Post by Michael Gray on Jun 24, 2004 13:20:02 GMT
Once again the local council had failed in their duty to keep the prime Thurso football park in anywhere near good enough condition with the grass a good 4 inches long. There was a mild breeze towards the pavilion but it was all in all a decent enough night for football. United had the first real chance when Farquhar rose highest to meet a Bremner corner knocking the ball into the danger area but Swanson reacted first to scoop the ball away from the danger area where M Coghill completed the clearance. The opening exchanges were fairly even but not without quality or excitement Cassidy brilliantly turned away from Mackay only to be crudely chopped down resulting in the young Wick man becoming the first player to enter referee Sinclair’s book. Cassidy moments later did brilliantly to step away from his marker down the left drew Moar before producing a wonderful teasing near post cross that Nichol tried to control when perhaps he would have been wiser shooting first time the result was the Swanson gleefully dropped on to the loose ball. The homeside came within inches of opening the scoring minutes later MacDougall who would be United’s chief tormentor on the night tore down the left before delivering a telling cross that Boyd inadvertently sent goalwards as he tried to clear and was relieved to see the ball rebound off the post with Skinner stepping in to make complete the clearance. The home side did however break the deadlock mid-way through the half when MacDougall cut inside Inrig and beat the combination of Skinner and M Gray as they tried to block the powerful effort that rocketed into the bottom corner. Minutes later United should have been level when Nichol made great progress down the right and swung in a deep cross that Swanson couldn’t hold under the attention of Farquhar but Cassidy could only scoop the ball over as he stretched with the goal at his mercy. MacDougall had a further chance to put the United goal under threat after B Gray was adjudged to have fouled Mackenzie on the right hand side of the area but the winger’s freekick was well defended by Sutherland who cleared at full stretch. Right on half-time Mackenzie then had a set-piece opportunity on the edge of the area when Boyd was penalised for a challenge on Murray the striker drilled in a low shot that rebounded clear off the wall.
Half time
Thurso Acks 1-0 Pentland United
Within minutes of the restart United had another great opportunity to score when good play on the right saw Inrig break free before delivering a wonderful near post cross that found Farquhar alone but the striker could only glance the ball wide with Swanson beaten. The game was becoming increasingly stretched as United chased the elusive goal that would thrust them back into the cup-tie. Michael Bremner made a great run deep into the United box and was found by a Mackenzie pass on the bye line he controlled the ball and cut it back passed the diving Gray but once again Skinner stood firm at the near post at the expense of a corner. From MacDougall's corner Mackenzie did manage to beat B Gray in the air but such was the defenders challenge that the ball never looked like troubling the goal as it flew over. Mid-way through the half Mackenzie stepped away from a challenge on the edge of the box as he wriggled free he managed to drift a shot on goal that drifted harmlessly wide. Inrig should good close control to step away from two tackles in the box and get to the bye line before attempting to cut the ball back for Farquhar however MacDougall intervened at the near post at the expense of a corner. With just less than 20 mins left on the clock United introduced Morris and Baker at the expense of Cassidy and Framer to try and revive their faltering challenge. Moments later Skinner broke from the back when he intercepting a stray I Coghill pass he stormed up field before finding Morris on the left who swept a ball back across the box finding the sweeper but he failed to gain control of the ball as he stretched and M Coghill forced him into conceding the goal kick. With ten minutes left on teh clock Swanson did extremely well to claim a high Skinner freekick under intense pressure from Morris on the penalty spot after Michael Bremner had been penalised for a foul on his namesake Gavin. With ten minutes remaining Begg entered the fray in place of teh tiring Nichol in the last throw of the dice by the United camp. In the dying minutes a wonderful through ball from Sutherland found Bremner racing into the box but Swanson got there ahead of the midfield man to block the attempt and MacDougall completed the clearance as the ball broke free with Inrig in close attendance. From the resultant flag kick Swanson got the merest of touches to put Farquhar off as he headed the last chance for the visitors wide with that referee Sinclair blew the full time whistle and United were left with what ifs.
