A wet and wild week had left Ham Park a little damp under feet for the visit of
Hotspurs and of course the return to the mainland of Wayne Monkman. United
decided to play up the slight Ham Park slope, which also meant the large easterly wind favoured them more. It was always going to be a competitive affair Hotspurs ran Thorfinnn very close last year in the Orcadian top league only losing out in a penalty shoot out in the league play-off. Ross Allan had the games first chance latching on to the keepers low bye kick he strode forward until the edge of the box before unleashing a powerful drive
that fairly lashed into the fence behind the goal but unfortunately it was not on target. The first moment of controversy was not long in arriving when referee Elder waved away claims for the home side for a penalty when Lee Sutherland as he turned in the box seemed to be barged over. It was far from one way traffic though and Docharty on the right wing was proving a handful for Harrold and he did very well getting away after 15 mins skipping away from the left midfielder but his cross was deflected away for a corner. From the resultant flag kick United scrambled clear but lacked composure it certainly was a nervy period. On twenty minutes Mark Nichol had his first look at goal after Allan was upended on the edge of the box the striker took the freekick right footed and it grazed the top corner as it flew wide. The striker was much closer 5 minutes later cutting in from the left he sent a beautiful effort that looked destined for the top corner until Norquoy pulled off a quite brilliant save diving high to his left. Skipper Michael Steven has not added to his total since the first night of the season but he was presented with a great chance on the half hour mark after Allan’s corner was flicked on at the near post the sweeper beautifully cushioned the ball on his thigh but unfortunately his finish did not match the initial touch and it flew high over the bar. His brother Grant then had the ball in the net after he had stayed forward for a freekick the ball was half cleared and as Lee Sutherland played over the top the centre back thought he had notched his first of the season only to have been flagged offside. Hotspurs had a potent threat in big John Macintosh who was a difficult opponent in the air for the United rearguard who limited his opportunities but he did get his head to a Monkman cross 5 minutes before the break the zipped off the turf but Gray gathered a yard from the line. The final chance of the half again came via an Allan corner this time it fell to Harrold at the far post who took on the volley first but it was cleared off the line.
Half-time
Pentland United 0-0 Kirkwall Hotspurs
United seemed to open with a renewed vigour about their approach Nichol early doors
twisting free on the edge of the area but his shot lacked conviction and accuracy to trouble Norquoy. Ryan Begg then tried to take matters into his own hands taking a short freekick from Harrold he wandered forward until 25 yards from goal before unleashing a shot that rose sharply over the bar as Hotspurs continued to resist everything United could throw at them. Skipper Steven frustrated with his forwards efforts joined the attack after 55 mins and Allan did really well down the left before standing a ball to the far post that seemed perfect for the sweeper to nod home but whether it was some air pocket that gripped the ball or misjudgement no connection was made and the anxiety on the sidelines grew. This was not helped on the hour mark by keeper Gray who raced from his area to field a Grant Steven pass back he controlled the ball and passed back to Steven who had Macintosh swarming all over him and eventually a corner was conceded. United then contrived to miss what must be a contender for miss of the season then Nichol did superbly down the right before flashing a tantalising ball from the right across goal that presented Allan with an open goal but from 2 yards he managed to scoop the ball over the bar. Something was brewing though and with Hotspurs temporarily down to 10 men through injury having committed all their substitutes the roof caved in with just under 15 minutes left and it was all about Ross Allan, Mackenzie fed the ball into the striker who shrugged off a couple of challenges down the left channel before rifling the ball across goal beating Norquoy all ends up. Hotspurs were then forced to try and change their counter attacking philosophy allowing United far more space firstly Nichol freed Darryn Mackay right in on goal and he passed the ball right across goal and wide. Then the same combination saw the midfielder warm the gloves of the keeper with a vicious shot on the angle again down the left using his right foot. The Hotspurs line was much further up the field now but they were struggling to exert the necessary pressure and it was United who were finishing the
stronger firstly substitute Petrie broke down the left and fired a super cross right along the 6 yard line but there were no takers and then at the death Nichol surged clear down the left and clipped the ball across goal but this time Petrie on the stretch could make no contact.
Full time
Pentland United 1-0 Kirkwall Hotspurs
1. M Gray 2. G Mackay 3. L Harrold (D Manson 76) 4. G Steven 5. D Mackay 6. M Steven (c) 7. R Begg (M Petrie 76) 8. J Mackenzie 9. M Nichol 10. R Allan 11. L Sutherland
Sub not used
Mckechnie
View from the goal
A thoroughly frustrating afternoon, Hotspurs made life very difficult for us but I felt as if we never really composed ourselves enough in front of goal. It was difficult conditions and although our build up play generally was decent our finishing lacked belief at times. Still we are in the draw and that is always a good sign after not really playing to our
potential and we await the draw on Sunday 5th June.