Post by Michael Gray on Jun 15, 2004 9:56:16 GMT
Driving rain and a stiff wind travelling up the slope had made conditions less than ideal for football in Dunnet for this E Macintosh quarterfinal. United made a couple of changes to the their side from the Thurso Thistle success, Tony Farquhar resumed on the right hand side of the attack and Luke Cassidy replacing the suspended Hamish Boyd on the bench alongside Jocky Begg. After deciding to play with the wind at their back United tried to press home the advantage Nigel Mackenzie cut in from the right and drove a shot that rippled the side net after only two minutes. Thistle keeper Macleod then made a decent block at his near post after Mackenzie had released Nichol down the left channel and he produced a stinging shot, which the keeper dealt with well. Skipper Ryan Framer was the next to have a shot on goal after being well set-up by Inrig his long range drive shaving the cross bar. The break through came after 12 minutes a Mackenzie cross was half cleared to Inrig on the edge of the box he rifled back in a shot that deflected off Hughes, Macleod made the save but couldn’t hold the ball and Farquhar reacted first to stab the ball into the net. A minute later the scorer almost turned provider when he turned Henderson on half way before finding Nichol with a superb 40 yard pass that the striker brilliantly controlled before bending the ball round the advancing Macleod but unfortunately for him it just slipped passed the post. The home side did however double their advantage after 15 minutes in a similar manner to the opener again a deep cross was only half cleared to Inrig at the edge of the box and he rifled in a shot that skimmed of the turf through the advancing ruck of players allowing Macleod only a late sight of the ball he managed to get a hand to the ball but couldn’t prevent it finding the corner of the net. Thistle tried desperately to get back into the game good work on the right from Sutherland saw them earn a corner but Steven’s inswinging corner was well dealt with by Baker. McColl then showed good skill on the right turning Skinner in the box before drilling a ball across goal that Inrig cleared for a corner. United further increased in bizarre circumstances Gray collected Steven’s corner and launched a booming kick hoping to find Mackenzie on the run but the wind assisted clearance took an almighty bounce of the turf and sailed over the advancing Macleod and into the net. Thistle were really struggling now and Mackenzie was causing all sorts of problems down the left he skipped away from Fairweather and Hughes before clipping the ball into the near post where Farquhar tried to flick the ball home but just failed to find the target. The fourth goal came on the half hour mark Bremner found Nichol on the edge of the box he turned on a sixpence before bending a shot into the bottom right corner with Macleod helpless. Thistle actually came right into the game at this point thundering forward at every opportunity but without ever really managing to test Gray in the home goal.
Half time
Pentland United 4-0 Wick Thistle
United re-appeared in fresh strips after the interval such was the extent of the weather in the first half. Within five minutes of the second period the lead had been extended further Nichol steeped away from his marker on the edge of the box before firing in a powerful low drive that Macleod got a hand to but failed to stop going in. At this point United made their first change of the match Tony Farquhar being replaced by Jocky Begg the homeside to allow the Ross-shire based man an early escape from the Caithness weather. Five minutes later United made their second change Luke Cassidy replacing Nigel Mackenzie giving the winger a well earned rest given his weekend exploits for the County. The substitute had an immediate impression after good play on the left from Nichol saw the ball floated in for Begg who failed to get his shot away and the ball was clipped back into Cassidy who thundered a tremendous volley from 10 yards at the angle into the roof of the net. Nichol was just off target moments later when he met a beautifully flighted cross from Begg but his header drifted away. The same player turned provider then linking up with Cassidy who strode into towards goal but dragged his shot wide of the right hand post from the edge of the box. Cassidy brought out a brilliant save from Macleod minutes later after being fed by Inrig he produced a trademark turn before firing across the keeper who turned the ball round the post. From the resultant corner Gray beat Hughes in the air but his header flew wide of the post. The homeside made it seven after 75 mins a deep Begg corner was cleared away as far as Inrig on the right hand side of the park and he produced a Beckham like cross for Ross Sutherland to acrobatically turn into the net on the volley to cap a brilliant move. Macleod then made another excellent stop this time from Bremner after he linked with Begg beat his man before powering a shot on goal that again the keeper did well to turn away for a corner. The resulting set piece set up a mass scramble when Nichol’s downward header was cleared off the line only as far as Inrig he tried to force the ball over the line but again it was repelled. The lead was further extended after 80 mins and once again it came as a result of a set piece Mark Nichol took the flag kick and retrieved the ball when once again it was only partially cleared and he whipped in another superb cross that once again Sutherland latched onto firing the ball home first time from close range. Steven had Thistle’s only real chance of note in the second half picking up a pass from Sutherland he cut inside and from 18 yards fired a low shot that just went wide of Gray’s right hand post. With minutes left United completed the scoring Nichol accepted a pass from Farmer on half way turned his marker before playing in Cassidy who slid in to beat the diving Macleod on the edge of the box.
