Post by Michael Gray on Aug 5, 2004 5:27:15 GMT
A large crowd were greeted by a stiff Dunnet wind in this must win game for United as they attempted to retain the firdt division league title. A car crash on the A9 robbed United of John Skinner and Tony Farquhar from their starting line-up as they were held up in the resultant traffic backlog, however Ross Sutherland returned to the fray after recovering from a calf injury. The expectant crowd had barely settled on the barriers when United made the break through and it was that man Nichol notching number 37 for the season when he powered home a Bremner corner from 6 yards. Castletown however were not there to make up the numbers and backed by a decent travelling contingent immediately tried to hit back Sean Moodie letting fly from 20 yards after the ball was only half cleared but his shot was too straight and Gray held on comfortably. After ten minutes Castletown again came close via the most unlikely source, keeper Brian Mackay sent a booming clearance downfield, which was missed by Brian Gray allowing Adamson to race clear but he hesitated as the ball bounced awkwardly and M Gray unconvincingly managed to scramble the ball over the bar. Instead of drawing level however the quarrymen fell further behind when Ryan Farmer intercepted the ball in the centre circle and immediately fed Nigel Mackenzie before heading for the box as the winger raced down the left flank his cross was measured for the skipper who called for Nichol to leave the ball before diving full length to bullet a header past the helpless Mackay. Both sides suffered injury blows around the 20 minute mark when firstly Cassidy succumbed to a leg blow he picked up in a challenge with keeper Mackay and was replaced by Farquhar almost at the same time MacGill was withdrawn after being struck on the face by the ball resulting in the loss of vision in one eye he was replaced by Sutherland. Referee Gunn then turned away huge appeals for a penalty from the home contingent when Nichol broke clear but his run was brought to a crashing halt by the outstretched leg of M Mackay. United were well on top now and further consolidated their lead on the half hour mark when Bremner burst from midfield drew the defence before slipping a pass into the path of Mackenzie who never broke stride before bending a delightful shot past the outstretched arms of Mackay. The long throw of Brian Gray so often a threat throughout the season created a half chance for Farquhar but his attempted flick at the near post went wide. With five minutes left in the half United stretched their lead further and it came via quick thinking down the right when Farquhar latched on to a quickly taken freekick to whip in a dangerous far post cross picking out Mackenzie keeper Mackay made the initial block but was helpless to prevent the wideman making it five goals in his last two games and his seventeenth of the season. Right on half time Castletown nearly managed to claw a goal back when substitute Sutherland made a good break along the right hand touch line but his cut back intended for Welsh was intercepted at the near post by M Gray who recovered to pounce on the loose ball.
Half time
Pentland United 4-0 Castletown
With the wind now at their backs it would have been easy to assume that the home side would go on from strength to strength instead they had a real let off minutes into the second half when a mazy run from A Farquhar saw him break clear before playing the ball to Welsh who from 12 yards and straight in front of goal lashed the ball past the post a disappointing finish from the young frontman who has enjoyed such an impressive break through season with Castletown. United introduced their other south based squad member when John Skinner replaced Martin Baker after little more than five minutes of the second half played. The visitors however continued to make the early running and had another decent opportunity when a Calder cross to the back post was half headed clear by Gray only as far as Moodie but he rather snatched at the chance and his shot cleared the ball by some distance. United tried to hit back and shake off the lackadaisical start to the half they had made Gavin Bremner managed to break Adamson’s tackle and let fly from fully thirty yards but his shot lacked any real direction. Nigel Mackenzie then skipped clear down the left before cutting in along the byeline and bringing out a good save from Mackay at the near post at the expense of a corner. The visitors responded and again it was that man Moodie who latched on to a loose ball when B Gray only managed to half clear the ball on the stretch after Gary Calder had again made good progress down the left. The game wasn’t really following any really pattern and the standard had dropped considerably since the first half with United failing to show any creativity or much quality in their football while Castletown were producing a far more workman like performance competing with the home side in every area. A fine Willie Inrig pass picked out Tony Farquhar on the edge of the box and the striker created space for himself with a fine turn before bringing out another decent save from Mackay with a left foot effort. United had their second big shout for a penalty when once again Nichol had managed to slip his marker Mackay resulting in the centre half flooring the leagues leading scorer who could only look on in disbelief as the referee Gunn waved play on. That was to be the front man’s last real action as he was replaced by Andy Mackay after he appeared to be in some discmfort after the previous challenge. With twenty minutes left Castletown finally got the goal their perseverance deserved Willie Inrig knocked a bouncing ball back to keeper Gray who ended up conceding a corner from which he allowed substitute Sutherland to beat him to the ball after the wind had held up the flag kick. United tried to respond and Farquhar managed to win a corner off Florence as they battled in the right back area, Andy Mackay took the flag kick but Mackay showed good strong hands at the back post to clutch the ball under pressure from Gray. With ten minutes left United stepped up their urgency to snatch a goal and Bremner rifled a volley over the top from 25 yards after Bain had cleared the ball as far as him. Mackay, again showed good hands at the back post under pressure this time from Sutherland, when his namesake Andy threw in a deep free kick from the right. The final opportunity of the night fell to the Dunnet based teenager Welsh after Skinner was dispossessed on the edge of the box but after producing a good turn he couldn’t find the target under pressure from Boyd.
