Castletown and Pentland United both won nail-biters versus powerful Western Isles teams on the road to join Swifts in the last four of the prestigious competition.

Swifts sunk the hopes of county league frontrunners John O'Groats with a 2-0 win on the village pitch.

Golspie Stafford's 3-0 win over Ness in the other quarter-final wipes out the isles' presence to produce a first ever last four to comprise of sides from north of the Dornoch Firth.

Caithness is thus assured of a finalist with Castletown and Swifts locking horns at a venue which has still to be decided.

Should United come through against Golspie in the other semi, it would give the first all-Caithness final since United defeated Wick Groats in the 1987 final in Thurso.

The outstanding display on Saturday was produced by an under-strength Castletown who trailed Carloway 2-0 before battling back to prevail 4-3 after extra time.

The Caithness side were without a handful of regulars who were at T in the Park, while manager Ian MacDonald was on holiday.

A late spanner in the works was thrown in by winger Chris Sutherland who had to work in the morning and only arrived for the second half of the tussle in Fortrose.

Castletown shrugged off their problems with an up-tempo first 10 minutes when Carloway's defence was opened up several times. Castletown struck the woodwork before they found themselves behind with their opponents' first serious foray.

That reverse – an opportunist strike from the edge of the box – was followed 10 minutes later by the same player scoring from close in.

There appeared no way back for Castletown as Carloway closed in to claim their second successive Caithness victims, having ousted Halkirk in the previous round.

But after absorbing a fair bit of pressure, Castletown got one back five minutes from half-time. Martin Murray made good progress down the left before centring to the inrushing Graham MacDonald who scored from six yards.

The goal inspired Castletown to take the initiative after the turnaround and it was no real surprise when they levelled within five minutes.

Niall Murray got the break of the ball before wrong-footing his marker and rifling the ball home from just inside the box.

The Far North men were now well on top and the Carloway keeper made several good stops to keep his side in the tie.

Martin Murray was denied twice before substitute Sutherland had a glorious chance five minutes from the end.

Sent in on goal, he opted against a run-in in favour of an early chip, which was clawed to safety by the keeper.

There was little between the sides in the first half of extra time until Martin Murray produced an opening which produced a rare goal for defender Derrick Shearer.

Ten minutes from the end, Castletown went 4-2 up when a long-range hopeful punt from David MacGill found Martin Murray who ran on to score.

Carloway played four up front in a desperate late push. They got one back five minutes from time when Martin Murray was harshly penalised for a push and the spot-kick was driven past keeper Asa Sinclair.

Castletown survived the subsequent onslaught to claim a gutsy victory.

John O'Groats defender Alan Davies (right) beats Lee MacDougall to the ball. Colin Gregory

United, meanwhile, were featuring in a marathon tussle at nearby Culbokie versus Lewis and Harris league leaders Back.

The island outfit capitalised on a strong start to take the lead midway through the first half.

United vainly appealed that defender Gary Mackay was fouled in the build-up to the headed opener.

Back had the bulk of play in the first half though clear goal chances at either end were to prove few and far between.

United saw much more of the ball after the break and deservedly drew level around the hour mark.

Gary Mackay's pinpoint free kick picked out United's emergency call-up, Ross Thomson, and the Golspie-based defender slotted home. That is the way it stood after 120 minutes and it was the five-times cup winners who emerged victorious after the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

Willie Inrig, Tony Farquhar, James Murray and John Skinner all scored, with Back netting their first three but having their fourth saved by United keeper Michael Gray.

That left the stage clear for Darren Mackay to nail the clincher with a cool conversion.

Swifts' progress in the cup has involved treks to Lochinver, Plockton and Kirkwall, which have been popular with everyone but the treasurer.

Despite the expenses going into four figures, the Thurso club shelled out for a bus to Saturday's quarter-final date with John O'Groats.

The poor surface of the pitch did not do justice to the occasion and helped neither side play attractive football.

Swifts got the perfect start when they went ahead after two minutes. Nigel MacKenzie's cross should have been comfortably gathered by JOG keeper Shaun Henderson but he spilled it and Mark Nichol was lurking to net.

Both sides struggled to produce much in the way of clear-cut opportunities for the remainder of the half.

Four minutes after the restart, Swifts were awarded a penalty when Lee MacDougall's chip over Henderson was net-bound before defender Neil Fearns leapt up to keep it out with his hand.

Fearns was red-carded while Nichol stepped up for the spot-kick. The striker lost momentum with his two-phase run-up and Henderson made an easy save.

On the hour-mark, Swifts went 2-0 up when Nigel MacKenzie profited from a long through-ball to dash into the box and fire past Henderson.

JOG battled to get back with Lee Allan called on to make several decent stops in the closing stages.

The dates and venues for the semis have still to be decided.

iain-grant@ukf.net

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