Post by Michael Gray on May 11, 2004 13:52:17 GMT
Once again the Caithness weather had been less than kind prior to this game and the ground was soft through recent rain coupled with the strong wind travelling down the park conditions were far from ideal. United announced one change to the squad that defeated Swifts on Monday night with Ewen ‘Large Edward’ Boyd replacing Ross Sutherland who was feeling a niggle in his calf and was rested. Just as in recent games United made the dream start in only 4 mins Cassidy broke through but was pushed wide by Allan and when he recovered Wood turned his cross away for a corner. From the resulting corner Boyd powered home the corner at the back post with an unstoppable close range volley. In recent matches United have gone on to build on these early breakthroughs but there is still a mental frailty about the side and it was exposed again after 10 mins when a quick throw allowed Florence space he cut across field before feeding Chessor who drew Baker before delivering a wonderful cross that Sutherland reacted first to and stabbed the ball wide of the despairing Gray from 7 yards. This seemed to visibly kick-start United and their response was almost immediate when Nichol broke McElroy’s tackle and thundered in a shot from 20 yards that Allan did well to turn away at the expense of a corner. Five minutes later and the lead was restored and it was that man Nichol in almost carbon copy fashion to the opener side footing home from close range as the corner eluded everyone at the near post. With the conditions heavily in their favour in the first half the homeside tried to press on and increase the advantage however a combination of some woeful finishing curtailed this. Cassidy missed a good chance when he collected the ball at the near post before turning his marker Foubister superbly but he seemed to lose his feeting at the vital moment and the shot squirmed wide. Skipper Farmer was the next after linking up well down the left with Mackenzie and Cassidy he strode into the box on the angle but his curling finish drifted wide of the post. Inrig produced a penetrating run deep into the visitors box and was well picked out by Bremner pass but once again the ground conditions played its part as the midfielder struggled to keep his feeting however he still managed to produce a stinging effort that tested Allan. A great run down the left by Mackenzie allowed him time and space to throw in a cross but it just went behind Inrig and his header never looked likely to find the net. United made it three after half an hour when Cassidy was upended on the edge of the box Nichol took the freekick and bent the ball around the edge of the wall and away from Allan finding the bottom corner to put some daylight between the teams. Makhoulli was performing impressively in the centre of the park setting up an intriguing battle between Bremner and himself both showing tremendous commitment for their sides cause. Mackay tried to strike back for the visitors when the ball broke to him 30 yards from goal he strode forward before unleashing a drive but it flew past the post for a goal kick.
Half time
Pentland United 3-1 Thurso Pentland
United entered the field with a spring in their step clearly showing an appetite to knuckle down and secure a victory after a disappointing end to the first half. Within minutes though their attitude was rewarded after Baker did well down the right winning a corner. Bremner took the flag kick and Nichol rose highest while claiming the ball Gray ducked allowing the striker to power home a brilliant header. United had served notice now that they were keen to put the first half behind them Mackenzie was next when a wicked inswinging ball from Bremner found him a couple of feet from goal but the ball bounced up awkwardly for him and he couldn’t knock the ball home. The same player had another chance moments later when a Cassidy cross found him 10 yards out but he has never been renowned for his heading and his header further enhanced that reputation looping the ball back into keeper Allan’s hands. Willie Inrig repeated his first half act of getting beyond the defence but once again his finish never quite matched the quality of the run and Allan again made a good stop. The keeper excelled himself further with a superb one handed stop from a powerful Gray header that seemed destined for the bottom right corner. Begg and Manson entered the fray on 70 minutes replacing Cassidy and Bremner in like for like substitutions. Begg had an early opportunity to break his seasons duck when he broke clear Allan dived at his feet but the striker turned away from the goalkeeper but when he fired in his shot Wood had recovered to make a despairing goal-line clearance. The substitute though then turned provider weaving his way along the bye line and cutting the ball back for the in rushing Ryan Farmer who fired the ball home first time to stretch the advantage further. Chessor tried to respond for the visitors warming Gray’s hands from 25 yards but the shot was just to straight. Makhoulli also had an effort from the edge of the box but once again it just lacked the direction to bother the home goal. In fact substitute Richardson came the closest and nearly seriously embarrassed M Gray when his low drive beat the keeper who had nonchalantly tried to pick the ball up but unluckily for him the ball only found the side net. United then made their final substitution with Ewen Boyd replacing hat-trick hero Nichol with ten minutes remaining and the big sub was to have the final say in this game stooping to head powerfully home from a Begg corner.
