Post by Michael Gray on May 21, 2009 7:29:37 GMT
United’s third rural road trip of the season saw them travel west across Dunnet Bay to face old foes Castletown in another crucial league encounter. Although United were to drop their first points of the season the cost was much greater in the loss of Michael Steven through a fractured ankle. United welcomed back Gary Bell to the ranks as well as Derek Manson as they reverted to a 4-4-2 system against their local rivals who were on the back of an excellent HA Cup victory over league leaders Swifts. United opened up brightly and Steven Morris was keen to impress v his old side cutting in from the left and striking a powerful shot wide of the target. Castletown though were well up for the challenge and they thought they had taken the lead after 10 mins when a Mackechnie cross picked out Niall Murray who headed down for former United man Scott Mackay-Steven but he had strayed into an offside position and assistant referee Makhouli quickly acknowledged that. However disaster was to strike minutes later when skipper Michael Steven stretching to win a ball seemed to catch his boot in the turf and go over his ankle it was immediately apparent he was in serious distress and ambulance was called for, the severity of injury is still unconfirmed but a broken ankle is suspected. There was something of a lull after the 25 minute stoppage as they awaited the emergency but slowly the game crept back to life and Chris Sutherland injured in a clash with team –mate Gavin Henderson earlier in the game breached the United defence after good link up play from Mackay-Steven who turned and drove at the visitors before playing in the winger down the right hand channel before firing low at Gray who parried at the expense of a corner. On the half hour mark United came as close as they would all game when a super Bell corner picked out Farquhar at the back post and he bulleted a header goalwards but Chris Sutherland did very well on the line to scramble away as far as substitute Macleod whose volley was instantly forgettable. United had an appeal for a penalty turned away ten minutes before the break after Derrick Shearer was booked for a crude challenge on James Murray, Bell swung the freekick into the far post where Farquhar looked to be odds on favourite to win the ball but went down under the challenge of Macleod but referee Gunn was not interested. The game was being played in a very attacking manner it has to be said however whilst both teams were finding build up play into the final third without any real difficulty quality deliveries were at a premium and as a result so were opportunities. Probably the final chance of the half fell to Martin Murray after a long ball into United area was half cleared to the winger on the edge of the area and he warmed Gray’s gloves with a decent volley that flew straight at the keeper. Referee Gunn blew for half time with neither team able to make a case for injustice at the score line as equilibrium was about right.
Half time
Castletown 0-0 Pentland United
Although throughout the game both teams played with great energy an enormous amount of credit must go to Castletown for being able to sustain the tempo after such an energy sapping result at the weekend, however the achilles heel remained a quality delivery into the danger area. Garry Macleod who had tweaked a hamstring the previous week and had been left in reserve for the start of this match, however the unfortunate injury to Michael Steven meant he was called back into action perhaps a little sooner than the management would have liked however he produced his best display in a United top and early in the second half fired in a low bending effort from 20 yards after James Murray picked him out on the edge of the box. Sutherland was easily the homeside’s best outlet and he was giving Bell a stern work-out on his return to County action after his academic break. The winger must have thought he was about to open the scoring ten minutes after the break when a bouncing ball eluded Bell on the halfway line Sutherland picked up and raced towards goal out foxing Skinner but just as he prepared to shoot Bell conjured up a wonder tackle to prevent the opener the resultant flag kick came to nothing. Kirk in the home goal has impressed a few observers on the county circuit and he showed great speed and anticipation to thwart Farquhar after Darryn Mackay had attempted to lay the tall striker in on goal. Just after hour mark Castletown were perhaps a little fortunate to keep 11 players on the park when the already booked Shearer was turned by Murray superbly just inside the Castletown half and as opportunities started to appear the full back unceremoniously dumped the youngster on his back with a challenge from behind, referee Gunn acknowledged the foul however decided to keep his book in his pocket on this occasion, Ian Macdonald though was taking no chances and immediately withdrew the fullback and replaced with Ben Murray. With under 20 remaining United withdrew Steven Morris and replaced with Darren ‘Despy’ Mackay upfront alongside Tony Farquhar and one of the substitutes first action was to skim a 25 yarder over the top of Kirk’s bar with Garry Macleod bitterly disappointed not to have been played in after a lung bursting run. The game was now end to end as gaps started to appear in both rearguards. Sutherland again burst passed Bell into the danger are at the angle coming in from the right he fired a shot in low and hard but Gray stopped with his feet and was then involved in a desperate challenge from Castletown substitute Ross Sutherland. As the game continued to flow from one counter attack to another unfortunately the quality of final ball was all to obvious and no more real chances of note were created the final action again involved Gray and Sutherland when a long ball was superbly killed on his chest by the keeper a Cruyff turn and back into his box before Sutherland’s late lunge to try and prise the ball from his grasp failed.
