Post by Michael Gray on Jul 7, 2004 6:06:43 GMT
A beautiful night welcomed United to the Royal Burgh for their first league visit of the season. Heavy weekend rain had left the park still fairly soft unbelievable really considering we are now in July and the ground normally has more in common with concrete. Martin Baker and Russel Beattie returned to the squad in the absence of John Skinner and the trialist Kevin 'Keegin' Sinclair that defeated Pentalnds. The visitors opened brightly and Nichol just failed to get enough purchase on a header after Morris had towered above the home defence to flick-on a deep Farmer freekick and Tommy Sutherland managed to scramble the ball away. The ten day break had obviously recharged the batteries as United were hungry right from the outset Nichol showing Henderson a clean pair of heels down the right before delivering a deep cross to the far post where Farmer met the ball but failed to direct the header goalwards under pressure from Sandy Sutherland. Neil MacColl had the best opportunity early on for Thistle when he sprung the offside trap on the right hand side but his angled drive was well wide in the end. The game was ebbing and flowing as both sides attempted to gain a stranglehold on the game United were only just off target when a fine far post corner from Bremner saw Sutherland rise unchallenged but it appeared the midfielder had maybe rose a fraction early as he could only power his header wide. However the pressure that the visitors had been building finally paid off after 15 minutes and it was a fine goal all round Bremner retrieved a loose ball on half-way and immediately freed Nichol on the right hand side with an excellent first time pass and he drove a low centre in between the keeper and retreating defence for Cassidy to slide in a near post volley capping the move in some style. Five minutes later the advantage was doubled Baker broke up a move on the edge of his own box and Cassidy who set off on a mazy run eventually out stripping Jamie Sutherland before dinking the ball across goal to the waiting Nichol who knocked the ball home with his head as the ball bounced up off the surface. Thistle weren't about to lie down and they showed the spirit that will be required between now and the end of the season if they are to rise from their current lowly league position through John Farquhar when he stepped away from two tackles before unleashing a powerful drive from 2o yards but it flew wide of Gray’s left hand post. However matters were to get worse for the Wick men on the half hour mark when Gray deftly flicked on a Bremner corner for the in-rushing Boyd to power home a header at the back post to leave the home side reeling. United continued to press and were playing some lovely free flowing football Morris set Cassidy free into the box with a nice touch but the striker's first time effort was well saved by keeper Richards and Tommy Sutherland reacted quickest to clear the loose ball. The confidence and movement provided by the frontline was spreading and United’s captain Ryan Farmer was just off target when he unleashed a fine drive from the angle of the box after once again Nichol had beat his man on the left and cut before laying the ball in front of the midfielder.
Half time
Wick Thistle 0-3 Pentland United
The aerial threat of Morris was in evidence early in the second period after fine wing play from Nichol down the left leaving Henderson trailing before whipping an inviting cross in for the big striker to power goalwards however his effort just cleared the bar. The home side then breathed a had a huge sigh of relief ten minutes into the second half when B Gray bulleted a Bremner corner against the bar with Richards beaten the rebound fell to Nichol who again rattled the wood work with a header the ball finally broke out to Morris on the edge of the box and his volley looked a winner all the way until Tommy Sutherland stuck out his foot and deflected the ball to safety. The 2002 champions haven’t been enjoying the best of seasons by recent standards but that is more to do with the horrific personnel problems they have endured recently however the quality players look to be on their way back and this side will pick up points between now and the end of the season if they show the same application. They showed great resilience to weather the early second half storm and almost gained a foothold back in this game firstly through Farquhar, who had a fine game throughout displaying great energy, when he struck a powerful drive from the edge of the box after a breakdown in communications between M Gray and Boyd. The same player then turned creator when he lifted an inswinging cross into Fairweather who flicked the ball passed the advancing M Gray but B Gray bailed his brother out of trouble when he recovered to clear the ball from the 6-yard line. Luke Cassidy came agonisingly close to extending the lead through on the hour mark when he took a centre from Nichol turned brilliantly and fired a shot goalwards that was blocked away only as far as Morris who just failed to find the net. With just under 25 minutes left Russel Beattie made a welcome return from injury in the place of Luke Cassidy. MacKeddie who had entered the fray just after half time added an extra dimension down the left for Thistle and he stood up a superb far post cross that MacColl just couldn’t reach with fifteen minutes left. United then made two fairly quick fire substitutions with Begg and Manson replacing Morris and Boyd with just over ten minutes left. With just about the last attack of the game Nichol set off a penetrating run through the centre of the park and fed Beattie who produced a wonderful dummy releasing Bremner who rocketed of a shot, which Richards did very well to keep out.
