Post by Michael Gray on May 5, 2004 12:04:23 GMT
Again typical Caithness weather had left conditions far from ideal for this David Allan quarter final encounter in addition the length of the grass of the Dammies was disgraceful and in stark contrast to the way John Arrowsmith has been keeping the park looking throughout the winter. United as expected only fielded one change to the starting eleven with Martin Baker replacing the unavailable Willie Steven while Jocky Begg returned to the squad on the bench. United made the dream start after 4 minutes when a long clearance deceived Danny Riddell and allowed Nichol a free run in on goal and we wasted no time in unleashing deadly finish across the out-rushing Mackay and into the far corner of the net. This was an obvious blow to the Swifts game plan but they still settled down reasonably well thereafter with the tall Cook in midfield causing problems flicking on high balls to the ever willing Harper and Macleod up front for the Thurso side. A Bremner pass opened up the opportunity for Farmer to attack and he unleashed a ferocious shot from 20 yards that Mackay saved but couldn’t hold however the keeper made a splendid recovery block as Cassidy appeared certain to double the lead. Mackenzie was enjoying a fair bit of freedom down the left hand side of the park and he was heavily involved in creating a wonderful chance for Nichol to stretch the lead, it started when B Gray picked up a square ball from Skinner produced a splendid defence splitting pass of some 60 yards allowing the wideman to outstrip the defence before crossing low presenting the Nichol with the chance from 7 yards but he screwed the chance wide to his own and his team-mates bewilderment. United weren’t having it all their own way by any manner of means though and B Gray was forced to bring Harper’s blistering run to an abrupt halt just inside the visitors half as the little striker looked to be breaking away down the flank. A tremendous run up the right hand side of the park from Boyd saw him evade 3 tackles as he raced into the box looking for options he cut the ball back expecting Bremner to arrive and finish the move however the pass was cut out by Robertson who turned in a smart display throughout the contest. Minutes later Harper had a great chance to level the scoring when he was played in by Cook and with only M Gray to beat he dragged the shot wide with Skinner in close attendance contributing to the haste in his effort. A Mackenzie freekick created a chance for Boyd at the back post but the centre half failed to react quickly enough as the ball dropped over Nichol and his marker Macdonald but the finish never looked like troubling Mackay. A huge moment of controversy came with ten minutes left in the half when a Cassidy flick saw Nichol clean through albeit heading away from goal as he raced into the box he knocked the ball on only to be brought crashing to the ground as Mackay upended the striker but referee Mackay waved away the appeals to the disbelief of the United camp.
Half time
Thurso Swifts 0-1 Pentland United
In rather carbon copy style United got the perfect start to the second half when after only a couple of minutes Bremner found space 25 yards out and his low drive skipped off the turf awkwardly Mackay got two hands to the ball but couldn’t prevent the ball flying into the corner of the net. Again similarly to the first half B Gray started the move of the half when his raking cross field pass found Bremner on the gallop he controlled before delivering a perfect far post cross for the Mackenzie who had appeared to have done everything right sending his header downward and back across the keeper but he could only look on as it drifted agonisingly wide. A long ball from Elder then had Boyd stretching he managed to get a touch on the ball but it raced through M Gray blocked the ball away from Harper who got to the rebound first but when he crossed Gray had made the ground back into his goal and gathered comfortably. Almost immediately the same player had another race one on one with Gray but this time the keeper made up the ground quickest and he smothered the ball gratefully. Boyd then set of on one of his characteristic lung bursting runs through the middle but as he got to the edge of the box he ran out of space and was crowded out by the combination of Macdonald and Elder. A great turn from Cassidy saw him leave D Campbell in his wake as he was about to enter the area the defender tried to recover but only succeeded in flooring the striker, Bremner’s freekick though never looked likely to trouble Mackay as it flew away. Good work down the right saw Macleod take up good position on the right byeline but a great sliding intervention from Skinner saw the ball ricochet for a corner. From the resultant flag kick M Gray was at full stretch to tip the ball away rather unconvincingly as Elder powered in at his back but the ball broke kindly for the keeper and Inrig completed the clearance. With just under twenty minutes left United introduced Sutherland for Skinner with the resultant re-shuffle pushing Farmer back into the defence with Sutherland assuming his position in the midfield. Five minutes later they made the double introduction where Begg and Manson replaced Baker and Cassidy. The substitutes were clearly keen to make an impression Begg offering a trademark turn before producing a superb cross that Nichol met on the run but couldn’t direct goalwards. The killer third goal came with ten minutes to go when Mackenzie played in Begg who was blocked well by Mackay but he recovered to send the ball across goal where Manson picked the ball up before firing home as the defence closed in on him. Minutes later it was role reversal as Begg picked out Mackenzie on the run down the left he made his way to the bye line before crossing for Nichol who drew Mackay before slipping the ball underneath the diving goalkeeper for his second of the evening. The big striker so nearly completed his hat trick minutes in the dying minutes when he powered another pin point Begg cross inches wide of the target.
