Post by Michael Gray on Jul 20, 2004 5:28:43 GMT
Monday night’s exertions had took its toll on United with Ross Sutherland, Willie Inrig and Tony Farquhar all dropping from the squad, Russel Beattie and Ewen ‘Large Edward’ Boyd replaced the absentees. A pleasant enough evening greeted United to Thurso for their final visit of 2004 with 3 points a must after the Acks success the previous night in John O’Groats. Kevin Morris made his intentions clear from the off when he ran on to a Jocky Begg pass and unleashed a thumping drive from 20 yards that rattled the boundary fence. Luke Cassidy was keen to follow up his outstanding performance on Monday night and he picked Mark Nichol out with a fine pass inside the box but with the striker off balance couldn’t hit the target. The short notice change of date and the Academy vs. Cowdenbeath in Castletown had an obvious effect on the attendance but on the field United continued to attack in numbers but Ashes all most caught them out when Macgregor made good space down the right and whipped in a dangerous cross that Jack just failed to reach and Gray scrambled the ball away at the near post. However the Canisbay side made the breakthrough after ten minutes Gavin Bremner picked out the run of Kevin Morris who hit an unbelievably powerful shot past the startled MacAlpine in the home net. Before the Ashes had managed to re-organise they were two down when Jocky Begg slipped Nichol into the left channel and he fired the ball across the keeper to double the advantage. The home keeper did exceptionally well to hold on to a Morris header on 15 mins after Mackenzie had out paced his marker down the right. Jocky Begg was managing to find plenty of joy down the left and he so nearly opened his account when after a triangle of passes involving Mackenzie, Cassidy and Morris ended with the ball being laid back to him he shot from 20 yards but it went just to high. The home side knowing after the previous nights results their position in the top division was secure continued to try and play football but were becoming increasingly hemmed in as the visitors smelled blood and were going for the kill. The third goal came after 25 mins a sublime twist and turn from Cassidy allowed him to play in Mackenzie down the right he drove to the goal line before cutting the ball back for Morris to hammer home at the near post to complete the goal of the game. Nichol almost scored straight from the kick-off intercepting a slack pass he ran through but was off target with his drive from 20 yards. However the delay wasn’t long as Ashes became increasingly stretched Farmer picked the ball up midway in his own half and dissected the defence with a superb through ball that allowed Mackenzie to run onto and slot past MacAlpine who had tried to shut down the angle. Cassidy was architect of number five when he did well down the left linking with Begg before cutting back on to his right foot and delivering a telling inswinging cross for Nichol, who stolen a march on his marker, to head home. United were now in full flow and completed the halves scoring five minutes before the break when Begg climbed highest at the back post to nod home Mackenzie’s centre.
Half time
Ashes 0-6 Pentland United
United introduced Derek Manson at the break in place of Hamish Boyd who had picked up an ankle knock in the first half. The half was only minutes old when United increased the lead further when Cassidy again broke free down the left cut in and squared the ball for Nichol to tap into the unguarded net and complete his hat-trick this was to be the Armadale man’s last real contribution as he was withdrawn to allow Russel Beattie continue his recovery from a hamstring injury. On the hour mark Nichol came within inches of adding to his own personal tally when he rose highest to meet a delightful Manson cross and his header looked to be a winner all the way only to crack the bar with Lannon reacting first to clear. Keeper MacAlpine then made a brilliant double save firstly when he firstly got down to a low shot Manson effort from 18 yards and just when it seemed Morris would complete his hat-trick he threw himself full length to block the goal bound effort. Nichol then showed his natural striking instinct minutes later after accepting a Beattie centre he broke away from a tackle but instead of laying the ball to Begg he decided to shoot himself and the ball flew away. With just over 20 minutes remaining on the clock United made their third and final substitution of the night with Nichol being replaced by Ewen Boyd. The game had gone relatively trouble free for referee Wheatcroft but he was forced to open his notebook after Macgregor and Begg were caught up in a tussle on the half way line. Begg however cleared his head pretty quickly and pulled another good save from the home stopper low to his left. Russel Beattie who had shown up well since his introduction also made his intentions clear when he let rip from the angle of the area after beating his man down the left. Substitute Boyd had a good chance to add to his season’s tally when he rose unchallenged at the back post to meet a Mackenzie cross from the left but his downward header failed to find the target. With just under five minutes left United finally made it eight after knocking at the door for so long and it came as a result of good play on the left from Beattie his cross was half cleared as far as Bremner 20 yards out who returned the ball on the volley with interest into the bottom left hand corner of the net past the helpless keeper. The scoring was completed right on the full time whistle when Jocky Begg picked up the ball in the centre circle strode forward and unleashed a low drive from 20 yards into the bottom left corner.
