United faced Halkirk for the second time in 4 days desperate to do the first league double over their country cousins since 2008. The win was however essential to try and keep on the shirt tails of league leader Wick Groats, Halkirk on the other hand were desperate for the 3 points, which would remove any uncertainty over their first division status. It was a relatively low key start to the game as United changed their shape to a 3 pronged attack of Allan, Nichol and Murray. Nichol returning to the starting line up after a bout of flu had the first chance after 7 mins when a sweeping ball from Petrie saw him spring the off side trap but his shot flew across goal. The break through came after 15 mins and it was simplicity itself Macintosh picked the ball up from Michael Steven on half way and drifted a deep ball into the area, which saw Murray get to it a split second before Allan and nod the ball over the committed keeper. United then squandered a great chance on 20 mins when great play from Murray saw him drive into the box before squaring right across goal Derek Manson gathered at the far post but the angle was just too acute. Minutes later however the lead was doubled and it was all about the ability of Michael Petrie he picked the ball up 35 yards from goal drifted passed 4 defenders on a wonderful run before drawing the keeper and squaring for James Murray to tap home into the unguarded net. Halkirk were reeling and you sensed the game was at a cross roads one more goal for the home side would be the end of the contest although one for the visitors would set it up very nicely. Lee Allan pulled off a very good save from Murray denying the striker his hat-trick after Davie Cowie picked him out with a cross from the right wing. Nichol then added a quite brilliant third after brilliant link up down the right between Murray and Cowie the ball was fed across the edge of the 18 yard box and United’s top scorer bending his back sent a right foot bending shot away from the Allan into the keepers right hand corner. This was a huge blow to Halkirk and the body language started to show as the early belief began to dissipate despite some strong running from Mackay and Bain in the midfield the chances were failing to materialise. It got even worse for the visitors just before the 40 min mark Murray fed by Cowie drove into the box and cut the ball back for the in-rushing Derek Manson to fire home via the finger tips of Allan. Halkirk were handed a lifeline by a quite dreadful piece of goalkeeping from Gray when he sloppily attempted to retrieve a Bremner freekick it cannoned of the keeper allowing Paul Mackay the simplest of tasks. Even then United could have stretched the lead further Garry Macleod picked out Nichol down the left channel although his hesitation meant the defence got back in numbers to thwart the chance.
Half time
Pentland United 4-1 Halkirk
Any lingering doubts over the outcome were quickly dispelled 9 mins into the second half Mark Nichol wheeled on the edge of the box and sent in a quite brilliant shot that rattled the frame of the goal and bouncing clear only for Grant Steven to follow up and lash the ball into the net before anyone could ask ‘What is he doing up there?’ 5 became 6 five minutes later Allan beautifully picked out Nichol’s run and the ace marksman doubled his tally for the game drilling the ball passed the encroaching Allan. Nichol was now sniffing a hat-trick and just after the hour he turned on a six pence and sent in a powerful drive that lifted the paint off the bar from just outside the area. The striker went even closer on 65 mins when David Cowie made a fine run down the right before flicking in a brilliant cross for Nichol to divert goalwards but Allan somehow clawed the ball out of the top corner at the expense of a corner. United continued to hold the upper hand and started making changes to the team with McKechnie replaced Grant Steven, Lee Sutherland replacing Petrie and Hamish Coghill replacing Nichol. The emphasis did drop for a while it has to be said but still Halkirk struggled to make an impression although they did make loud appeals for a penalty when Michael Steven and Elder collided going for a high ball referee Makhouli saw no infringement. Substitute Sutherland actually wrapped up the scoring with 10 minutes left rising superbly to glance a Ross Allan corner passed the helpless Allan yet again. Halkirk’s best chance of the half came when Steveie Elder did well to twist away from McKechnie in the box but his shot only found the side net. Michael Steven playing his last game of the season was determined to sign off with a goal but his best chance came in the closing minutes when Mckechnie’s cross picked him out at the edge of the box but the ball would not sit right for him and the shot went over. The final chance of the game fell to Lee Sutherland who in remarkably similar fashion to his goal stole a march inside the area but this time too much contact was made and the ball flew over for a goalkick.
Full time
Pentland United 7-1 Halkirk
1.M Gray 2. D Cowie 3. D Manson 4. G Steven (J McKechnie 65) 5. M Steven (c) 6. D Mackay 7. M Petrie (L Sutherland 71) 8. G Macleod 9. M Nichol (H Coghill 81) 10. J Murray 11. R Allan
View from the goal
A much more clinical performance in front of goal than Monday night that is for sure even though at times the football was not so fluent it was more effective. Now to an extremely difficult task across the bay against the form side of the County at the moment plus the added headache of fixture congestion the test becomes even harder.