10-man Pentland grab cup glory in extra-time
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LERWICK SPURS 1
PENTLAND UNITED 2
(after extra-time)
YOU would have forgiven Pentland United if they had thought the gods were against them come the fifth minute of injury time. They were 1-0 up and, despite being down to 10 men, looking pretty comfortable and on course for their eighth Highland Amateur Cup success.
Given they had lost the county league on the final day of the season – having had the opportunity in their own hands to win it the week before – they were seemingly on their way to making amends for that heartbreak.
After all, Lerwick, despite being favourites for this final, looked to have been
overwhelmed by the occasion and were having one heck of an off-day.
With the referee seconds away from blowing the final whistle, Pentland were victims of an outrageous fluke as Dave Mann’s hopeful long ball into the area was missed by everybody and floated into the net for a Lerwick equaliser.
Pentland had to knuckle down and hold out against a revitalised Lerwick. That they did just that and grabbed the winning goal was testament to their character.
United should have been ahead as early as the fourth minute when Martin Ross found himself free in the box only to send his header wide from close range.
Ross nearly got lucky in 17 minutes when his cross was blown back by the wind towards Lerwick’s goal only for the ball to hit the upright.
Sixty seconds later, though, Ross found the target when he latched on to a superb James Maclean ball to curl a low shot past Lerwick keeper Grant Wood.
United had a glorious chance to go 2-0 up in 47 minutes when Mann dithered and presented Conor Cormack with a great chance only for Wood to bail out his defender with a
superb save.
Wood again kept Spurs in it as he rushed out to bravely deny Sean Campbell.
It wasn’t until 80 minutes that Lerwick created a chance. Some fine wing play by Ronan Grant set up Sam Maver who was already turning to celebrate before Innes Macintosh cleared off the line.
United went down to 10 men when Shaun Forbes was sent off for denying Lewis Barclay a clear goalscoring chance.
Pentland still pressed forward and Cormack was denied by a last-gasp slide by Flett to clear off the line.
United seemed home and dry but then came Mann’s fluke to send the game into extra time.
Spurs finally came out of their shell and were by far the better team in the additional 30 minutes. But one slip of concentration did for them as a rare Pentland attack resulted in Maclean’s cross being headed in at the back post by an unmarked Jamie Mackenzie to bring the cup back to Dunnet.
Pentland United: More, Hardwick, Macintosh, Forbes, Reid, Cook (Mackenzie 73), Campbell, Petrie, Ross (Geruzel 86), Maclean, Cormack (Mackay 89). Subs not used: Steven, Gray
Lerwick Spurs: Wood, Goodie, Flett, L Kay (Stewart 76), Ward, Johnston (C. Grant 68), J Kay (Mann 33), McDonald (R. Grant 51), Gibbs (Barclay 64), Harkness, Maver.
