Post by Michael Gray on Apr 22, 2004 10:20:38 GMT
A stiff wind travelling across Sir Georges Park marked United’s first venture of the season into Thurso to play old rivals Acks. Manager Duncan Gray was again forced to re-shuffle the pack with Martin Baker and Willie Steven dropping from the pool to be replaced by Russel Beattie and Andy Mackay. The game opened rather scrappily with little quality or flow to the game however perhaps the conditions could apportion a huge part in that. The first real exchange came when referee Macleod rather harshly penalised a Skinner challenge on Murray right on the edge of the United area. From the resultant freekick Gray was at full stretch to tip away MacDougall’s effort from just under the bar for a corner. Minutes later Nigel Mackenzie broke free down the left and drove towards the byeline and produced a fine near post cross, which Cassidy flicked on beautifully but could only watch helplessly as the ball drifted away with Swanson beaten. The Acks replied through enterprising play from Macgregor down the Acks right, which saw the winger produce a low centre for the incoming M Coghill to shoot from 12 yards but it was just to straight and Gray gratefully clutched the ball to his chest. The Acks were definitely gaining the upper hand and MacDougall did really well cutting in along the byeline and his centre found Murray whose turn and shot was smothered by Gray at the second attempt. The homeside finally made the breakthrough after twenty minutes and it was simplicity itself Swanson cleared the ball from hand over half-way the ball was flicked on in the midfield area allowing Murray to race through and dispatch the ball from 16 yards past Gray who attempted to close down the angle. United tried to hit back and a deep Beattie corner was met by B Gray but he failed to find the target with a downward header. MacDougall then had a good chance to double the Acks advantage after ghosting in untracked from the left he linked superbly with Murray but as M Gray advanced to close him down he fired his shot just over the bar with an enquiry being set-up in the United defence into just exactly he had been allowed to arrive in the situation unchallenged. As always this game was never going to go off without the odd firework and referee Macleod had to look sharp to diffuse a confrontation between Nichol and Mackay on the touchline when the striker took exception to the defenders lunge before Beattie became the first player to enter the book following a poor challenge on MacDougall he kicked the ball away in frustration leaving the referee no option. J Mackenzie did well down the Acks right and produced a low out swinging cross that Gray clutched at full stretch at his near post with Murray awaiting any mistake from the keeper. However the game still lacked any real quality and the majority of breaks were the result of mistakes rather than any real class. The half petered out without the creation of any goalscoring chances of note with the homeside taking all the plaudits for the first 45 mins.
Half-time
Thurso Academicals 1-0 Pentland United
United made a change at half time bringing on Andy Mackay for the out of sorts Beattie on the right hand side of the park and he brought a fresh impetus to the United performance. United certainly improved from their first half showing at the start of the second half as they tired to forge a way back into the game but although they enjoyed plenty of possession they were still failing to create any real chances of note. Boyd produced a fine lung bursting run from inside his own half that saw him charge right to the edge of the Acks area before being brought to a grinding halt by Moar. Bremner took the resultant kick but it struck the wall before Mackay lashed the rebound over the bar. M Gray then nearly caused a disaster in his own box calling for a ball that he was never going to reach resulting in the ball landing at Murray’s feet after B Gray had left the ball on his keepers call fortunately for the keeper he managed to smother Murray’s effort and the second attempt. Sloppy play from the United defence again in clearing the ball saw B Gray upend Murray on the edge of the box once again MacDougall took the freekick and Gray had to look lively to hold on to his powerful drive. Good wing play from Mackay down the right saw him fire a low cross into the near post but just as Cassidy seemed ready to pull the trigger the ball the ball took a horrendous bounce and flew away from the bemused striker. The same player then had a chance when Andy Mackay weaved his way through a couple of challenges before playing the ball into his feet the frontman tried to roll his marker Mackay who showed too much strength and the ball rolled through harmlessly to Swanson. Acks however were looking dangerous on the counter attack mainly due to the work rate and tremendous ability of their forward line of Mackenzie and Murray to hold up the ball. And it was no real surprise when that man Murray applied the fatal blow to United’s chances of getting back into the game G Coghill beat Bremner in the midfield and with United rearguard severely exposed he picked out Murray who took a touch before blasting past the advancing Gray to all but finish the game as a contest even with 15 mins left. Almost immediately Murray had the opportunity to complete his hat-trick as shoddy defending allowed MacDougall all the time and space in the world on the left and he picked the striker out but his diving header was scrambled away by M Gray. In retaliation Nichol had United’s best opportunity minutes later when Cassidy slipped him in at the angle however his powerful rising drive was well parried away for a corner by Swanson. United huffed and puffed through the latter stages of the game but failed to create any further scoring chances and in fact the home team had probably the last real chance when a corner was glanced by MacDougall under pressure from M Gray but Mackenzie couldn’t provide the final touch.
