‘Every player put in a great shift’: Halkirk knock Wick Groats out of David Allan Shield
Halkirk co-manager Michael Bremner admitted a first-round tie against Wick Groats in the David Allan Shield seemed like “a free hit” for the second division outfit.
But the village side kept up their fine run with a surprise 3-2 victory to earn a home match against Keiss in the quarter-finals at the end of the month.
Owen Cannop grabbed a first-minute opener for Halkirk. Liam Bremner equalised for top-flight Groats but an Owen Lockhart header put the home team 2-1 up at the break.
Lockhart scored with another header before Jonah Martens reduced the deficit.
Michael Bremner said: “We went in just wanting to continue the good performances that we’ve had in the last few weeks.
“It felt like it was a free hit, as you don’t expect to get much out of a game against Wick Groats. But scoring in the first minute gave us a boost and a bit of confidence to feel we could get something.
“Every player put in a great shift and we had a really good shape that limited their chances. We rode our luck a couple of times but you need that against a team like Wick Groats.
“We look forward to playing Keiss now in the next round. We’ve beaten them already this year in the Eain Mackintosh Cup but they beat us a good few times last season, so we’re expecting a good tight game.”
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There were goals galore across the county on Tuesday and Wednesday, with a total of 49 in the seven David Allan Shield matches – an average of seven goals per game.
Lybster progressed following an astonishing encounter with John O’Groats that ended 8-4 after extra time. There was a hat-trick for Lybster’s Robbie Murray.
Castletown gained a measure of revenge for their Stannergill Cup final loss to Staxigoe United with a 2-1 win in Wick. Goals by Kian Mackay and Harvey Labor put Castletown two up before Cameron Sutherland pulled one back.
David Allan Shield quarter-finals, revised draw (ties on Friday, July 25): Halkirk v Keiss; High Ormlie Hotspur v Lybster; Pentland United v Watten; Wick Thistle v Castletown.
Staxigoe United’s league match against Castletown has been moved from Wednesday to Tuesday next week to avoid a clash with Wick Academy’s friendly against Caley Thistle.
Caithness Ladies travel to Portgordon on Sunday for a top-of-the-table clash with Buckie in the SWF Highlands and Islands League. Buckie are three points clear with a game in hand.
Results – Saturday – Eain Mackintosh Cup final: Castletown 0, Pentland United 5.
Tuesday – David Allan Shield, round one: Acks 0, High Ormlie Hotspur 9; Pentland United 4, Thurso Pentland 0; Watten 11, Top Joe’s 0; Wick Thistle 3, Swifts 2.
Wednesday – David Allan Shield, round one: Halkirk 3, Wick Groats 2; Lybster 8, John O’Groats 4 (AET); Staxigoe United 1, Castletown 2.
Fixtures – Friday, July 11 – Steven Cup quarter-finals, first leg: Acks v Watten; Top Joe’s v Thurso Pentland; Wick Thistle v Swifts (all 7.15pm).
Saturday, July 12 – Highland Amateur Cup quarter-final: High Ormlie Hotspur v Maryburgh (3pm). Friendly: Wick Academy v Invergordon (1pm).
Sunday, July 13 – SWF Highlands and Islands League: Buckie v Caithness (noon, Portgordon).
Monday, July 14 – Steven Cup quarter-final, second leg: Thurso Pentland v Top Joe’s (7.15pm).
Tuesday, July 15 – Steven Cup quarter-finals, second leg: Swifts v Wick Thistle; Watten v Acks (both 7.15pm). Division One: Staxigoe United v Castletown (7.30pm).
Wednesday, July 16 – Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur v John O’Groats; Keiss v Pentland United; Lybster v Wick Groats (all 7.30pm). Friendly: Wick Academy v Inverness Caledonian Thistle (7pm, Harmsworth Park).
CAFA standings – Division One: 1 Pentland United (played 10, points 28); 2 Wick Groats (10, 22); 3 High Ormlie Hotspur (10, 22); 4 Staxigoe United (10, 14); 5 Lybster (9, 12); 6 John O’Groats (9, 8); 7 Castletown (10, 4); 8 Keiss (10, 3).
Division Two: 1 Wick Thistle (played 10, points 30); 2 Thurso Pentland (10, 19); 3 Acks (9, 15); 4 Watten (10, 11); 5 Halkirk (9, 8); 6 Swifts (9, 6); 7 Top Joe’s (9, 0). Halkirk deducted six points for playing an ineligible player in two league fixtures.