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Hotspur aiming to replicate their best Highland Amateur Cup form





Ryan Sutherland Snr is mobbed by team-mates after his early opener for High Ormlie Hotspur against Black Rock Rovers in the quarter-finals. Picture: James Gunn
Ryan Sutherland Snr is mobbed by team-mates after his early opener for High Ormlie Hotspur against Black Rock Rovers in the quarter-finals. Picture: James Gunn

High Ormlie Hotspur will be up against “strong, physical, streetwise” opponents when they take on holders Avoch in the semi-finals of the Highland Amateur Cup on Saturday.

The match at Culbokie is a clash between the two most recent winners of the competition. High Ormlie lifted the trophy in 2022 by beating Pentland United on penalties, then Avoch beat Wick Groats 1-0 in last year’s final.

Hotspur player/co-manager Ryan Sutherland Jnr will miss the game against the Inverness and District FA Premier Division champions but he is confident his team-mates can maintain their excellent Highland Amateur Cup form.

High Ormlie had a couple of setbacks last week, with defeats to Wick Groats in Caithness AFA Division One and to Staxigoe United in the David Allan Shield.

“With a mixture of injuries, suspensions and holidays, results have dipped recently,” Sutherland said. “I would say overall the boys that have come in have done really well and performances have been good – it’s just the results.

“It isn’t easy for any summer league team. If you’re missing four or five boys from a starting line-up, any team is going to struggle.

“This weekend is a great opportunity for the boys to show what they’re all about.

“Obviously Avoch are a very good, strong, physical, streetwise outfit, so it’s going to be a really difficult game.

“Our cup run, like two years ago, shows that we should absolutely be in and about Highland Amateur Cup semi-finals and finals. After putting out the likes of Wick Groats, going over to Kirkwall Thorfinn and beating a really strong Black Rock side, I feel we’re exactly where we should be as a club.

“I’m just hoping that with the boys that are available for Saturday we can go on and replicate that. But it’s not going to be easy against a very strong Avoch side.”

Castletown and Lybster drew 1-1 in Wednesday night’s only league game. Gary Swanson’s goal for Lybster was cancelled out by Michael Smith.

The result confirms that Castletown will remain in the top flight as they will finish above the play-off spot regardless of results in the last two rounds of fixtures.

Results – David Allan Shield, quarter-finals: Staxigoe United 4, High Ormlie Hotspur 1 (at Lybster); Swifts 2, Keiss 6; Wick Groats 4, John O’Groats 1; Wick Thistle 0, Pentland United 7.

CAFA Division One: Castletown 1, Lybster 1. Division Two: Swifts 2, Pentland 0; Top Joe’s 4, Acks 5.

David Allan Shield, semi-finals: Wick Groats 4, Keiss 3; Pentland United 1, Staxigoe United 2.

Fixtures – Thursday, August 1 – CAFA Division Two: Pentland v Halkirk.

Saturday, August 3 – Highland Amateur Cup, semi-finals: High Ormlie Hotspur v Avoch (at Culbokie, 3pm); Stornoway Athletic v Pentland United (at Culbokie, noon).

Steven Cup final: Acks v Keiss (at Lybster, 3.30pm).

Tuesday, August 6 – Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur v Staxigoe United; John O’Groats v Lybster; Wick Groats v Pentland United. Division Two: Halkirk v Acks (all 7pm).

Wednesday, August 7 – Division One: Wick Thistle v Castletown (7pm).

Thursday, August 8 – Division Two: Halkirk v Pentland; Swifts v Keiss; Top Joe’s v Watten (all 7pm).


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