Full-time
Pentland United 6-1 Thurso Pentland
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner (D Manson 72) 7. W Inrig 8. M Baker 9. M Nichol (E Boyd 81) 10. L Cassidy (J Begg 72) 11. N Mackenzie
View from the goal
An up and down sort of performance we played some really good stuff in the match but failed to impress in front of goal and not just in the finishing department but our general option taking was poor. However on the plus side the movement about the team was superb and the front two who despite some heavy treatment showed a good touch throughout once again. I thought ‘Bobby Dazzler’ turned in a quality performance down the left although his final ball let him down occasionally and also his heading in front of goal nevertheless he was always a thorn in the Pentland’s side. I thought the Pentlands competed really well some of their young boys look really promising and if they can keep their early season form going they will do alright this year especially with players of Phil Makhoulli’s quality in the team
Half time
Pentland United 3-1 Thurso Pentland
United entered the field with a spring in their step clearly showing an appetite to knuckle down and secure a victory after a disappointing end to the first half. Within minutes though their attitude was rewarded after Baker did well down the right winning a corner. Bremner took the flag kick and Nichol rose highest while claiming the ball Gray ducked allowing the striker to power home a brilliant header. United had served notice now that they were keen to put the first half behind them Mackenzie was next when a wicked inswinging ball from Bremner found him a couple of feet from goal but the ball bounced up awkwardly for him and he couldn’t knock the ball home. The same player had another chance moments later when a Cassidy cross found him 10 yards out but he has never been renowned for his heading and his header further enhanced that reputation looping the ball back into keeper Allan’s hands. Willie Inrig repeated his first half act of getting beyond the defence but once again his finish never quite matched the quality of the run and Allan again made a good stop. The keeper excelled himself further with a superb one handed stop from a powerful Gray header that seemed destined for the bottom right corner. Begg and Manson entered the fray on 70 minutes replacing Cassidy and Bremner in like for like substitutions. Begg had an early opportunity to break his seasons duck when he broke clear Allan dived at his feet but the striker turned away from the goalkeeper but when he fired in his shot Wood had recovered to make a despairing goal-line clearance. The substitute though then turned provider weaving his way along the bye line and cutting the ball back for the in rushing Ryan Farmer who fired the ball home first time to stretch the advantage further. Chessor tried to respond for the visitors warming Gray’s hands from 25 yards but the shot was just to straight. Makhoulli also had an effort from the edge of the box but once again it just lacked the direction to bother the home goal. In fact substitute Richardson came the closest and nearly seriously embarrassed M Gray when his low drive beat the keeper who had nonchalantly tried to pick the ball up but unluckily for him the ball only found the side net. United then made their final substitution with Ewen Boyd replacing hat-trick hero Nichol with ten minutes remaining and the big sub was to have the final say in this game stooping to head powerfully home from a Begg corner.
Full-time
Pentland United 6-1 Thurso Pentland
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner (D Manson 72) 7. W Inrig 8. M Baker 9. M Nichol (E Boyd 81) 10. L Cassidy (J Begg 72) 11. N Mackenzie
View from the goal
An up and down sort of performance we played some really good stuff in the match but failed to impress in front of goal and not just in the finishing department but our general option taking was poor. However on the plus side the movement about the team was superb and the front two who despite some heavy treatment showed a good touch throughout once again. I thought ‘Bobby Dazzler’ turned in a quality performance down the left although his final ball let him down occasionally and also his heading in front of goal nevertheless he was always a thorn in the Pentland’s side. I thought the Pentlands competed really well some of their young boys look really promising and if they can keep their early season form going they will do alright this year especially with players of Phil Makhoulli’s quality in the team