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Acks looking to kick on after racking up second win in four days





Kuba Koziol fires in the fourth goal for Acks against Lybster on Monday night. Picture: James Gunn
Kuba Koziol fires in the fourth goal for Acks against Lybster on Monday night. Picture: James Gunn

Thurso Acks made it two wins in four days after a dominant second-half performance against Lybster.

Fresh from their Colin Macleod Memorial Cup semi-final victory over Thurso rivals Pentland on Friday, Acks picked up their second win of the season in Division One by beating the villagers 6-1 at the Dammies on Monday.

Only one goal separated the sides at the break but Acks took charge thereafter. Andrew Hardwick scored two headers, with Kyle Innes (penalty), Graham Bremner, Kuba Koziol and James Watson also on target.

Colin MacRae got Lybster's goal.

Kyle Innes scores Acks' first goal from the penalty spot. Picture: James Gunn
Kyle Innes scores Acks' first goal from the penalty spot. Picture: James Gunn

There was no let-up in Acks' goalkeeping crisis, with Darren Findlay the latest to have a go between the posts.

Player/co-manager Craig Trueman said: "The first half was a bit scrappy – both teams struggled to take control of the game.

"But towards the end of the first half we started to get the ball down and play a bit more and got a penalty towards the end of the half that Kyle Innes scored.

"In the second half we came flying out and put them under pressure straight away. Kuba scored a cracking goal, taking on a few of their defenders and finishing it nicely.

"Andrew scored two headers and was a threat in their box from set-pieces all night.

"From our second-half performance we definitely deserved the win. Every one of the boys put a shift in and hopefully we can kick on from here."

Graham Bremner beats Lybster goalkeeper Sean Milligan to score Acks' second goal on Monday night. Picture: James Gunn
Graham Bremner beats Lybster goalkeeper Sean Milligan to score Acks' second goal on Monday night. Picture: James Gunn

Trueman added: "We had another keeper again, Darren Findlay, who is actually part of our committee – so fair play to him for helping us out."

Lybster manager Cameron Mackenzie admitted there is no point in the players feeling sorry for themselves and he will be looking for a reaction in this weekend's Highland Amateur Cup tie against Wick Thistle.

"It was a disappointing result to say the least," Mackenzie said. "We had a good few match-day call-offs and it's frustrating when you are left with limited attacking options.

"I thought our players battled well for the first half and the game was fairly contested.

"In the second half we let in a couple of poor goals, coming from a lack of concentration, and our heads went down which has unfortunately been the story of our season so far.

"Credit to Acks, though – they have some good attacking talents. In the first division, when you make the mistakes that we did, you’re going to be punished – and that's exactly what they did.

"It has been a struggle this year so far with losing so many of our top players – but feeling sorry for ourselves won't get us anywhere. We have a massive match against Wick Thistle on Saturday in the Highland Amateur Cup and we need to start our season somewhere.

"Hopefully building on our positives from previous games, the lads will put in the shift of their lives and hopefully we can progress."

Lybster defender Colin MacRae battles with Graham Bremner of Acks. Picture: James Gunn
Lybster defender Colin MacRae battles with Graham Bremner of Acks. Picture: James Gunn

Korbyn Cameron scored the only goal of the Wick derby on Monday night as champions Groats got the better of Thistle at the Upper Bignold.

The win keeps up Groats' 100 per cent start to the league campaign.

Cameron thought he had put them in front in the first half only to be denied by a late offside decision.

The key moment came in the second period when substitute Sean Stewart beat Thistle's Danny Coghill out wide and whipped in a first-time cross that Cameron knocked in.

Thistle's Danny Coghill was sent off in the closing stages.

Two more Division One matches are scheduled for tonight and there is a full fixture list in Division Two on Wednesday. Castletown are leading the way in the promotion race and they will be looking to maintain their winning run when they take on Pentland.

Results: – Division One: Acks 6, Lybster 1; Wick Groats 1, Wick Thistle 0.

Fixtures: Tuesday – Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur v John O'Groats; Staxigoe United v Pentland United (both 7pm).

Wednesday – Division Two: Castletown v Pentland; Swifts v Top Joe's; Watten v Keiss (all 7pm).

Saturday – Highland Amateur Cup, north section, first round: Acks v Golspie Stafford; Dornoch City v Wick Groats; Helmsdale United v High Ormlie Hotspur; Inver v Lairg Rovers; Lochbroom v John O'Groats; Lochinver v Thurso Pentland; Lybster v Wick Thistle; Staxigoe United v Swifts; Top Joe's v Pentland United; Watten v Keiss.


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