‘It feels good to get over the line’: Campbell double seals title for Pentland United
Sean Campbell showed that having a broken nose hasn’t affected his ability to sniff out opportunities in front of goal as his double secured the county league championship for Pentland United.
The Stabbies went into Tuesday night’s game against their nearest challengers Wick Groats knowing that one point would be enough, and they came away with a 2-2 draw thanks to two clinical finishes by Campbell – with the title-clinching equaliser coming in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The 27-year-old attacking midfielder has been wearing a protective face covering during matches since suffering his injury in United’s David Allan Shield semi-final defeat to Staxigoe United last week.
After the celebrations had died down at the Upper Bignold Park, Campbell said: “It’s a tough standard. Groats are good, High Ormlie Hotspur are good, Staxigoe have come good towards the end of the season, so it was always going to be tricky.
“But it feels good to finally get over the line.”
United had already won the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup earlier in the season and Tuesday’s match in Wick came three days after they booked their place in the Highland Amateur Cup final.
“We’d have liked to have been in the David Allan Shield final as well this week,” Campbell said. “But that’s the league in the bag now and we’ve got a massive game against Avoch, which is a monumental tie.
“We’ve won the Highland Amateur Cup eight times and they’ve won it seven times, so there are bragging rights to hold there.
“They’re similar to us – they have a lot of ex-Highland League guys but then there’s a good mix of youth in there as well. It’s not going to be easy.”
Having taken off the mask to reveal what he calls his “battle scars”, Campbell explained: “It’s all fractured so I’m off to Raigmore on Thursday to see my specialist. There’s a bit of a kink in it, so it’ll probably have to get reset.
“They’re testing my breathing. One side is fine but the other side is more restricted now, so we’ll see what the specialist says.
“The mask is quite restricting on your face but it just gives me a little extra protection.”
Groats went ahead on 13 minutes when a sweeping move involving Bryan McKiddie and Korbyn Cameron created an opening for Liam Bremner. Stand-in keeper Michael Gray got a touch to the striker’s shot but couldn’t keep it out.
The home side should have doubled their lead when an effort by Martens was touched away by Gray into the path of Stewart Atkins, who blazed it over the bar from point-blank range.
United equalised on 32 minutes. James Murray turned sharply and unleashed a powerful shot which Kieran Macleod did well to block, but Campbell dashed in to score from the rebound.
Jonah Martens restored Groats’ advantage after 58 minutes when he slammed the ball in following a cross from the left.
The Stabbies were reduced to 10 men with two minutes of the 90 remaining when James McLean was shown the red card for a last-man foul on Bremner.
It looked as though the title race would go to the final round of fixtures but Campbell had other ideas. In the fourth minute of stoppage time he got on the end of a pass from substitute Cameron Montgomery and fired the ball high into the net.
Lybster manager Cameron Mackenzie praised the “immense character” shown by his team as they secured their place in the top flight of Caithness summer football for another season.
They came from behind to win 3-1 at John O’Groats on Tuesday night, consigning their opponents to one of the bottom two places in Division One along with Wick Thistle.
John O’Groats led at half-time thanks to a free kick from Kevin Swanson. Lybster turned things round in the second period with goals by Andrew Sutherland, Gary Weir and Ross Steven.
“I’m delighted,” Mackenzie said. “The boys showed immense character after coming in a goal down at half-time.
“A wee change of formation and we completely dominated the game – we could easily have had more.
“I am so proud of every player in the team. It’s no easy feat, considering how competitive the first division is this year.”
High Ormlie Hotspur were two up at home to Staxigoe United, courtesy of William Cannop and Mark Munro, but Grant Aitkenhead and Martin Banks replied for the visitors and it ended all square.
The second division match between Halkirk and Acks at Recreation Park also finished 2-2.
Results – CAFA Division Two: Pentland 1, Halkirk 4.
Highland Amateur Cup, semi-finals: High Ormlie Hotspur 2, Avoch 3; Stornoway Athletic 0, Pentland United 2.
Steven Cup final: Acks 4, Keiss 3 (after extra time).
Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur 2, Staxigoe United 2; John O’Groats 1, Lybster 3; Wick Groats 2, Pentland United 2; Wick Thistle 1, Castletown 2. Division Two: Halkirk 2, Acks 2.
Thursday, August 8 – Division Two: Halkirk v Pentland; Swifts v Keiss; Top Joe’s v Watten (all 7pm).
Saturday, August 10 – David Allan Shield final: Staxigoe United v Wick Groats (3pm, Dammies).
Monday, August 12 – Division Two: Acks v Keiss; Top Joe’s v Pentland; Watten v Swifts (all 6.45pm).
Tuesday, August 13 – Division One: Castletown v Staxigoe United; High Ormlie Hotspur v Lybster; Pentland United v John O’Groats; Wick Groats v Wick Thistle (all 6.45pm).