Full time
Castletown 0-0 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. G Bell 4. G Steven 5. J Skinner 6. D Mackay 7. M Steven (c) (G Macleod 20) 8. L Sutherland 9. T Farquhar 10. S Morris (D Mackay 75) 11. J Murray
Sub not used
Begg, Manson, Gray
View from the goal
Losing Joe not just in the context of this game but now for a lengthy spell is a huge blow as he was just regaining his form and confidence after a spell on the sidelines I am gutted for the lad. But I can assure you it won’t keep him down long as he is made of strong stuff so he won’t be out of action for any longer than is necessary. The game itself was very even both teams played decent stuff until the final third and as you may have picked up through the report the final ball was a disappointment. I still consider this a point won considering how strong they were and no team will relish playing them regardless of their start to the season.
Half time
Castletown 0-0 Pentland United
Although throughout the game both teams played with great energy an enormous amount of credit must go to Castletown for being able to sustain the tempo after such an energy sapping result at the weekend, however the achilles heel remained a quality delivery into the danger area. Garry Macleod who had tweaked a hamstring the previous week and had been left in reserve for the start of this match, however the unfortunate injury to Michael Steven meant he was called back into action perhaps a little sooner than the management would have liked however he produced his best display in a United top and early in the second half fired in a low bending effort from 20 yards after James Murray picked him out on the edge of the box. Sutherland was easily the homeside’s best outlet and he was giving Bell a stern work-out on his return to County action after his academic break. The winger must have thought he was about to open the scoring ten minutes after the break when a bouncing ball eluded Bell on the halfway line Sutherland picked up and raced towards goal out foxing Skinner but just as he prepared to shoot Bell conjured up a wonder tackle to prevent the opener the resultant flag kick came to nothing. Kirk in the home goal has impressed a few observers on the county circuit and he showed great speed and anticipation to thwart Farquhar after Darryn Mackay had attempted to lay the tall striker in on goal. Just after hour mark Castletown were perhaps a little fortunate to keep 11 players on the park when the already booked Shearer was turned by Murray superbly just inside the Castletown half and as opportunities started to appear the full back unceremoniously dumped the youngster on his back with a challenge from behind, referee Gunn acknowledged the foul however decided to keep his book in his pocket on this occasion, Ian Macdonald though was taking no chances and immediately withdrew the fullback and replaced with Ben Murray. With under 20 remaining United withdrew Steven Morris and replaced with Darren ‘Despy’ Mackay upfront alongside Tony Farquhar and one of the substitutes first action was to skim a 25 yarder over the top of Kirk’s bar with Garry Macleod bitterly disappointed not to have been played in after a lung bursting run. The game was now end to end as gaps started to appear in both rearguards. Sutherland again burst passed Bell into the danger are at the angle coming in from the right he fired a shot in low and hard but Gray stopped with his feet and was then involved in a desperate challenge from Castletown substitute Ross Sutherland. As the game continued to flow from one counter attack to another unfortunately the quality of final ball was all to obvious and no more real chances of note were created the final action again involved Gray and Sutherland when a long ball was superbly killed on his chest by the keeper a Cruyff turn and back into his box before Sutherland’s late lunge to try and prise the ball from his grasp failed.
Full time
Castletown 0-0 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. G Bell 4. G Steven 5. J Skinner 6. D Mackay 7. M Steven (c) (G Macleod 20) 8. L Sutherland 9. T Farquhar 10. S Morris (D Mackay 75) 11. J Murray
Sub not used
Begg, Manson, Gray
View from the goal
Losing Joe not just in the context of this game but now for a lengthy spell is a huge blow as he was just regaining his form and confidence after a spell on the sidelines I am gutted for the lad. But I can assure you it won’t keep him down long as he is made of strong stuff so he won’t be out of action for any longer than is necessary. The game itself was very even both teams played decent stuff until the final third and as you may have picked up through the report the final ball was a disappointment. I still consider this a point won considering how strong they were and no team will relish playing them regardless of their start to the season.