Post by Michael Gray on Apr 28, 2004 11:57:58 GMT
United made the trip East desperate to try and rediscover some form and kick-start the season given the two miserable performances in the week previous. The Dunnet side welcomed back Willie Steven and Martin Baker to their squad with Andy Mackay and Russel Beattie dropping out through injury. The Upper Bignold surface was in reasonable condition given the recent heavy rain although it was still soft under foot. The visitors made a dream start in only 3 mins Bremner was fouled at the angle of the box and the midfielder dusted himself down to deliver a low cross that allowed Cassidy to steal a march on his marker and delicately flick the ball into the top corner. Within four minutes the same player had doubled his own personal tally and the United advantage he accepted an Inrig pass on the edge of the box twisted away from his marker and fired in a thunderbolt along the ground that found the corner of the net via a minor deflection giving Harper absolutely no chance. United were buzzing now with the obvious lifting of the doom that had descended the week before was clearly evident in step of each United player. After ten minutes Nichol broke into the box on the angle however his powerful low drive was blocked by the outstretched foot of Harper with rebound being swept away by Thompson. The midfield of Mackenzie, Bremner, Farmer and Inrig were showing marvellous movement and passing giving their counterparts huge problems as they continued to batter at the door for more goals. After great link up between Inrig, Farmer and Bremner the latter swung in a far post cross that found Mackenzie in space at the back post but his volley was just off target. The visitors made it 3 after twenty five minutes B Gray picked the ball in midfield and produced a superb defence splitting pass releasing Nichol down the right he raced to the byeline before cutting the ball back for the inrushing Cassidy to blast the ball high into the net and complete a first half hat-trick. United as you would expect were in full flow now and FSC were having to man all the pumps to stay with them Boyd was next to get in on the act when he was played in by Inrig he fired across the keeper but Harper was equal to the shot and produced a very good save tipping the ball away. The same player had a glorious chance from an inswinging Inrig cross but his glancing header skidded just of target with the keeper on this occasion well beaten. On the half hour mark Mackenzie danced away from his marker down the left and whizzed an inviting cross right across goal, which Cassidy just failed to make connection with at the near post and then Nichol threw himself at the ball only just failing to make contact. Bremner nearly added to the scoreline when he picked the ball up 30 yards from goal and right from the offset it was obvious there was only one thought on his mind as his thumping drive shaved the post. The one moment of slight concern in the United defence was caused by a Boyd pass back that had M Gray toiling but he eventually managed to find Skinner in the right back area under pressure. Cassidy had a great chance to make it four when Bremner played him in on the angle but he drove the ball into the side netting with Nichol screaming for the centre, which would have presented him with a tap in. However the fourth was only delayed momentarily when in an almost carbon copy of the first goal Bremner found Cassidy in the box from a flighted freekick and with a flick of the head the ball was in the top corner of the net via the outstretched hand of Harper.
Half-time
FSC 0-4 Pentland United
United introduced Baker for B Gray for at the interval in a like for like substitution as they looked to keep the side fresh given the recent flurry of games. Nichol had the first opportunity of the second half when he brilliantly controlled a Bremner pass on the edge of the box before unleashing a shot that looked destined for the net before it cannoned off Thompson and fortuitously for FSC straight into Harper’s hands as the striker looked to the heavens in disbelief. Cassidy was then withdrawn after 50 mins to rest his legs with forthcoming fixtures in mind and was replaced by the evergreen Begg. Bremner as he had shown in first half wasn’t going to be shy when it came to having a shot on goal and he had the home keeper scurrying across his goal when his wicked drive from fully 25 yards swerved just the wrong side from United’s point of view of the post. There had certainly been no change in tempo nor flow to the game since the break and it was no surprise United further stretched their advantage and once again it was that man Nichol who was thwarted as he looked to pull the trigger in front of goal through a combination of the defence but Steven following up unleashed a unstoppable shot that flew into the top corner. On 58 mins Manson replaced Skinner with skipper Farmer moving to sweeper and Inrig moving more central in midfield leaving the substitute to patrol the right hand side of the park. The sixth followed fairly rapidly when a Begg corner was bundled over the line from close range by Boyd. Nichol who was just having one of those days in front of goal where absolutely nothing seemed to be going his way then produced another fine angled drive that clipped the post on its way past with the goalkeeper again left helpless. Mackenzie came agonisingly close shortly afterwards when a searching pass from Manson was topped on by Nicol then flicked into the patch of Mackenzie but his drive beat both the diving Harper and the post. With fifteen minutes remaining Nichol finally got the goal his effort and lead up play deserved a Mackenzie pass was controlled and volleyed in a single movement that beat the keeper who had moved out to close the angle. United continued to pile forward in search of more goals but the play began to become slightly more ragged as the wrong option seemed to be taken more often that not. Steven on the angle of the box had Nichol free at far post but elected to shoot with a delicate bending chip that flew high and wide of the target. Inrig then did well on the edge of the area beating his man before cutting inside and unleashing a rasper but again the ball failed to find the target. Finally the miss of the night belonged to Begg when wonderful lead up play from Nichol cutting along the byeline found the him all alone 6 yards out with the goal at his mercy but his left foot shot drifted away without ever bothering the home goal.
