County big guns share spoils at Bignold
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IT was honours even when Caithness County League giants Wick Groats and Pentland United battled it out in an exciting 2-2 draw at Bignold Park on Tuesday night.
Wick Groats took an early lead from the penalty spot thanks to James Mackay but the Dunnet side levelled when Lukasz Geruzel also converted from the penalty spot.
James Murray scored to give Pentland United the lead but Groats levelled through Sandy Sutherland in an entertaining first half.
United’s Darryn Mackay was sent off just before half-time after receiving a second yellow card and Groats dominated the second half with the visitors having Michael Gray to thank for rescuing a point as he pulled off a string of great saves.
Elsewhere in the top flight, John O’Groats continued their impressive start to the season with a 3-1 win away to Swifts. Grant Budge, Eddie Macgregor and Jimmy Budge scored for the league leaders with Ciaran Duffy grabbing a consolation for Swifts.
Acks destroyed town rivals Thurso Pentland 8-0 at the Dammies on Monday. Acks scored four in each half with Murray Mackintosh helping himself to a hat-trick, Paul Wares grabbing two and Jack Halliday, Kuba Koziol and Allan Munro adding singles. Pick of the bunch was Mackintosh’s second, a free kick which he lofted over the wall and into the top corner beyond the diving Lee Allan.
Staxigoe United picked up their first win of the season with a 4-1 victory over Halkirk at Recreation Park.
In Division Two, Lybster Phoenix stayed top after a 7-1 rout of Wick Thistle, with the league shaping into a two horse race between Lybster and Castletown. The latter continued their 100 per cent record after a 5-1 defeat of High Ormlie Hotspurs at Ormlie.
Watten recorded their best result of the season so far but still lost 6-1 to Francis Street Club at Bignold Park. Reece Byrne, Ross McLeod and Gordie Swanson all grabbed two goals each for the home side while Scott Christie grabbed the consolation.
Keiss grabbed their first win of the season, beating Top Joe’s 5-1 at the village with a hat-trick from James Sim with Mark Webster and Scott Cormack completing the rout.
Highland Amateur Cup second round: Avoch 12 Kyleakin 1; Golspie Stafford 5 Dounby Athletic 2; Harris 1 Carloway 7; John O’Groats 2 Rendall 2 (John O’Groats won 4-3 on pens); Kirkwall Hotspurs 0 Acks 3; Kyle 1 Kirkwall Rovers 3; Lochs 1 Stornoway United 7; Lybster 5 Top Joe’s 1; Maryburgh w/o Melvich; Pentland United w/o Castletown; Portree Juniors 2 Wick Thistle 3; Staxigoe Utd 8 Kirkwall United 1; South Ronaldsay w/o Kirkwall Thorfinn; Stornoway Athletic 0 Lochdar Saints 3; Westside 4 Benbecula 1; Wick Groats 7 Sleat & Strath 0
County Division One: Acks 8 Thurso Pentland 0; Halkirk 1 Staxigoe United 4; Swifts 1 John O’Groats 3; Wick Groats 2 Pentland United 2.
Division Two: FSC 6 Watten 1; High Ormlie Hotspurs 1 Castletown 5; Keiss 5 Top Joe’s 1.
Eann Mackintosh Cup first round: John O’ Groats 7 Top Joe’s 0; Thurso Pentland 0 Pentland United 7; Watten 0 Lybster 15; Halkirk 4 High Ormlie Hotspurs 0; Swifts 6 FSC 1; Castletown 2 Wick Groats 1; Keiss 1 Staxigoe United 7; Acks 3 Wick Thistle 0.
Fixtures: tonight (7.00) – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup: John O’ Groats v Castletown; Lybster v FSC; Pentland United v Staxigoe United, Wick Groats v Acks.
Monday (7.15) – Division One – Thurso Swifts v Wick Groats. Division Two – Castletown v Keiss; Top Joe’s v Lybster; Watten v Wick Thistle.
Tuesday (7.15) – Division One – Halkirk v Acks; John O’Groats v Staxigoe United; Thurso Pentland v Pentland United. Division Two – FSC v High Ormlie Hotspurs.
