CAFA chief unhappy with match call-offs
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Caithness 1
Orkney 2
CAITHNESS AFA president Murray Coghill hit out at a number of call-offs that depleted his side’s numbers before their Archer Shield defeat to Orkney.
They went down 2-1 at Thurso, a result that ensured Orkney completed a hat-trick of Archer Shield victories.
A long-range screamer from Owen Rendall and a good finish from Thorfinn Stout put the Orcadians 2-0 up. Despite the visitors having Kyle Drever sent off, all Caithness could muster by way of a comeback was Gavin Sinclair’s injury-time consolation.
Caithness had put up a brave performance in the first half but were chasing shadows against a more organised Orkney side after the interval.
However, Caithness’s cause was not helped by an alarming number of call-offs prior to the match.
Coghill said: “We had about seven or eight missing. Some genuinely couldn’t make it, like Sandy Sutherland who found out early last week that his work needed him in on the day of the game. That’s fair enough.
“But others let us know very late in the day that they had tickets to a pop festival that weekend and were going to that instead.
“And one other player – who shall remain nameless – didn’t even bother to turn up at all. No call ahead or since to explain why.
“Thankfully, we managed to get in some replacements and well done to them for coming along at short notice and playing as well as they did.
“Orkney looked a very good side. You can tell that they’ve played alongside each other for some time now as they worked well as a unit. However, I suspect Orkney take the Archer Shield much more seriously than some of our lads do. This is a build-up for them ahead of when they play Lerwick.
“The Archer Shield used to be a big occasion with Caithness boys eager and proud to play for their county. It doesn’t feel that way today.”
Meanwhile, Orkney boss Karl Adamson was delighted to complete an Archer Shield treble – despite the scare that Drever’s red card gave him.
He said: “No complaints with the sending off at all. Referees have a tough job and he was correct to send Kyle off.
“Being down to 10 men did make things tricky, though, and gave them a window to get back into the game.
“The first half was very even but then in the second we had a 15-minute spell where we got our goals. The pitch was a bit bumpy but that was the same for both teams.
“But we’re very pleased to win the shield, especially as our recent record in Caithness over the years hasn’t been too great.”
