subs not used
G Mackenzie
View from the goal
Huge disappointment losing the game so late and although I didn’t really think we deserved to win the game we didn’t really deserve to lose it either but them are the breaks and you must learn to take them on the chin and move on. My congratulations to John O’Groats I think given their recent history and the fact they have been there or there abouts over the last few years probably merits a trophy just wish it was at someone else’s expense. However on the positive side of things still 3 trophies to play for so we must re-group starting with Keiss on Monday and move forward