Post by Michael Gray on May 19, 2004 15:19:08 GMT
A stiff breeze coupled with some course showers left a night resembling the back end rather than mid May. United made a couple of changes to the team that defeated the Workshops the previous Wednesday Willie Steven and Nigel Mackenzie replaced Martin Baker and Jocky Begg in the starting line-up while Tony Farquhar made his venture north to replace Kevin Morris on the bench. The visitors currently propping up the table scored on their first attack, possession was relinquished in the midfield and long ball saw Murray get the break of the ball Gray managed to force the ball away from his feet as he tried to round the keeper but the striker recovered quickest to knock the ball into the empty net. Only moments later they almost doubled the lead and once again the source was United surrendering the ball easily in midfield with this time Blumfield broke clear and he unleashed a powerful low drive that Gray held on to. The keeper wasted no time though in starting an attack with a quick throw to Boyd who drove to the half way line before feeding Farmer who dinked a through ball over the stretching MacDougall for Mackenzie and he controlled the ball on the run before firing past Mackay to level the scores within ten minutes. The game settled into any pattern there after Workshops trying to get the ball back to front as quick as possible to utilise the pace of Murray and Blumfield who were causing the United defence no end of problems at the other end United were struggling to ask too many questions of the visiting defence however they did have a half chance when a Bremner corner was only half cleared as far as Steven but the midfielder couldn’t get over the ball and the shot drifted away. Boyd did extremely well to defend a wicked corner from Murray, which was needlessly conceded by M Gray, under pressure from Forbes it was then Skinner’s turn as another treacherous near post cross stretched the home side. The game was turned on its head on the half hour mark Blumfield got a break of the ball 35 yards from goal and made a bursting run to the byeline before cutting the ball back for Carle to bundle the ball over from close range to restore the lead. From the kick off Bremner was short with a pass to Gray and Murray intercepted he raced clear before feeding Blair who managed to flick the ball on for Blumfield who side footed past Gray who would have been disappointed not to have kept out the effort the Dunnet side were now visibly stunned as they looked to be staring a shock defeat in the face. United were reeling but tried to respond Cassidy showed great feet work in the box evading a couple of tackles before crashing a shot clean off the face of the bar with Mackay clearly beaten. Minutes later it was a case of déjà vu when Steven showed great strength to hold off Potter before letting fly only to once again see his shot rebound to safety. Blumfield had a chance with five minutes left in the half when he found space on the edge of the box after being fed my Murray he took a touch before firing a swerving 25 yard shot that clipped the outside of the post as Gray looked on helplessly. The final action of the half saw Murray miss a glorious chance to surely seal the game as he picked up a Potter pass in the box keeper Gray threw himself at the ball blocking the effort with Blair screaming for a pass in the middle. As referee Macleod blew the half time whistle the United players body language told its own story as they trooped from the park.
Half-time
Pentland United 1-3 Dounreay Workshops
With the wind now at their back United had an obvious advantage although whether it would be enough to swing the game was another matter. They got the dream start in their quest within seven minutes of the restart Mackenzie broke on the left before feeding Nichol who took a touch before brilliantly bending the ball round Mackay from 16 yards to give the Canisbay men some hope of reversing the deficit. United made their first introduction ten minutes into the second period with local hero Tony Farquhar replacing Willie Steven. Nichol came close minutes later when he powerfully met a Bremner corner but the ball flew wide as the defence looked on. As United pressed forward spaces began to appear at the back and Murray almost took full advantage as he took of on a wandering run cutting in from the left he unleashed a powerful drive that had Gray at full stretch to hold on to the ball. United squared the game with 20 mins left B Gray launched a huge throw deep into the visitors box and Farquhar rose highest to bullet a header past Mackay. There was now a real sense amongst the home contingent that the game was there to be won and they should have taken the lead with 15 minutes left Willie Inrig fed a great through ball to Cassidy who cut across his marker before delivering a tantalising cross that Farquhar dummied at the near post presenting Mackenzie the simplest of chances but as he tried to round Mackay the big keeper did ever so well to thwart the attacker spreading himself and smothering the ball. M Gray in goal then conceded another needless corner as he attempted to shepherd a ball out for a goal kick at the corner flag, Rutherford met Murray’s flag kick on the volley but the effort only found the grateful keeper Gray and he held on before launching a long ball up field that saw Nichol clear only to be flagged offside. Sutherland replaced skipper Farmer with just over 10 mins left as United tried desperately to conjure up a winner Controversy reined moments later when Mackenzie was put in the clear by Sutherland and he took a touch before firing a shot on goal that Mackay saved but Farquhar tapped home the rebound however referee Macleod ruled the goal offside over-ruling the linesman. B Gray then powered a great opportunity right across the face of the goal from a Bremner corner. And only moments later the same player had another chance from the same source but this time he elected to volley the chance and it went over the bar. With just under ten minutes left Begg was introduced in place of Nichol and the forward would have the final say in the game. With just under two minutes remaining the homeside won a corner on the left Bremner swung the ball in near post and Mackay fisted the ball away for another corner this time the ball went towards the far post where Begg rose to power a header into the roof of the net to spark great scenes of delight amongst the team, supporters and management alike. Even then there was a further chance for Farquhar to put the game beyond any doubt when he found himself one on one with Mackay but his tame lob only succeeded in finding the keeper’s arms.
