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It was very much a case of Groundhog Day with the league match mirroring the script of last week's cup semi-final in the village. It again finished 2-1 for JOG thanks to another last-gasp winner from Grant Budge.

The game had started on a high for the home troops as they went in front on five minutes. Mark Munro was sent racing down the left touchline by Stuart Sinclair (the younger) with Stuart Sinclair (the elder) providing the link for Martin Sinclair to bullet a shot past keeper Graeme Williamson.

The visitors gradually took control though they were fortunate not to concede again when Munro set up Stuart Sinclair (the elder) for an unopposed header which he could not direct on target.

Wick Groats got on terms on the half-hour mark with Greg Shearer's corner being turned in at the near post by Kevin Miller. The second half produced precious few clear-cut chances with a draw looking likely until a late flurry of goalmouth action.

The winner came two minutes from full time when Budge stole a march on his marker to convert Grant Campbell's tantalising cross at the near post.

Leaders Swifts were unable to capitalise on the defeat as they conceded late on to draw 2-2 in Wick versus Rovers.

Mark Nichol and Martyn Cook both fired wide from good positions in between a decent free kick attempt from Rovers youngster Lewis Harrold.

The Thurso men were well on top but were hit by a sucker punch two minutes from the interval when Colin Davidson stole upfield to head home Stevie Reid's free kick.

Visiting keeper Graham Miller then did well to pouch a lofted effort from Paul MacDonald.

Davidson was at the heart of an impressive rearguard action though it could not prevent Nichol equalising on 54 minutes with the striker rising to net Lee MacDougall's assist.

Makeshift keeper Kieran Duffy stood up well to a Nigel MacKenzie drive and Reid hit the bar with a free kick at the other end in a more evenly contested second half.

Swifts took the lead on 65 minutes when Nichol nailed a 25-yard free kick.

The Thurso side had Miller to thank for staying in front when he backpedalled to make a full-stretch gather following a defensive mix-up five minutes from the end.

Davidson earned a valuable point for his side a minute from time when he beat Miller with a powerful strike from just outside the box.

Rovers could have grabbed an unlikely win had Euan Jappy been able to convert either of the two run-ins he had with the keeper in injury time.

The points dropped by the top two has breathed fresh life into Pentland United's title defence.

They are now just three off the top following their hard-earned 3-2 win away to Thurso Pentland on Monday evening.

Referee John Munro awarded two penalties at either end in the opening quarter.

A handball offence resulted in Adam Sutherland putting the home men in front.

It was all-square after Tony Farquhar responded in kind when Sutherland was adjudged to have balked Derek Manson in the box.

United took a firm hold of the game with two goals in the five minutes before the interval with Stevie Morris punishing uncertain defending with deadly finishes.

Gary Bell's deep cross was the source of his first while the striker then seized on a half-hit clearance to net with another rasping drive past keeper Reid Anderson. Anderson went on to make good blocks to deny Morris, Darryn Mackay and Mark Begg.

The home side had plenty of possession but seldom threatened Michael Gray's goal until 12 minutes from the end when Gavin Sutherland's deflected shot from outside the box looped over the keeper into the net.

It was black Wednesday for Halkirk after their weakened side suffered a real doing on their own turf.

Their 7-0 reverse to Castletown could have been worse as they had shipped six before the interval.

Castletown continued their recent impressive form with Alan Farquhar and Scott Mackay Steven proving a class double act.

Within two minutes, the leaky home defence had conceded with Gary Calder nodding in at the far post from Chris Sutherland's delivery.

Farquhar set up Stuart Florence for the second before Sutherland converted a penalty after Calder had been floored by Andrew Bremner in the box.

Graham Swanson forced a save from visiting keeper Lee Kirk before a Sutherland volley made it 4-0.

The next two goals both fell to Halkirk players as the home defence disintegrated in the face of constant pressure.

Bremner's desperate attempt to prevent Sutherland's cross reaching Calder succeeded only in turning the ball into his own net.

Gavin Sutherland was then on a different wavelength to stand-in keeper Graham Gunn as his would-be pass-back made it goal number six.

Halkirk steadied the ship after the interval with Swanson seeing a header cleared off the line.

Calder and sub Stuart MacKenzie then went close before the latter survived an offside appeal to latch in to Calder's through-ball and round Gunn to complete the scoring in the final minute.

Staxigoe United are fast closing in on the division two title.

They further boosted their prodigious goals-for tally after romping to a 5-0 win over Wick Thistle.

The Jags, the only team to take points from the newcomers, were never at the races in Monday's match and were lucky not to have incurred a more embarrassing reverse.

United had already had two penalty claims rejected and struck the woodwork before Gavin Cormack headed them into a 15th-minute lead.

Grant MacNab's spectacular 20 yarder doubled the advantage before the interval.

Thistle's chances receded further when Marc Gunn picked up a second booking after he disputed a decision.

Grant MacNab got a second and Liam Bremner and Graham MacNab also found the target as United went nap.

With United homing in on the title, Acks and Keiss this week stole a march on Thistle in their respective bids to at least bag the play-off position.

Acks scored a goal in each half to win 2-0 at Lybster.

David MacGregor's team played some delightful football in the first half which they bossed from start to finish.

They went ahead on 15 minutes after a zippy move down the right involving Gary Coghill, David Hale and Jack Halliday. The sequence looked to have fizzled out when Hale crossed straight at the keeper, but the latter's fumble gave Liam Wann a free gift which he accepted.

Paul Wares threatened with a volley and a curling free kick and Halliday also went close with a long ranger as Acks continued to press.

They doubled their advantage 10 minutes after the interval when Wann scored with a looping header from Hale's deep cross.

A number of subsequent near-things for Acks featured a snap shot from Wann which cracked back off the crossbar to deny the teenager his first hat-trick in senior football.

Keiss meanwhile racked up their third win in a row despite having two men red-carded in their 5-1 victory over Top Joe's at Ormlie.

The villagers seized the early initiative with Andy Harris heading them in front before Perry Campbell was put clear to make it 2-0.

Campbell grabbed a second with a finely-judged lob from the edge of the area before Dave Stockton reduced the deficit with a header.

Keiss pulled clear though a tap-in from teenager Lucas Rokita and a fine finish from James W. Ross.

The gloss was taken off their victory following red cards shown in quick succession late on to Rokita, for retaliation, and Campbell, for a second booking.

TJ's Brett Morris was also dismissed for his dissent at being refused permission to play as he was not listed as a sub on the team sheet.

Earlier, TJ's were a couple of minutes away from recording their first win of the campaign.

After a goal-less first half at home to Francis Street Club, Barry Mackay fired them in front 10 minutes after the turnaround. Graeme Taylor then netted a header as TJ's looked a good bet to break their duck.

A lengthy injury stoppage helped FSC regroup and after getting one back 10 minutes from time, they mounted a late blitz to force an equaliser.

TJ's resistance broke two minutes from the end when Martin Mackay's sclaffed an attempted clearance into his own net.

Meanwhile, eight teams are in action at the Dammies tomorrow in a seven-a-side charity competition for the Dodo and Clair McLean Memorial Cup.

Castletown are defending the trophy in the competition which gets under way at noon.

iain-grant@ukf.net