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Budge keeps John O'Groats ahead of the pack


By Will Clark

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Halkirk’s Stevie Campbell clears the ball from danger with an overhead kick as Kuba Koziol closes in.
Halkirk’s Stevie Campbell clears the ball from danger with an overhead kick as Kuba Koziol closes in.

Jimmy Budge scored the only goal of the game for the home side as JOG, regular top-three finishers in recent seasons, bid for their first league title.

Defending champions Wick Groats recovered from dropping their first points of the season in last week’s 2-2 draw with Pentland United with a 5-0 thrashing of Swifts at The Dammies.

Two goals each from Graham MacNab and Sean Stewart, along with an individual contribution from Grant MacNab, kept the pressure up on JOG.

Pentland United moved up to third after a 2-0 win at Thurso Pentland, with Martyn Cook and Mark Nichol securing the points for the Dunnet side.

The Dunnet outfit leapfrogged Acks who went down 3-2 at Halkirk.

It is a two horse race in Division Two, both Castletown and Lybster Phoenix went goal crazy once again to maintain their 100 per cent records.

At Back Park, a hat-trick from Pher Nicolson together with goals from Martyn Campbell, Liam Mackay, Danny Mackay and Jordan McKechnie secured a 7-0 win against Keiss.

Phoenix bagged six against Top Joe’s in Thurso with Steven Anderson netting a brace and goals from Graham Sutherland, Jonah Martens, Roy Weir and an own goal capping off another impressive performance.

The other two Wick sides in the division also tasted victory with Francis Street Club beating High Ormlie Hotspurs 3-0 with goals from Ross McLeod, Gordy Swanson and Craig Manson.

Wick Thistle inflicted another heavy defeat on whipping boys Watten. Greg Gunn struck twice with goals from Jamie Howden, Liam Farquhar, Ryan Banks, Alan Ferrier, Alan McGee and an own goal completing an 8-0 rout.

JOG avoided an upset when they met division two high flyers Castletown to book their place in the semi-final of the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup.

Marc Keith, Jimmy Budge and Eddie MacGregor scored in their 3-1 win Liam Mackay replying for Castletown.

Wick Groats also booked their place in the semi-final after a tough 2-1 victory against Thurso Academicals at Bignold Park. Graham MacNab and Stewart Ross scored for Groats, with Graham Bremner responding for Acks.

Pentland United romped to victory at Ham Park with a comprehensive 4-1 triumph against Staxigoe United.

James Murray, who is reportedly in discussions about joining Wick Academy next season, scored twice along with goals from Lukasz Geruzel and Ross Allan. John Budge was on target for Staxigoe.

Lybster Phoenix kept up their impressive form with a 7-0 win against Francis Street Club to ensure the second division is represented in the last four.

n OF the seven Caithness sides looking to advance in the Highland Amateur Cup, just one is at home in tomorrow’s third round action.

Pentland United, who have won the cup a record seven times, entertain Wick Thistle in the only all-county clash. United, who controversially secured a bye in the last round after scheduled opponents Castletown could not raise a side for the rescheduled kick-off time, will go in as firm favourites to get the better of their Division two opponents.

Acks face their second successive trip to Kirkwall and will be looking to add the scalp of Rovers to Hotspurs, whom they defeated 3-0 in the last round.

County division one leaders John O’Groats face a tough test away to Golspie Stafford while last year’s cup runners-up Wick Groats are likely to be stretched away to Maryburgh.

Staxigoe United and Lybster both face Western Isles opposition in the form of Lochs and Westside respectively at neutral venues in easter Ross.

Arguably the tie of the round will take place at Culbokie where defending champions Avoch will not have it easy against Lewis and Harris League leaders Carloway.

Results: Division One – Halkirk 3 Thurso Acks 2; John O’Groats 1 Staxigoe 0; Swifts 0 Wick Groats 5; Thurso Pentland 0 Pentland United 2.

Division Two – Castletown 7 Keiss 0; FSC 3 HoH 0; Top Joe’s 0 Lybster 6; Watten 0 Wick Thistle 8.

Colin Macleod quarter-finals – John O’ Groats 3 Castletown 1; Lybster Phoenix 7 FSC 0. Wick Groats 2 Acks 1; Pentland United 4 Staxigoe United 1.

Fixtures: tomorrow – Highland Amateur Cup third round: Golspie Stafford v John O’Groats (2pm); Lybster Phoenix v Westside (in Invergordon, 12.30pm); Kirkwall Rovers v Acks (12.30pm); Maryburgh v Wick Groats (2pm); Pentland United v Wick Thistle (2pm); Staxigoe United v Lochs (Muir of Ord 12.30pm).

Monday (7.30pm) – Division One – Acks v John O’Groats; Pentland United v Halkirk; Staxigoe United v Swifts. Division Two – High Ormlie Hotspurs v Watten.

Wednesday (7.30pm) – Division One – Wick Groats v Thurso Pentland. Division Two – Keiss v FSC, Lybster v Castletown, Wick Thistle v Top Joe’s.


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