Full-time
FSC 0-7 Pentland United
View from the goal
I think we produced much better football last night and went about our business clinically and purposely from the off. Getting an early goal is always great especially on the back of the poor displays previous to this game and Luke’s strike certainly got us off to a flier. Himself and Mark have been working really hard outside the area and perhaps that has been to the detriment of their goalscoring chances but they were both sharp again last night and getting them both on the scoresheet is always a bonus. In my opinion however the midfield was the real bonus after looking so tired last week there were a few with a point to prove and the movement, options and passing was first class. In addition a cleansheet meant a good day at the office all round and we must now look to back that up on Thursday versus Ashes in the league.
1. M Gray 2. B Gray (Baker 45) 3. J Skinner 4 (Manson 58). H Boyd 5. R Farmer 6. G Bremner 7. W Inrig 8. W Steven 9. M Nichol 10. L Cassidy (Begg 50) 11 N Mackenzie
Half-time
FSC 0-4 Pentland United
United introduced Baker for B Gray for at the interval in a like for like substitution as they looked to keep the side fresh given the recent flurry of games. Nichol had the first opportunity of the second half when he brilliantly controlled a Bremner pass on the edge of the box before unleashing a shot that looked destined for the net before it cannoned off Thompson and fortuitously for FSC straight into Harper’s hands as the striker looked to the heavens in disbelief. Cassidy was then withdrawn after 50 mins to rest his legs with forthcoming fixtures in mind and was replaced by the evergreen Begg. Bremner as he had shown in first half wasn’t going to be shy when it came to having a shot on goal and he had the home keeper scurrying across his goal when his wicked drive from fully 25 yards swerved just the wrong side from United’s point of view of the post. There had certainly been no change in tempo nor flow to the game since the break and it was no surprise United further stretched their advantage and once again it was that man Nichol who was thwarted as he looked to pull the trigger in front of goal through a combination of the defence but Steven following up unleashed a unstoppable shot that flew into the top corner. On 58 mins Manson replaced Skinner with skipper Farmer moving to sweeper and Inrig moving more central in midfield leaving the substitute to patrol the right hand side of the park. The sixth followed fairly rapidly when a Begg corner was bundled over the line from close range by Boyd. Nichol who was just having one of those days in front of goal where absolutely nothing seemed to be going his way then produced another fine angled drive that clipped the post on its way past with the goalkeeper again left helpless. Mackenzie came agonisingly close shortly afterwards when a searching pass from Manson was topped on by Nicol then flicked into the patch of Mackenzie but his drive beat both the diving Harper and the post. With fifteen minutes remaining Nichol finally got the goal his effort and lead up play deserved a Mackenzie pass was controlled and volleyed in a single movement that beat the keeper who had moved out to close the angle. United continued to pile forward in search of more goals but the play began to become slightly more ragged as the wrong option seemed to be taken more often that not. Steven on the angle of the box had Nichol free at far post but elected to shoot with a delicate bending chip that flew high and wide of the target. Inrig then did well on the edge of the area beating his man before cutting inside and unleashing a rasper but again the ball failed to find the target. Finally the miss of the night belonged to Begg when wonderful lead up play from Nichol cutting along the byeline found the him all alone 6 yards out with the goal at his mercy but his left foot shot drifted away without ever bothering the home goal.
Full-time
FSC 0-7 Pentland United
View from the goal
I think we produced much better football last night and went about our business clinically and purposely from the off. Getting an early goal is always great especially on the back of the poor displays previous to this game and Luke’s strike certainly got us off to a flier. Himself and Mark have been working really hard outside the area and perhaps that has been to the detriment of their goalscoring chances but they were both sharp again last night and getting them both on the scoresheet is always a bonus. In my opinion however the midfield was the real bonus after looking so tired last week there were a few with a point to prove and the movement, options and passing was first class. In addition a cleansheet meant a good day at the office all round and we must now look to back that up on Thursday versus Ashes in the league.
1. M Gray 2. B Gray (Baker 45) 3. J Skinner 4 (Manson 58). H Boyd 5. R Farmer 6. G Bremner 7. W Inrig 8. W Steven 9. M Nichol 10. L Cassidy (Begg 50) 11 N Mackenzie