Blunden keeps his cool as John O'Groats knock out cup holders Wick Groats
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Andrew Blunden's nerveless spot-kick sent John O'Groats through to the quarter-finals of the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup at the expense of the holders and reigning county league champions Wick Groats.
Co-manager Grant Budge hailed it as "a big result" for the villagers – and insisted there was never any doubt that Blunden was the right man to take the decisive penalty.
The substitute, playing only his second game for John O'Groats since returning from Australia, sealed a 6-5 shoot-out triumph after Monday night's first-round tie ended 1-1 at the 90-minute mark.
“He is a cool guy and a confident guy," Budge said. "When it came down to looking for someone to score a penalty to win it, he was an easy choice for us.”
The result means Wick Groats will be unable to replicate the clean sweep of honours they achieved in the last Caithness AFA season, in 2019. John O'Groats' reward is an away tie against Castletown next week.
The strong wind was a big factor at Upper Bignold Park.
John O'Groats took the lead after 15 minutes with a 30-yard free kick from Saleem Bremner.
Wick Groats levelled on the half-hour mark when they seized on a mistake in midfield and Liam Bremner slotted the ball home.
The shoot-out was poised at 5-5 after a diving save by Andrew Gow. Blunden then stepped up and passed the ball into the net to send his team through.
Budge said: “To go into a cup game and be able to beat Wick Groats with the players they have available, it's a big result for us. They have taken in Liam Bremner, Jonah Martens and Alan Mathieson so they really have strengthened."
The co-manager believes the eight-team first division will be closely contested this season.
“It is going to be a tight league campaign," Budge said. "I think the league is as strong as it has been for the last seven, eight, maybe even 10 years.
"Normally there is at least one weak link that you're looking at in that league, but I don't think there is a weak team this season.”
Wick Groats manager Kevin Anderson said: "We had a few half-chances in the second half to win it, but it wasn't to be. The conditions spoiled the game but fair play to John O'Groats – they battled hard against the wind in the second half."
Caithness AFA results – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup, round one: Keiss 0, Staxigoe United 11; Lybster 0, Pentland United 6; Top Joe's 0, Castletown 7; Watten 2, Thurso Pentland 3; Wick Groats 1, John O'Groats 1 (JOG won 6-5 on penalties); Wick Thistle 0, High Ormlie Hotspur 1.
Fixtures – Saturday, April 23 – Highland Amateur Cup, north section, preliminary round: Golspie Stafford v Castletown (3pm).
Tuesday, April 26 – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup, quarter-finals: Keiss or Staxigoe United v Pentland United; Castletown v John O'Groats; High Ormlie Hotspur v Pentland (all 6.30pm).
Thursday, April 28 – Division Two: Keiss v Top Joe's; Watten v Pentland; Swifts v Castletown (all 6.45pm).
Friday, April 29 – Division One: Wick Groats v Acks; High Ormlie Hotspur v Pentland United; John O'Groats v Wick Thistle; Lybster v Staxigoe United (all 6.45pm).
