Groats boss relieved after extra-time thriller
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Wick Groats boss Kevin Anderson was a relieved man as his side made the last four of the David Allan Shield after a titanic struggle against Pentland United.
The two rivals have been slugging it out all season for the major prizes, and yet again Groats were victorious – edging a 4-3 thriller after extra time.
Mark Macadie gave them an early lead only for Pentland to level via Cameron Montgomery.
A Graham MacNab penalty and a further strike from Sandy Sutherland gave Groats what looked like an unassailable 3-1 lead.
Pentland, though, had something to say about that as they hit back to level through James McLean and Michael Petrie and had their rivals clinging on for dear life at the end.
Groats managed to regroup for extra time and booked a semi-final tie away to Lybster thanks to MacNab's winner.
Anderson said: "Pentland United probably feel that they could have won.
"Overall, when you take extra time into the mix, we deserved to win. But when they got back to 3-3, the momentum was clearly with them and we were backs to the wall, doing our best to hold them off.
"Thankfully, we managed to get a second wind for extra time and looked more like our old selves.
"However, given the start we had to the second half, we should have killed the game off at 3-1 because we spurned a great chance to score a fourth. As so often happens when you miss an opportunity like that, it comes back to haunt you.
"But we're through, and although we will be favourites against Lybster, we know exactly how dangerous they are so we must be at our best."
It was also goals galore at Cow Park where Lybster's Jonah Martens smashed in five as his side saw off Thurso Acks in an enthralling encounter that finished 5-4.
Acks' goals came via Kuba Koziol, Charlie Fraser, David Hale and Louis Webster.
Lybster skipper Bobby Gunn said: "Jonah absolutely outdid himself. You can see why Wick Academy are looking at him because he was outstanding.
"It was an exciting game and, while people will question the defences of the two teams, I would say it was more a case of good attacking play being the main factor.
"We've a tough semi-final draw with Wick Groats next up. We'll give it our best shot but we know that we need to have a good day and catch them on a bad one."
The other semi-final will be contested between Staxigoe United and Thurso Pentland with the latter producing the shock of the round.
A Thurso derby saw the Division Two side paired up against Swifts from the top tier.
Despite falling a goal down to Mike Maclean's strike, Thurso Pentland battled back with Brandon MacLeod, Ewan Scott and Scott Ross all on target for a 3-1 win.
Thurso Pentland boss Scott Davidson said: "All credit to the whole squad. Every one of them stepped up and performed.
"We know Swifts have had their issues of late but it was up to us – especially after going a goal behind – to take the initiative.
"We've Staxigoe in the next round and we have the incentive of making amends for our heavy defeat to them [0-9] in the Eain Mackintosh Cup earlier this season.
"They played very well that day and, although we had some key players out, they are no excuses from us. But first and foremost, there's a place in the final to be won."
Staxigoe manager Andrew Banks is not anticipating a repeat of the 9-0 thrashing his side dished out the last time they met Thurso Pentland.
United eased into the semi-finals thanks to a 4-0 win against High Ormlie Hotspur with Grant Aitkenhead, Chrissie Green, Martin Banks and Kyle Henderson all on the mark.
Banks said: "Thurso Pentland will be dangerous. We had a convincing win against them the last time we played each other but they had a few players missing so I'll not be reading anything into that.
"As for our quarter-final, Spurs have given us problems in the past but we played very well – especially in the first half. The scoreline perhaps flattered us a bit but everyone did their job and I'm delighted that we're in the last four."
