Highland Amateur Cup holders High Ormlie Hotspur ready for tough test in Orkney
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Co-manager Liam Sutherland says High Ormlie Hotspur will be looking to carry on the belief from their previous Highland Amateur Cup achievements when they cross the Pentland Firth this weekend for a second-round clash against one of the leading teams in Orkney.
The holders take on Kirkwall Hotspurs in the last 32 of the competition, having knocked out last year's beaten finalists Pentland United in a preliminary tie before overcoming Thurso Acks in round one.
High Ormlie go into the match in good spirits, having beaten Staxigoe United 3-2 on Tuesday night in Caithness AFA Division One.
“It's going to be really tough," Sutherland said. "They are one of the best teams in Orkney this season and a lot of their boys play for Orkney in the North Caledonian League.
"It's a very strong team. We've just got to do the same as we've been doing in every round so far, and carry on that same belief.
“We've got a decent travelling support coming over with us so hopefully they will spur us on as well.”
Sutherland added: "We had a tough game against Pentland United on Friday [a 2-1 defeat] which I really thought we deserved something from. I thought we were excellent.
“We didn't get the result on Friday so we had to carry the same level of performance into Tuesday night and we managed to do that. Hopefully that has lifted morale and put us in good stead for our game on Saturday."
Upper Bignold Park is the setting for the Wick derby between Groats and Thistle.
Groats go into the game after moving to the top of Caithness AFA Division One with their midweek victory over Pentland United. The Jags were held to a goalless draw by Castletown on Monday, having seen their unbeaten start come to an end with a 1-0 defeat at John O'Groats on Friday.
Groats and Thistle drew 1-1 when they met in a league fixture on May 17.
“They will probably feel they should have won that game," Groats manager Kevin Anderson said. "They should have been a couple up at half-time, but on the flip side we had the better of the second half.
“It's going to be a very tough game on Saturday but it's one we are very much looking forward to. There are a few boys with knocks so we'll need to assess them.”
Wick Thistle hope to have Steven Sutherland and Kyle Henderson back for the cup tie.
"It's a big one," player/manager Owen Harrold said. "Hopefully we can get a reaction, because we know we can play much better than we've been playing in the last couple of games.
"We have big players to come back in. Hopefully we can get back to playing some good football."
Keiss are flying the flag for the Caithness second division. They have a long trip to neutral Ullapool for a 1pm kick-off against Carloway, from the Western Isles.
Keiss manager Bradley Thomson said: "My knowledge of Carloway is very limited. However, the expectation is that they'll be a very good side. They won't know much about us either, which is also a good thing.
"Travelling is a big part of the Highland Amateur Cup and it's a good trip for everyone involved with the club. It's an early start for all the lads but we will be ready."
Keiss were boosted by a 4-1 league win against table-topping Lybster on Monday night.
"The victory was perfect preparation for the game at the weekend," Thomson said. "We will approach the game on Saturday in the exact same way."
Castletown manager Tom McKenna has been using his contacts to gather information on their Shetland opponents Lerwick Celtic. The teams meet in a 2pm kick-off at Back Park.
"We've just got to go out and look after ourselves and take care of matters that concern us, irrespective of who they are and how they play," McKenna said. "The Highland Amateur Cup means a lot to the football club and we're hoping for a good crowd."
Results – CAFA Division One: Acks 2, John O'Groats 1; Castletown 2, Wick Groats 4; High Ormlie Hotspur 1, Pentland United 2; John O'Groats 1, Wick Thistle 0; Pentland United 1, Wick Groats 2; Staxigoe United 4, Acks 2; Staxigoe United 2, High Ormlie Hotspur 3; Wick Thistle 0, Castletown 0.
Division Two: Keiss 4, Lybster 1; Top Joe's 1, Swifts 2; Watten 8, Thurso Pentland 1.
Fixtures – Thursday, June 1 – Division Two: Watten v Lybster (7.30pm).
Saturday, June 3 – Highland Amateur Cup, round two, ties involving Caithness clubs: Castletown v Lerwick Celtic (2pm); Keiss v Carloway (at Ullapool, 1pm); Kirkwall Hotspurs v High Ormlie Hotspur (3pm); Wick Groats v Wick Thistle (3pm).
Tuesday, June 6 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, first round: High Ormlie Hotspur v John O'Groats; Pentland United v Swifts; Thurso Pentland v Acks; Watten v Wick Groats (all 7.15pm).
Thursday, June 8 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, first round: Castletown v Lybster; Staxigoe United v Top Joe's (both 7.15pm).