Full -time
Thurso Academicals 2-0 Pentland United
More disappointment for United and their supporters following on from Monday night’s display the defensive solidity that has been so apparent in the last few years has made way to a rather nervous looking backline although hopefully given the quality there the players can still turn things round before their season disappears into oblivion. A lot of tired legs amongst the United line-up perhaps suffering from winter football or the Monday night game or perhaps a combination of both failed to match the energy shown by their counterparts from the town. Once again the lack of creativity was alarming but as I previously stated there is still time to recover the situation and with returning players over the next few weeks hopefully they can get back on the rails. For the Acks a great start to their season they showed a great appetite for the game and worked the United team all over the park but special mention must go to the frontline of Murray and Mackenzie who quite simply were the main difference between the teams.
1. M Gray, 2. B Gray, 3. J Skinner, 4. H Boyd, 5. R Farmer (c), 6. G Bremner, 7. W Inrig, 8. R Beattie (A Mackay 45), 9. M Nichol, 10. L Cassidy, 11. N Mackenzie
Subs not used J Begg, D Manson
Half-time
Thurso Academicals 1-0 Pentland United
United made a change at half time bringing on Andy Mackay for the out of sorts Beattie on the right hand side of the park and he brought a fresh impetus to the United performance. United certainly improved from their first half showing at the start of the second half as they tired to forge a way back into the game but although they enjoyed plenty of possession they were still failing to create any real chances of note. Boyd produced a fine lung bursting run from inside his own half that saw him charge right to the edge of the Acks area before being brought to a grinding halt by Moar. Bremner took the resultant kick but it struck the wall before Mackay lashed the rebound over the bar. M Gray then nearly caused a disaster in his own box calling for a ball that he was never going to reach resulting in the ball landing at Murray’s feet after B Gray had left the ball on his keepers call fortunately for the keeper he managed to smother Murray’s effort and the second attempt. Sloppy play from the United defence again in clearing the ball saw B Gray upend Murray on the edge of the box once again MacDougall took the freekick and Gray had to look lively to hold on to his powerful drive. Good wing play from Mackay down the right saw him fire a low cross into the near post but just as Cassidy seemed ready to pull the trigger the ball the ball took a horrendous bounce and flew away from the bemused striker. The same player then had a chance when Andy Mackay weaved his way through a couple of challenges before playing the ball into his feet the frontman tried to roll his marker Mackay who showed too much strength and the ball rolled through harmlessly to Swanson. Acks however were looking dangerous on the counter attack mainly due to the work rate and tremendous ability of their forward line of Mackenzie and Murray to hold up the ball. And it was no real surprise when that man Murray applied the fatal blow to United’s chances of getting back into the game G Coghill beat Bremner in the midfield and with United rearguard severely exposed he picked out Murray who took a touch before blasting past the advancing Gray to all but finish the game as a contest even with 15 mins left. Almost immediately Murray had the opportunity to complete his hat-trick as shoddy defending allowed MacDougall all the time and space in the world on the left and he picked the striker out but his diving header was scrambled away by M Gray. In retaliation Nichol had United’s best opportunity minutes later when Cassidy slipped him in at the angle however his powerful rising drive was well parried away for a corner by Swanson. United huffed and puffed through the latter stages of the game but failed to create any further scoring chances and in fact the home team had probably the last real chance when a corner was glanced by MacDougall under pressure from M Gray but Mackenzie couldn’t provide the final touch.
Full -time
Thurso Academicals 2-0 Pentland United
More disappointment for United and their supporters following on from Monday night’s display the defensive solidity that has been so apparent in the last few years has made way to a rather nervous looking backline although hopefully given the quality there the players can still turn things round before their season disappears into oblivion. A lot of tired legs amongst the United line-up perhaps suffering from winter football or the Monday night game or perhaps a combination of both failed to match the energy shown by their counterparts from the town. Once again the lack of creativity was alarming but as I previously stated there is still time to recover the situation and with returning players over the next few weeks hopefully they can get back on the rails. For the Acks a great start to their season they showed a great appetite for the game and worked the United team all over the park but special mention must go to the frontline of Murray and Mackenzie who quite simply were the main difference between the teams.
1. M Gray, 2. B Gray, 3. J Skinner, 4. H Boyd, 5. R Farmer (c), 6. G Bremner, 7. W Inrig, 8. R Beattie (A Mackay 45), 9. M Nichol, 10. L Cassidy, 11. N Mackenzie
Subs not used J Begg, D Manson