Full time
Wick Thistle 0-3 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker 4. H Boyd (D Manson 82) 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. W Inrig 8. R Sutherland 9. M Nichol 10. K Morris (J Begg 75) 11. L Cassidy (R Beattie 65)
View from the goal
A sensational first 40 minutes or so built the platform for this result when we were outstanding. In my opinion Mark Nichol produced his best performance of the season and gave the Thistle defence a torrid time throughout. He was ably assisted up front by Morris and Cassidy with the three of them offering a formidable threat at all times. The goals were all really well worked and taken against a hard working Thistle team that are now starting to resemble the team of the last few years. After the first 40 we did lose the impetus somewhat and credit to Thistle they came roaring back into the game and I thought Farquhar and MacKeddie showed up really well for them as the game in addition to Tommy Sutherland who rolled back the years at centre half. We now move into a massive pair of games with the HA Cup tie in Avoch followed by the league fixture with Acks on Monday they don’t come much bigger and we will have to be up for the games producing our very best or our season may end rather prematurely.
Half time
Wick Thistle 0-3 Pentland United
The aerial threat of Morris was in evidence early in the second period after fine wing play from Nichol down the left leaving Henderson trailing before whipping an inviting cross in for the big striker to power goalwards however his effort just cleared the bar. The home side then breathed a had a huge sigh of relief ten minutes into the second half when B Gray bulleted a Bremner corner against the bar with Richards beaten the rebound fell to Nichol who again rattled the wood work with a header the ball finally broke out to Morris on the edge of the box and his volley looked a winner all the way until Tommy Sutherland stuck out his foot and deflected the ball to safety. The 2002 champions haven’t been enjoying the best of seasons by recent standards but that is more to do with the horrific personnel problems they have endured recently however the quality players look to be on their way back and this side will pick up points between now and the end of the season if they show the same application. They showed great resilience to weather the early second half storm and almost gained a foothold back in this game firstly through Farquhar, who had a fine game throughout displaying great energy, when he struck a powerful drive from the edge of the box after a breakdown in communications between M Gray and Boyd. The same player then turned creator when he lifted an inswinging cross into Fairweather who flicked the ball passed the advancing M Gray but B Gray bailed his brother out of trouble when he recovered to clear the ball from the 6-yard line. Luke Cassidy came agonisingly close to extending the lead through on the hour mark when he took a centre from Nichol turned brilliantly and fired a shot goalwards that was blocked away only as far as Morris who just failed to find the net. With just under 25 minutes left Russel Beattie made a welcome return from injury in the place of Luke Cassidy. MacKeddie who had entered the fray just after half time added an extra dimension down the left for Thistle and he stood up a superb far post cross that MacColl just couldn’t reach with fifteen minutes left. United then made two fairly quick fire substitutions with Begg and Manson replacing Morris and Boyd with just over ten minutes left. With just about the last attack of the game Nichol set off a penetrating run through the centre of the park and fed Beattie who produced a wonderful dummy releasing Bremner who rocketed of a shot, which Richards did very well to keep out.
Full time
Wick Thistle 0-3 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker 4. H Boyd (D Manson 82) 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. W Inrig 8. R Sutherland 9. M Nichol 10. K Morris (J Begg 75) 11. L Cassidy (R Beattie 65)
View from the goal
A sensational first 40 minutes or so built the platform for this result when we were outstanding. In my opinion Mark Nichol produced his best performance of the season and gave the Thistle defence a torrid time throughout. He was ably assisted up front by Morris and Cassidy with the three of them offering a formidable threat at all times. The goals were all really well worked and taken against a hard working Thistle team that are now starting to resemble the team of the last few years. After the first 40 we did lose the impetus somewhat and credit to Thistle they came roaring back into the game and I thought Farquhar and MacKeddie showed up really well for them as the game in addition to Tommy Sutherland who rolled back the years at centre half. We now move into a massive pair of games with the HA Cup tie in Avoch followed by the league fixture with Acks on Monday they don’t come much bigger and we will have to be up for the games producing our very best or our season may end rather prematurely.