Full time
Thurso Swifts 0-4 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner (R Sutherland 68) 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. M Baker (D Manson 75) 8. W Inrig 9. M Nichol 10. L Cassidy (J Begg 75) 11. N Mackenzie
View form the goal
I thought we did really in what was a real banana skin of a tie with the Swifts flying high in the Second Division. Again the early goal settled any early nerves Marky as clinical as ever when he broke free gave us the perfect start. I thought we started to look a lot stronger at the back against two really good players in Roddy and Des who were always going to be a test. Brian and Hamish looked strong and far more composed with John his usual dependable self at sweeper Brian’s passing in particular was superb and the two moves he created were worthy of goals. But all in all very pleased although we will need to keep the standard and attitude if we are to continue progressing. I was really impressed with the work ethic and quality the Swifts showed in the game and they competed right to the final whistle and I reckon they will take a fair bit of stopping this year in the Second Division and I wish Stevie and the troops all the best in their quest.
Half time
Thurso Swifts 0-1 Pentland United
In rather carbon copy style United got the perfect start to the second half when after only a couple of minutes Bremner found space 25 yards out and his low drive skipped off the turf awkwardly Mackay got two hands to the ball but couldn’t prevent the ball flying into the corner of the net. Again similarly to the first half B Gray started the move of the half when his raking cross field pass found Bremner on the gallop he controlled before delivering a perfect far post cross for the Mackenzie who had appeared to have done everything right sending his header downward and back across the keeper but he could only look on as it drifted agonisingly wide. A long ball from Elder then had Boyd stretching he managed to get a touch on the ball but it raced through M Gray blocked the ball away from Harper who got to the rebound first but when he crossed Gray had made the ground back into his goal and gathered comfortably. Almost immediately the same player had another race one on one with Gray but this time the keeper made up the ground quickest and he smothered the ball gratefully. Boyd then set of on one of his characteristic lung bursting runs through the middle but as he got to the edge of the box he ran out of space and was crowded out by the combination of Macdonald and Elder. A great turn from Cassidy saw him leave D Campbell in his wake as he was about to enter the area the defender tried to recover but only succeeded in flooring the striker, Bremner’s freekick though never looked likely to trouble Mackay as it flew away. Good work down the right saw Macleod take up good position on the right byeline but a great sliding intervention from Skinner saw the ball ricochet for a corner. From the resultant flag kick M Gray was at full stretch to tip the ball away rather unconvincingly as Elder powered in at his back but the ball broke kindly for the keeper and Inrig completed the clearance. With just under twenty minutes left United introduced Sutherland for Skinner with the resultant re-shuffle pushing Farmer back into the defence with Sutherland assuming his position in the midfield. Five minutes later they made the double introduction where Begg and Manson replaced Baker and Cassidy. The substitutes were clearly keen to make an impression Begg offering a trademark turn before producing a superb cross that Nichol met on the run but couldn’t direct goalwards. The killer third goal came with ten minutes to go when Mackenzie played in Begg who was blocked well by Mackay but he recovered to send the ball across goal where Manson picked the ball up before firing home as the defence closed in on him. Minutes later it was role reversal as Begg picked out Mackenzie on the run down the left he made his way to the bye line before crossing for Nichol who drew Mackay before slipping the ball underneath the diving goalkeeper for his second of the evening. The big striker so nearly completed his hat trick minutes in the dying minutes when he powered another pin point Begg cross inches wide of the target.
Full time
Thurso Swifts 0-4 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner (R Sutherland 68) 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. M Baker (D Manson 75) 8. W Inrig 9. M Nichol 10. L Cassidy (J Begg 75) 11. N Mackenzie
View form the goal
I thought we did really in what was a real banana skin of a tie with the Swifts flying high in the Second Division. Again the early goal settled any early nerves Marky as clinical as ever when he broke free gave us the perfect start. I thought we started to look a lot stronger at the back against two really good players in Roddy and Des who were always going to be a test. Brian and Hamish looked strong and far more composed with John his usual dependable self at sweeper Brian’s passing in particular was superb and the two moves he created were worthy of goals. But all in all very pleased although we will need to keep the standard and attitude if we are to continue progressing. I was really impressed with the work ethic and quality the Swifts showed in the game and they competed right to the final whistle and I reckon they will take a fair bit of stopping this year in the Second Division and I wish Stevie and the troops all the best in their quest.