Full-time score – CAFA Div.1: Staxigoe United 1 v Pentland United 3. Scorers: A Mackay 35, C Montgomery 65, M Macgregor 71.
PU Team: More, A Munro, I Mackintosh (O Bain 80), J Mclean, S Munro, R Innes, C Montgomery (S Forbes 73), C Trueman, M Macgregor (J Sutherland 85), A Mackay, J Murray (M Mackintosh 68).
Match report from Michael Gray
United arrived in Wick to face a Staxigoe side who knew a win would allow them to leapfrog their visitors. Recent games had seen the United side attract a little criticism for the lack creativity in the final third. That was not something that would be levelled at them by the end of this match. United took the initiative from the outset in terms of possession but too regularly the game broke down through over complication or forcing an issue that probably wasn't required. The first real opportunity of the game saw Cameron Montgomery do well down the right before dinking in an inviting cross that Marc Macgregor headed goalwards only for Miller to claw the ball away from the top corner with an excellent stop. The home side had a great escape on ten minutes, Cameron Montgomery broke into the area from the left his first attempt was blocked by Mackay the rebound fell nicely for Macgregor who unleashed a powerful volley that whistled inches wide with Miller beaten. However, the home side were looking menacing on the counter Davidson linked well with Banks mid-way through the half and he drove down the left before cutting back to deliver and inswinging cross that Sheppard met on the stretch but couldn't direct on target. The Dunnet side withdrew James Murray into a more deeper role for the game and it nearly paid dividends when he controlled a Miller clearance on halfway striding forward unchallenged until 20 yards from goal his low drive was parried by the home keeper and grabbed at the second attempt as Macgregor closed in. The breakthrough finally came just after the half hour mark when skipper Andre Mackay cut in from the right and unleashed a powerful daisy cutter from 25 yards that flew passed Miller into the left-hand corner of the net. Staxigoe responded positively with Davidson striding forward from defence and letting fly from fully 30 yards but More showed assured hands to pluck the rising shot out the air. Before half time United missed another couple of chances firstly a Mackay cross again picked out Macgregor 8 yards from goal but unfortunately for the striker, he once again found Miller in top form again clawing the ball out of the top corner. Then from the resultant corner James Mclean rose superbly at the near post to glance the ball invitingly for his teammates but no one reacted, and the chance was lost. HT - Stax 0-1 PU The second half was minutes old when Staxigoe had an unbelievable let off Macgregor rose to meet a I Mackintosh corner again Miller produced an excellent stop, but the ball fell perfectly for Allan Munro unfortunately for the fullback he only succeeded in lashing the ball high over the bar in the direction of Northcote Street from no more than a couple of yards. United again let Staxigoe off the hook after 55 minutes when Montgomery burst into the box his cross into the area was cleared away from Andrew Mackay by his namesake Matthew but only as far as Macgregor who on the volley sliced the ball wide of Miller's left-hand post. That miss was magnified on the hour mark when the home side drew level with a contender to Mackay's opener for goal of the game when Sheppard drifted between Munro and Trueman still seemed little danger until the tall midfielder unleashed a howitzer into More's top right bin with the keeper beaten all ends up. United were rocked into action and brilliantly took the lead with their first attack Macgregor beat Davidson to flick the ball on to Innes who drew Mackay before slipping in Montgomery who composed himself drew Miller before expertly passing the ball into the bottom corner. This had a huge effect on the game, Staxigoe deflated with only having parity for such a short spell and United buoyed by the quick and ruthless response. James Murray ambitiously tried to extend the lead further when he latched on to a Mackay clearance 25 yards out muscled his way passed Malcolm before slashing at the ball with his left foot. But the delay in extending the lead wasn't long this time Montgomery fed Macgregor who rolled Davidson and burst into the box he expertly turned the retreating Innes to poke the ball passed the despairing Miller. United started to make changes at this point M Mackintosh and Forbes replaced Murray and Montgomery as United reverted to a match up of the Staxigoe system. This took a little while to bed in and Staxigoe tried to re-establish themselves in the game with a number of freekicks, but they failed to extend More although the deliveries were of a very high quality. In the last ten minutes of the contest United introduced their young guns with Owen Bain and Josh Sutherland replacing Innes Mackintosh and Marc Macgregor, you Sutherland showed a lovely piece of skill to deftly flick to release Andrew Mackay into the area but unfortunately the finish did not match the build-up. And the final chance of the game fell to the same player after Murray Mackintosh showed tremendous perseverance to rob Innes in the left back area and burst into the box before unselfishly lay the ball on to the inrushing Mackay who lashed the ball wide. FT - Stax 1-3 PU