Class tells as Groats brush derby rivals aside
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Wick Thistle 1 Wick Groats 5
A LOCAL derby this might have been but the divisional gap proved decisive as Groats advanced into round two of the Highland Amateur Cup.
It wasn't as if Thistle were overrun and steamrollered by their Division One opponents – they actually made a decent fist of it, despite the scoreline.
However, there is only so much you can do when you don't have the ball and Groats kept it close to their chests as if it were a valuable diamond.
Two goals each from Ryan Campbell and Sean Stewart with the other coming via Mark Macadie wrapped up victory for them, with Thistle's consolation coming from Greg Gunn.
Groats will now play Barra in the next round while Thistle are free to concentrate on their promotion push.
From the start it was clear the way this game was going to go. Groats not giving Thistle a sniff of the ball except for home goalie Jack Duncan who pulled off saves to deny Campbell and Ben Sinclair.
However, Duncan was let down by his defence who were caught napping when Campbell rose unmarked to head in from close range.
Thistle ran and chased down everything but Groats have dominated the Caithness scene for a reason and continued to stroke the ball around at will, looking to exploit any gaps that opened up.
They did so in a five-minute spell that brought about two goals.
The first of those came when Stewart burst through the middle and into the box to coolly slot the ball past Duncan.
Campbell bagged his second of the day when Macadie picked him out with a defence-splitting diagonal ball and the Groats striker didn't need to be asked twice to make it 3-0.
You were starting to fear for Thistle when they conceded a fourth three minutes into the second half – a goal which no doubt caused home full-back Ross Mackay to ask his fellow defenders, "Where were you?"
Mackay had burst a gut sprinting from distance to pull off a superb sliding tackle to stop Macadie bearing in on goal. Unfortunately for him, his team-mates, instead of following up to clear, just stood back gaping in awe at his tackle.
This delay allowed Macadie to recover and curl in a beauty past the despairing Duncan.
Thistle did have something to cheer about when a cross from the right was headed back across goal by Ross McAdie and volleyed in from close range by Greg Gunn.
Normal service was restored with eight minutes left as Groats netted their fifth as Thistle failed to clear their lines, leaving Stewart to drive in a low shot.
Wick Thistle: Jack Duncan, Ross Mackay, Lewis Gow (Rikki Cormack 45), Greg Mackay, Richie Budge, Owen Christie, Ross McAdie, Colin Henstridge (Gary Mackenzie 76), Ross Davidson (Andy Falconer 55), Marc Gunn (Steven Budge 70), Greg Gunn (Steven Hughes 76).
Wick Groats: Graeme Williamson, Scott Risbridger (Brandon Sinclair 50), Sean Stewart, Alan Sinclair, John Budge (Jack McKechnie 55), Kyle Ross (Lewis Harold 55), Ryan Campbell, Ben Sinclair (Conor Farquhar 75), Sandy Sutherland, Stewart Ross (Gavin Sinclair 45), Mark Macadie.
Possession is nine-tenths of Wick Groats' cup progression
Possession was key, Wick Groats boss Kevin Anderson said after his side booked themselves a Highland Amateur Cup tie with Barra.
A thumping 5-1 defeat was dished out to town rivals Wick Thistle at Upper Bignold with a superb first-half display inflicting much of the damage.
Central to Groats' victory was their ability to retain the ball as their opponents rarely saw it.
Anderson said: "It turned out to be an easy afternoon. To be honest we expected a tough game but it was still feisty – a typical Wick derby.
"We were missing a couple of players for this one but those we did have available to us did well.
"Our passing and maintaining of possession was excellent. Thistle didn't play badly but you win games when you deny your opponents the ball.
Our passing and maintaining of possession was excellent. Thistle didn't play badly but you win games when you deny your opponents the ball.
"We've been working a lot on our passing. We're a very good passing side – where we struggle is when the pitch and weather conditions aren't ideal, but it was a good surface out there and the boys took advantage of that.
"Mark Macadie especially stood out with his performance. It's good to see young lads come in and take their chance.
"First half was excellent, second was okay, but it's always hard to pick up the momentum after half-time. The only complaint we have was Alan Sinclair having to go off after doing his groin. He might be out for a couple of weeks with that injury."
Groats have been drawn away to Barra but won't have to make the long journey to the Hebridean island.
Anderson added: "As with ties against island teams, a neutral venue will be used. I don't know where, but it will more than likely be in Inverness-shire.
"What I do know about Barra is that they are a very good side who won the treble in their own league over in the Western Isles."
Thistle boss Alan Farquhar conceded that his side were very much second best and that their main priority now is winning promotion to the top flight.
He said: "Groats are a powerful team and it was quite expected, to be honest with you.
"We conceded a couple of soft goals and it was all downhill from there. We were a lot more positive in the second half but maybe Groats took their foot off the pedal a bit.
"When you don't see the ball much, there is more pressure on you to do something decisive when you do get it. We were giving the ball away to them too easily – you make the game hard for yourself when you do that.
"Disappointing though this is, promotion to Division One is our main aim and that's what we've got to focus on right now."