Full time
Ashes 0-9 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker 4. H Boyd (D Manson 45) 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. J Begg 8. L Cassidy (R Beattie 55) 9. M Nichol (E Boyd 68) 10. K Morris 11. N Mackenzie
View from the goal
Exactly what we wanted three points and a solid follow up to Monday night’s result allowing us to move back within a point of the Acks after their win in Groats. We started off a little dodgy and seemed to be snatching at chances when there was no need but settled down fairly well and managed to score some good goals and play some pretty slick stuff albeit against a weakened Ashes side. After the break we struggled to keep the momentum going and the quality dropped off quite significantly but the boys can be excused after the effort of Monday night. We now move on to John O’Groats on the 21st in what is a notoriously difficult fixture and we will need to be at our best to get something from the game hopefully some of the squad’s injuries will have cleared up by then as well. Ashes well at the start of the season I am certain they would have taken first division survival and it has been quite an achievement given their start to the campaign and they can certainly take a lot of heart from some of their results this season.
Half time
Ashes 0-6 Pentland United
United introduced Derek Manson at the break in place of Hamish Boyd who had picked up an ankle knock in the first half. The half was only minutes old when United increased the lead further when Cassidy again broke free down the left cut in and squared the ball for Nichol to tap into the unguarded net and complete his hat-trick this was to be the Armadale man’s last real contribution as he was withdrawn to allow Russel Beattie continue his recovery from a hamstring injury. On the hour mark Nichol came within inches of adding to his own personal tally when he rose highest to meet a delightful Manson cross and his header looked to be a winner all the way only to crack the bar with Lannon reacting first to clear. Keeper MacAlpine then made a brilliant double save firstly when he firstly got down to a low shot Manson effort from 18 yards and just when it seemed Morris would complete his hat-trick he threw himself full length to block the goal bound effort. Nichol then showed his natural striking instinct minutes later after accepting a Beattie centre he broke away from a tackle but instead of laying the ball to Begg he decided to shoot himself and the ball flew away. With just over 20 minutes remaining on the clock United made their third and final substitution of the night with Nichol being replaced by Ewen Boyd. The game had gone relatively trouble free for referee Wheatcroft but he was forced to open his notebook after Macgregor and Begg were caught up in a tussle on the half way line. Begg however cleared his head pretty quickly and pulled another good save from the home stopper low to his left. Russel Beattie who had shown up well since his introduction also made his intentions clear when he let rip from the angle of the area after beating his man down the left. Substitute Boyd had a good chance to add to his season’s tally when he rose unchallenged at the back post to meet a Mackenzie cross from the left but his downward header failed to find the target. With just under five minutes left United finally made it eight after knocking at the door for so long and it came as a result of good play on the left from Beattie his cross was half cleared as far as Bremner 20 yards out who returned the ball on the volley with interest into the bottom left hand corner of the net past the helpless keeper. The scoring was completed right on the full time whistle when Jocky Begg picked up the ball in the centre circle strode forward and unleashed a low drive from 20 yards into the bottom left corner.
Full time
Ashes 0-9 Pentland United
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker 4. H Boyd (D Manson 45) 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. J Begg 8. L Cassidy (R Beattie 55) 9. M Nichol (E Boyd 68) 10. K Morris 11. N Mackenzie
View from the goal
Exactly what we wanted three points and a solid follow up to Monday night’s result allowing us to move back within a point of the Acks after their win in Groats. We started off a little dodgy and seemed to be snatching at chances when there was no need but settled down fairly well and managed to score some good goals and play some pretty slick stuff albeit against a weakened Ashes side. After the break we struggled to keep the momentum going and the quality dropped off quite significantly but the boys can be excused after the effort of Monday night. We now move on to John O’Groats on the 21st in what is a notoriously difficult fixture and we will need to be at our best to get something from the game hopefully some of the squad’s injuries will have cleared up by then as well. Ashes well at the start of the season I am certain they would have taken first division survival and it has been quite an achievement given their start to the campaign and they can certainly take a lot of heart from some of their results this season.