Full-time
Pentland United 4-3 Dounreay Workshops
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) (R Sutherland 78) 6. G Bremner 7. W Steven (Farquhar 55) 8. W Inrig 9. M Nichol (J Begg 84) 10. L Cassidy 11. N Mackenzie
View from the goal
Talk about let out of jail we once again turned in a sloppy performance in the first half and got ourselves in no end of bother through slack passing and tired looking display. However credit where it is due the ‘Shops once again worked us very hard and turned in a competent display it really escapes me how they are pointless but that will not be for long if they continue to turn in performances like the two they have put in against us. I have to hold my own hands up and say I was culpable for the third goal definitely should have done better thankfully the boys rallied and we pulled through. The goals we scored were actually well worked and were perhaps unlucky not to score more but given the how close it turned out just thankful to have got the win in the end. Special mention to Tony and Jocky two very important goals and hopeful the first of many this season for both of them. But the fact is we need a massive improvement prior to the cup final on Saturday.
Half-time
Pentland United 1-3 Dounreay Workshops
With the wind now at their back United had an obvious advantage although whether it would be enough to swing the game was another matter. They got the dream start in their quest within seven minutes of the restart Mackenzie broke on the left before feeding Nichol who took a touch before brilliantly bending the ball round Mackay from 16 yards to give the Canisbay men some hope of reversing the deficit. United made their first introduction ten minutes into the second period with local hero Tony Farquhar replacing Willie Steven. Nichol came close minutes later when he powerfully met a Bremner corner but the ball flew wide as the defence looked on. As United pressed forward spaces began to appear at the back and Murray almost took full advantage as he took of on a wandering run cutting in from the left he unleashed a powerful drive that had Gray at full stretch to hold on to the ball. United squared the game with 20 mins left B Gray launched a huge throw deep into the visitors box and Farquhar rose highest to bullet a header past Mackay. There was now a real sense amongst the home contingent that the game was there to be won and they should have taken the lead with 15 minutes left Willie Inrig fed a great through ball to Cassidy who cut across his marker before delivering a tantalising cross that Farquhar dummied at the near post presenting Mackenzie the simplest of chances but as he tried to round Mackay the big keeper did ever so well to thwart the attacker spreading himself and smothering the ball. M Gray in goal then conceded another needless corner as he attempted to shepherd a ball out for a goal kick at the corner flag, Rutherford met Murray’s flag kick on the volley but the effort only found the grateful keeper Gray and he held on before launching a long ball up field that saw Nichol clear only to be flagged offside. Sutherland replaced skipper Farmer with just over 10 mins left as United tried desperately to conjure up a winner Controversy reined moments later when Mackenzie was put in the clear by Sutherland and he took a touch before firing a shot on goal that Mackay saved but Farquhar tapped home the rebound however referee Macleod ruled the goal offside over-ruling the linesman. B Gray then powered a great opportunity right across the face of the goal from a Bremner corner. And only moments later the same player had another chance from the same source but this time he elected to volley the chance and it went over the bar. With just under ten minutes left Begg was introduced in place of Nichol and the forward would have the final say in the game. With just under two minutes remaining the homeside won a corner on the left Bremner swung the ball in near post and Mackay fisted the ball away for another corner this time the ball went towards the far post where Begg rose to power a header into the roof of the net to spark great scenes of delight amongst the team, supporters and management alike. Even then there was a further chance for Farquhar to put the game beyond any doubt when he found himself one on one with Mackay but his tame lob only succeeded in finding the keeper’s arms.
Full-time
Pentland United 4-3 Dounreay Workshops
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) (R Sutherland 78) 6. G Bremner 7. W Steven (Farquhar 55) 8. W Inrig 9. M Nichol (J Begg 84) 10. L Cassidy 11. N Mackenzie
View from the goal
Talk about let out of jail we once again turned in a sloppy performance in the first half and got ourselves in no end of bother through slack passing and tired looking display. However credit where it is due the ‘Shops once again worked us very hard and turned in a competent display it really escapes me how they are pointless but that will not be for long if they continue to turn in performances like the two they have put in against us. I have to hold my own hands up and say I was culpable for the third goal definitely should have done better thankfully the boys rallied and we pulled through. The goals we scored were actually well worked and were perhaps unlucky not to score more but given the how close it turned out just thankful to have got the win in the end. Special mention to Tony and Jocky two very important goals and hopeful the first of many this season for both of them. But the fact is we need a massive improvement prior to the cup final on Saturday.