Damage was done in first half, admits High Ormlie Hotspur co-manager
Co-manager Liam Sutherland admitted High Ormlie Hotspur never got going as they slumped to a 5-0 defeat against title-chasing Wick Groats this week.
The Caithness AFA Division One encounter at Ormlie came just over a fortnight after Hotspur hammered Groats 6-0 in the Eain Mackintosh Cup final.
Sutherland says the targets now are to finish third in the league and go as far as they can in the David Allan Shield, the last remaining county knockout tournament.
Wick Groats were four up at half-time on Tuesday night with doubles from Steven Anderson (including a penalty) and Alan Mathieson. Brandon Sinclair completed the scoring in the second half.
"We never really got started at all," Sutherland said. "Groats are obviously going for the league and you could see that right from the start as they grabbed a few early goals, so we have to give them full credit.
"I thought the second half was a bit better from us. We controlled more of the ball, which was better to see, but the damage was already done in the first half.
"We lost Kuba Koziol to injury early in the first half, which was frustrating, because he has been excellent this season and had started the game really well.
"We've just got to pick ourselves up and try to finish the season as strongly as we can. We can still finish third in the league and hopefully we can get another good cup run."
Results – Caithness AFA Division One: Acks 0, Pentland United 6; Castletown 1, John O'Groats 2; High Ormlie Hotspur 0, Wick Groats 5; Staxigoe United 3, Wick Thistle 1; Wick Thistle 3, Staxigoe United 2. Division Two: Thurso Pentland 0, Swifts 5; Top Joe's 3, Lybster 3; Watten 1, Keiss 6.
Steven Cup, semi-finals: Lybster 7, Watten 0; Swifts 1, Keiss 0. Ken Green Challenge Cup: Orkney AFA 3, Wick Academy 0.
Fixtures – Friday, July 28 – David Allan Shield, quarter-finals: Castletown v Acks; High Ormlie Hotspur v Top Joe's; Staxigoe United v Pentland United (at Lybster); Wick Thistle v Wick Groats (all 7pm).
Saturday, July 29 – Highland League: Banks O' Dee v Wick Academy (3pm).
Tuesday, August 1 – David Allan Shield, semi-finals: High Ormlie Hotspur or Top Joe's v Castletown or Acks; Staxigoe United or Pentland United v Wick Thistle or Wick Groats (both 7pm).
Saturday, August 5 – Steven Cup final: Lybster v Swifts (Cow Park, Lybster, kick-off 12 noon).
Highland Amateur Cup, semi-final: Stromness Athletic v Wick Groats (Back Park, Castletown, 2.30pm).
Highland League: Wick Academy v Deveronvale (3pm).