Anderson praises Wick Groats' game management as Loch Ness get hot and bothered
Wick Groats manager Kevin Anderson praised the game management shown by his players as they came out on top in a feisty encounter with Loch Ness in the Highland Amateur Cup.
The holders progressed to the last 16 with a 4-2 victory over the Inverness Premier Division champions on a scorcher of a day at Bught Park. Loch Ness had two players red-carded in the closing stages.
Groats won the tournament in 2019 for the fourth time in seven years and they underlined their cup pedigree with Saturday's result.
Ross Mackay put Groats ahead only for Loch Ness to hit back and go 2-1 up. Graham MacNab levelled from the penalty spot before half-time after Korbyn Cameron was brought down by the keeper.
Alan Mathieson put Groats in front again early in the second period when he cut in from the left, beat an opponent and fired it into the bottom left-hand corner. Graham MacNab effectively killed the game when he scored from the spot again.
Anderson said: "It was a great result for us in mega-tough conditions with the heat.
"In the first half there wasn’t too much football being played. To be honest it was quite a fiery affair which was threatening to boil over.
"The second half was much better. We started playing our football and went 3-2 up with a great goal from Alan.
"We didn’t really look back from there on in. We were in control of the game for most of the second half.
"We were good all over but our midfield three of Kyle Ross, Cameron Mackintosh and Grant MacNab need a special mention. I thought they were absolutely outstanding with the workrate and quality they produced in sweltering conditions.
"Our game management was very good, especially when Loch Ness started to lose their discipline. In the final five minutes a couple of their lads got their marching orders and our boys did well not to get involved.
"We’ve gone to Inverness and knocked out the Inverness champions. By all accounts they had fancied themselves very strongly to win the competition, so we had a very happy bus going home."
Groats will face Staxigoe United in a local derby in round three.
Third-round draw: Avoch v Kirkwall Hotspurs; Black Rock Rovers v Golspie Stafford; Iochdar Saints v High Ormlie Hotspur; IRN Security v Sleat and Strath; Pentland United v Lairg Rovers; Ness v Carloway; Stromness Athletic v Wick Thistle; Wick Groats v Staxigoe United (ties to be played on Saturday, June 25).
Quarter-final draw: Stromness Athletic or Wick Thistle v Pentland United or Lairg Rovers; Black Rock Rovers or Golspie Stafford v Iochdar Saints or High Ormlie Hotspur; Ness or Carloway v Avoch or Kirkwall Hotspurs; IRN Security or Sleat and Strath v Wick Groats or Staxigoe United (ties to be played on Saturday, July 16).
Results – Highland Amateur Cup, round two (ties involving Caithness clubs): High Ormlie Hotspur 4, Lochinver 1; Loch Ness 2, Wick Groats 4; Pentland United 4, Kirkwall Thorfinn 0; Staxigoe United 4, Lochbroom 2; Watten 0, Iochdar Saints 4 (Bught Park, Inverness); Wick Thistle 2, Ardersier 0.
Fixtures – Tuesday, June 7 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-finals: John O'Groats v Pentland United; Staxigoe United v Top Joe's (both 7.15pm).
Colin Macleod Memorial Cup, quarter-final: Castletown v Wick Groats (7.15pm).
Thursday, June 9 – Caithness AFA Division One: Wick Thistle v High Ormlie Hotspur. Division Two: Castletown v Top Joe's; Pentland v Keiss; Watten v Swifts (all 7.30pm).
Friday, June 10 – Division One: John O'Groats v Acks; Pentland United v Lybster; Staxigoe United v Wick Groats (all 7.30pm).