Full time
Thurso Acks 1-0 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) (M Baker 75) 6. G Bremner 7. W Inrig 8. T Farquhar 9. M Nichol (Begg 82) 10. R Sutherland 11. L Cassidy (K Morris 75)
View from the goal
So many near things for the boys in this game but it just wasn’t to be but I don’t really think there is any point beating ourselves over the fact we haven’t scored against the Acks this year on this occasion ladyluck never smiled on us. We played well enough on the night and put in an enormous amount of effort but got very little reward. Thought Lee had a particularly good game and caused us no end of problems and he probably deserved his goal but in my opinion the better chances were created by us and on another day we could have scored 2 or 3 alas it was not to be. Quick mention for the referee Wullie Sinclair who in my opinion gave as good a display of refereeing as I have seen in the County for a while. Disappointing not to reach the final but we must clear the heads in time for the league match versus Pentlands where nothing less than 3 points will suffice.
Half time
Thurso Acks 1-0 Pentland United
Within minutes of the restart United had another great opportunity to score when good play on the right saw Inrig break free before delivering a wonderful near post cross that found Farquhar alone but the striker could only glance the ball wide with Swanson beaten. The game was becoming increasingly stretched as United chased the elusive goal that would thrust them back into the cup-tie. Michael Bremner made a great run deep into the United box and was found by a Mackenzie pass on the bye line he controlled the ball and cut it back passed the diving Gray but once again Skinner stood firm at the near post at the expense of a corner. From MacDougall's corner Mackenzie did manage to beat B Gray in the air but such was the defenders challenge that the ball never looked like troubling the goal as it flew over. Mid-way through the half Mackenzie stepped away from a challenge on the edge of the box as he wriggled free he managed to drift a shot on goal that drifted harmlessly wide. Inrig should good close control to step away from two tackles in the box and get to the bye line before attempting to cut the ball back for Farquhar however MacDougall intervened at the near post at the expense of a corner. With just less than 20 mins left on the clock United introduced Morris and Baker at the expense of Cassidy and Framer to try and revive their faltering challenge. Moments later Skinner broke from the back when he intercepting a stray I Coghill pass he stormed up field before finding Morris on the left who swept a ball back across the box finding the sweeper but he failed to gain control of the ball as he stretched and M Coghill forced him into conceding the goal kick. With ten minutes left on teh clock Swanson did extremely well to claim a high Skinner freekick under intense pressure from Morris on the penalty spot after Michael Bremner had been penalised for a foul on his namesake Gavin. With ten minutes remaining Begg entered the fray in place of teh tiring Nichol in the last throw of the dice by the United camp. In the dying minutes a wonderful through ball from Sutherland found Bremner racing into the box but Swanson got there ahead of the midfield man to block the attempt and MacDougall completed the clearance as the ball broke free with Inrig in close attendance. From the resultant flag kick Swanson got the merest of touches to put Farquhar off as he headed the last chance for the visitors wide with that referee Sinclair blew the full time whistle and United were left with what ifs.
Full time
Thurso Acks 1-0 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. J Skinner 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) (M Baker 75) 6. G Bremner 7. W Inrig 8. T Farquhar 9. M Nichol (Begg 82) 10. R Sutherland 11. L Cassidy (K Morris 75)
View from the goal
So many near things for the boys in this game but it just wasn’t to be but I don’t really think there is any point beating ourselves over the fact we haven’t scored against the Acks this year on this occasion ladyluck never smiled on us. We played well enough on the night and put in an enormous amount of effort but got very little reward. Thought Lee had a particularly good game and caused us no end of problems and he probably deserved his goal but in my opinion the better chances were created by us and on another day we could have scored 2 or 3 alas it was not to be. Quick mention for the referee Wullie Sinclair who in my opinion gave as good a display of refereeing as I have seen in the County for a while. Disappointing not to reach the final but we must clear the heads in time for the league match versus Pentlands where nothing less than 3 points will suffice.