Full time
Pentland United 9-0 Wick Thistle
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. M Baker 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. W Inrig 8. T Farquhar (L Cassidy 62) 9. M Nichol 10. R Sutherland 11. N Mackenzie (Begg 55)
View from the goal
Another impressive display from the guys we offered so much movement up front between Bobby, Mark, Stoodsy and Casta that Thistle really struggled to get to grips with. In fairness the conditions didn’t suit either team and was extremely difficult to play in but we made the best of it especially second half although we were good for spells in the first 45 as well. Hopefully now we are starting to find form are capable of although we still are unable to turn in a quality 90 minutes we are getting closer playing great football in patches then drifting out of the game. Thistle actually retained the ball well and attacked at every opportunity but were always susceptible to our pace at the back however I am sure once they get their full team back on the park their solidity will return. We now move into HA Cup duty against Portree United who I am sure will be formidable opponents and it will be a real test for us and a measure of how well we are actually performing at the moment.
Half time
Pentland United 4-0 Wick Thistle
United re-appeared in fresh strips after the interval such was the extent of the weather in the first half. Within five minutes of the second period the lead had been extended further Nichol steeped away from his marker on the edge of the box before firing in a powerful low drive that Macleod got a hand to but failed to stop going in. At this point United made their first change of the match Tony Farquhar being replaced by Jocky Begg the homeside to allow the Ross-shire based man an early escape from the Caithness weather. Five minutes later United made their second change Luke Cassidy replacing Nigel Mackenzie giving the winger a well earned rest given his weekend exploits for the County. The substitute had an immediate impression after good play on the left from Nichol saw the ball floated in for Begg who failed to get his shot away and the ball was clipped back into Cassidy who thundered a tremendous volley from 10 yards at the angle into the roof of the net. Nichol was just off target moments later when he met a beautifully flighted cross from Begg but his header drifted away. The same player turned provider then linking up with Cassidy who strode into towards goal but dragged his shot wide of the right hand post from the edge of the box. Cassidy brought out a brilliant save from Macleod minutes later after being fed by Inrig he produced a trademark turn before firing across the keeper who turned the ball round the post. From the resultant corner Gray beat Hughes in the air but his header flew wide of the post. The homeside made it seven after 75 mins a deep Begg corner was cleared away as far as Inrig on the right hand side of the park and he produced a Beckham like cross for Ross Sutherland to acrobatically turn into the net on the volley to cap a brilliant move. Macleod then made another excellent stop this time from Bremner after he linked with Begg beat his man before powering a shot on goal that again the keeper did well to turn away for a corner. The resulting set piece set up a mass scramble when Nichol’s downward header was cleared off the line only as far as Inrig he tried to force the ball over the line but again it was repelled. The lead was further extended after 80 mins and once again it came as a result of a set piece Mark Nichol took the flag kick and retrieved the ball when once again it was only partially cleared and he whipped in another superb cross that once again Sutherland latched onto firing the ball home first time from close range. Steven had Thistle’s only real chance of note in the second half picking up a pass from Sutherland he cut inside and from 18 yards fired a low shot that just went wide of Gray’s right hand post. With minutes left United completed the scoring Nichol accepted a pass from Farmer on half way turned his marker before playing in Cassidy who slid in to beat the diving Macleod on the edge of the box.
Full time
Pentland United 9-0 Wick Thistle
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. M Baker 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. W Inrig 8. T Farquhar (L Cassidy 62) 9. M Nichol 10. R Sutherland 11. N Mackenzie (Begg 55)
View from the goal
Another impressive display from the guys we offered so much movement up front between Bobby, Mark, Stoodsy and Casta that Thistle really struggled to get to grips with. In fairness the conditions didn’t suit either team and was extremely difficult to play in but we made the best of it especially second half although we were good for spells in the first 45 as well. Hopefully now we are starting to find form are capable of although we still are unable to turn in a quality 90 minutes we are getting closer playing great football in patches then drifting out of the game. Thistle actually retained the ball well and attacked at every opportunity but were always susceptible to our pace at the back however I am sure once they get their full team back on the park their solidity will return. We now move into HA Cup duty against Portree United who I am sure will be formidable opponents and it will be a real test for us and a measure of how well we are actually performing at the moment.