Full time
Pentland United 4-1 Castletown
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker (J Skinner 54) 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. R Sutherland 8. W Inrig 9. M Nichol (A Mackay 72) 10. L Cassidy (T Farquhar 20) 11. N Mackenzie
Subs not used
J Begg, D Manson
View from the goal
Well we did it, it has been a bit of a rollercoaster at times and if I am honest it hasn’t been our most fluent season but in the end when it mattered we came through. I think what this season has highlighted more than anything else is the need for a decent sized squad and I can assure you every player has recognised this more than ever over the last few weeks. After the early setback we suffered in Thurso it took us a good few weeks to get back on track and there is no doubt the Workshops game in Dunnet was a real watershed as not only did we manage to make a spirited recovery in which we all pulled together from 3-1 down but at the same time the Acks were being held in Wick by the Rovers. On Monday night we played so well in the first 45 and had killed the game by the break in all honesty we just seemed to lack any real urgency and quality in the second period and fair play to Castletown as they took full advantage with Alan Farquhar a stand out. On behalf of the players I would like to take the opportunity to thank the supporters for the encouragement we have received through the season as per usual it was second to none. Hopefully with a little bit of luck we can do it all again next year.
Half time
Pentland United 4-0 Castletown
With the wind now at their backs it would have been easy to assume that the home side would go on from strength to strength instead they had a real let off minutes into the second half when a mazy run from A Farquhar saw him break clear before playing the ball to Welsh who from 12 yards and straight in front of goal lashed the ball past the post a disappointing finish from the young frontman who has enjoyed such an impressive break through season with Castletown. United introduced their other south based squad member when John Skinner replaced Martin Baker after little more than five minutes of the second half played. The visitors however continued to make the early running and had another decent opportunity when a Calder cross to the back post was half headed clear by Gray only as far as Moodie but he rather snatched at the chance and his shot cleared the ball by some distance. United tried to hit back and shake off the lackadaisical start to the half they had made Gavin Bremner managed to break Adamson’s tackle and let fly from fully thirty yards but his shot lacked any real direction. Nigel Mackenzie then skipped clear down the left before cutting in along the byeline and bringing out a good save from Mackay at the near post at the expense of a corner. The visitors responded and again it was that man Moodie who latched on to a loose ball when B Gray only managed to half clear the ball on the stretch after Gary Calder had again made good progress down the left. The game wasn’t really following any really pattern and the standard had dropped considerably since the first half with United failing to show any creativity or much quality in their football while Castletown were producing a far more workman like performance competing with the home side in every area. A fine Willie Inrig pass picked out Tony Farquhar on the edge of the box and the striker created space for himself with a fine turn before bringing out another decent save from Mackay with a left foot effort. United had their second big shout for a penalty when once again Nichol had managed to slip his marker Mackay resulting in the centre half flooring the leagues leading scorer who could only look on in disbelief as the referee Gunn waved play on. That was to be the front man’s last real action as he was replaced by Andy Mackay after he appeared to be in some discmfort after the previous challenge. With twenty minutes left Castletown finally got the goal their perseverance deserved Willie Inrig knocked a bouncing ball back to keeper Gray who ended up conceding a corner from which he allowed substitute Sutherland to beat him to the ball after the wind had held up the flag kick. United tried to respond and Farquhar managed to win a corner off Florence as they battled in the right back area, Andy Mackay took the flag kick but Mackay showed good strong hands at the back post to clutch the ball under pressure from Gray. With ten minutes left United stepped up their urgency to snatch a goal and Bremner rifled a volley over the top from 25 yards after Bain had cleared the ball as far as him. Mackay, again showed good hands at the back post under pressure this time from Sutherland, when his namesake Andy threw in a deep free kick from the right. The final opportunity of the night fell to the Dunnet based teenager Welsh after Skinner was dispossessed on the edge of the box but after producing a good turn he couldn’t find the target under pressure from Boyd.
Full time
Pentland United 4-1 Castletown
1. M Gray 2. B Gray 3. M Baker (J Skinner 54) 4. H Boyd 5. R Farmer (c) 6. G Bremner 7. R Sutherland 8. W Inrig 9. M Nichol (A Mackay 72) 10. L Cassidy (T Farquhar 20) 11. N Mackenzie
Subs not used
J Begg, D Manson
View from the goal
Well we did it, it has been a bit of a rollercoaster at times and if I am honest it hasn’t been our most fluent season but in the end when it mattered we came through. I think what this season has highlighted more than anything else is the need for a decent sized squad and I can assure you every player has recognised this more than ever over the last few weeks. After the early setback we suffered in Thurso it took us a good few weeks to get back on track and there is no doubt the Workshops game in Dunnet was a real watershed as not only did we manage to make a spirited recovery in which we all pulled together from 3-1 down but at the same time the Acks were being held in Wick by the Rovers. On Monday night we played so well in the first 45 and had killed the game by the break in all honesty we just seemed to lack any real urgency and quality in the second period and fair play to Castletown as they took full advantage with Alan Farquhar a stand out. On behalf of the players I would like to take the opportunity to thank the supporters for the encouragement we have received through the season as per usual it was second to none. Hopefully with a little bit of luck we can do it all again next year.