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‘I’m not surprised we’ve taken a big scalp’: Top-four target for Lybster





Lewis Gill (left), in action here against Wick Thistle, scored twice in Lybster’s midweek victory over Wick Groats. Picture: Alan Hendry
Lewis Gill (left), in action here against Wick Thistle, scored twice in Lybster’s midweek victory over Wick Groats. Picture: Alan Hendry

Lybster are targeting a top-four finish in Caithness AFA Division One after getting the better of Wick Groats in a seven-goal thriller at Cow Park.

Manager Cameron Mackenzie praised the character shown by his under-strength squad as they came from behind to win 4-3 on Wednesday.

Lewis Gill fired in the decisive goal, his second of the night, with Bobby Gunn and Ross Steven also on target for Lybster.

Grant Aitkenhead and Liam Bremner (2) scored for Groats.

Mackenzie said: “I’m incredibly delighted with the team. From my point of view, I’m not surprised we've taken a scalp off one of the big teams. We’ve competed extremely well with them in every game, losing by fine margins.

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“I have to praise the character of our team tonight. To have a threadbare squad going down 1-0 early on, to turn that into a 2-1 lead, to then not fold under pressure against a team of Groats’ stature and quality who equalised twice, was great to see. That, and the combination of our forwards being clinical, is what I put this win down to.

“Lewis Gill in particular ran riot, one of his finest games in the Lybster colours.

“In terms of the season, I’m extremely proud of how we've done but the job isn't finished. The aim at the moment is the top half of the table, and with a strong finish there is no reason we can’t do that.”

Wick Groats manager Kevin Anderson had been looking for a reaction after their David Allan Shield exit at Halkirk. But Groats’ defeat at Lybster, allied to High Ormlie Hotspur’s loss to John O'Groats, means Pentland United need just one more point to secure back-to-back county league titles.

Anderson said: “We were looking for a reaction but unfortunately we didn’t get one. We continued where we left off against Halkirk – we’re not making teams work hard enough for their goals, and we're not killing teams off when on top. That’s a bad combination.

“We started the game well, we were playing some nice stuff, went one up, then again lost a very soft goal. Fair play to Lybster – when the chances came along they took them, whereas we didn’t.

“We just need to dust ourselves down and go again. There is no time to feel sorry for ourselves.

“It has been an extremely disappointing season but we’ll try to finish it as strongly as we can. With ourselves and High Ormlie Hotspur both losing tonight, you’d need to say that's the league title over.

“The league table doesn’t lie. Pentland United once again have shown a great level of consistency throughout the season and will be worthy winners when the time comes.”

High Ormlie Hotspur suffered a Highland Amateur Cup exit against Maryburgh last Saturday and they were beaten again in midweek, this time by John O'Groats in Caithness AFA Division One. Picture: James Gunn
High Ormlie Hotspur suffered a Highland Amateur Cup exit against Maryburgh last Saturday and they were beaten again in midweek, this time by John O'Groats in Caithness AFA Division One. Picture: James Gunn

Pentland United are now nine points clear at the top with three fixtures remaining after their 3-0 victory at Keiss on Wednesday. Conor Trueman and Andy Mackay scored either side of an own goal.

Mackenzie Lynn netted twice for John O'Groats in their impressive 4-2 win against High Ormlie Hotspur in Thurso.

Wick Academy came from behind to beat a young Caley Thistle side 2-1 in a pre-season friendly at Harmsworth Park. Marc Macgregor and Euan Kennedy got the Wick goals.

Results – Friday – Steven Cup quarter-finals, first leg: Acks 3, Watten 3; Top Joe’s 1, Thurso Pentland 3; Wick Thistle 6, Swifts 0.

Saturday – Highland Amateur Cup quarter-final: High Ormlie Hotspur 1, Maryburgh 4.

Sunday – SWF Highlands and Islands League: Buckie 4, Caithness 0.

Monday – Steven Cup quarter-final, second leg: Thurso Pentland 6, Top Joe’s 0 (aggregate 9-1).

Tuesday – Steven Cup quarter-finals, second leg: Swifts 0, Wick Thistle 5 (aggregate 0-11); Watten 1, Acks 0 (aggregate 4-3). Division One: Staxigoe United 3, Castletown 3.

Wednesday – Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur 2, John O’Groats 4; Keiss 0, Pentland United 3; Lybster 4, Wick Groats 3. Friendly: Wick Academy 2, Inverness Caledonian Thistle 1.

Fixtures – Friday, July 18 – Steven Cup semi-finals, first leg: Halkirk v Thurso Pentland; Wick Thistle v Watten (both 7.15pm). Division One: Lybster v John O’Groats (7.30pm).

Saturday, July 19 – Friendly: Wick Academy v Ross County XI (1pm).

Tuesday, July 22 – Division One: Castletown v High Ormlie Hotspur; John O’Groats v Keiss; Lybster v Staxigoe United; Wick Groats v Pentland United (all 7.15pm).

Wednesday, July 23 – Steven Cup semi-final, second leg: Watten v Wick Thistle (7pm).

Thursday, July 24 – Steven Cup semi-final, second leg: Thurso Pentland v Halkirk (7pm).

Friday, July 25 – David Allan Shield quarter-finals: High Ormlie Hotspur v Lybster; Wick Thistle v Castletown (both 7pm).

Saturday, July 26 – Highland Amateur Cup quarter-final: Pentland United v Avoch (3pm).

CAFA standings – Division One: 1 Pentland United (played 11, points 31); 2 Wick Groats (11, 22); 3 High Ormlie Hotspur (11, 22); 4 Staxigoe United (11, 15); 5 Lybster (10, 15); 6 John O’Groats (10, 11); 7 Castletown (11, 5); 8 Keiss (11, 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.

SWF Highlands and Islands League standings: 1 Buckie (played 7, points 21); 2 Caithness (8, 15); 3 Orkney (8, 15); 4 Clachnacuddin (8, 12); 5 Sutherland (7, 6); 6 Nairn St Ninian (8, 0).


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