Back-to-back wins – but Wick Groats manager expects tough season ahead
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Wick Groats have begun their Caithness AFA Division One campaign with back-to-back wins – but their manager Kevin Anderson is convinced that the leading sides will drop plenty of points as the season unfolds.
Last year's runners-up overcame Acks 2-1 in their opening fixture and picked up another three points with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Staxigoe United at the Upper Bignold on Tuesday night.
Steven Anderson opened the scoring with a back-post header, Korbyn Cameron fired in a low shot to double their lead and James Mackay added a third before half-time after breaking through one-on-one with keeper Leo Shearer.
Cameron completed the scoring after the break with his second of the night.
Anderson said: "I thought it would be a lot tougher, to be honest. We've had a couple of friendlies, then the game against Acks, and we've been struggling for bodies, boys struggling with injuries.
"There are big changes this year – we've lost pretty much the spine of a team.
"We're really in a bit of a transition, but it's encouraging what we've seen tonight. We played really well and thoroughly deserved to win.
"Two wins out of two, a clean sheet and four goals – I'm delighted.
"We've lost a lot of players but we've also got a good three or four to come in as well. Once we get sorted out we'll be okay."
Anderson believes that some of the close results so far, including two draws in the top division on the opening night last week, could be a sign of things to come.
"It'll be a tough season," he said. "I think there are going to be a lot of points dropped all over this season. There are a lot of good teams."
Lybster made it two wins out of two in the second division as they hammered Thurso Pentland 9-1 at home.
Lewis Mackillop helped himself to a hat-trick and there were doubles for Gary Weir and Elliot Cormack, with Bobby Gunn and Gary Swanson also on target. Andy Adamson got a consolation goal for Pentland
Lybster, relegated last season, began their campaign with a 3-1 victory over Keiss at Cow Park on Friday in the Craig Banks memorial match.
Manager Cameron Mackenzie said: "It was a much better performance from last week. The players performed to their capabilities and I'm expecting to see that week in, week out from now on."
Top Joe’s drew one each with Keiss.
TJ's opened the scoring after five minutes with a close-range finish from Kevin MacGregor. Keiss deservedly equalised in the last 20 minutes through Sean Campbell.
Top Joe's manager Bruce Cormack said: "Keiss pushed on for a winner but a strong defensive performance made sure the points were shared, which was probably fair in the end."
Results: Friday – CAFA Division Two: Lybster 3, Keiss 1.
Monday – Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur 1, John O’Groats 0. Division Two: Swifts 2, Watten 0.
Tuesday – Division One: Staxigoe United 0, Wick Groats 4. Division Two: Lybster 9, Thurso Pentland 1; Top Joe’s 1, Keiss 1.
Fixtures: Wednesday, April 19 (both 6.30pm) – Division One: Acks v Wick Thistle; Castletown v Pentland United.
Saturday, April 22 – Highland Amateur Cup, preliminary round, north section (3pm unless stated): High Ormlie Hotspur v Pentland United; John O'Groats v Lairg Rovers (1pm); Keiss v Brora Wanderers (at Dunnet); Lochinver v Lybster; Thurso Swifts v Golspie Stafford; Watten v Lochbroom (at High Ormlie).
CAFA fixtures (all 6.45pm) – Monday, April 24 – Division One: Staxigoe United v Wick Thistle.
Tuesday, April 25 – Division One: John O'Groats v Castletown; Pentland United v Acks; Wick Groats v High Ormlie Hotspur.
Wednesday, April 26 – Division Two: Lybster v Swifts; Thurso Pentland v Keiss; Top Joe's v Watten.
Friday, April 28 – Division One: Castletown v Acks; High Ormlie Hotspur v Wick Thistle; John O'Groats v Wick Groats; Staxigoe United v Pentland United.
