It’s a sickener, says Wick Groats boss after Highland Amateur Cup exit
Wick Groats manager Kevin Anderson admitted it was a “sickener” as last year’s beaten finalists were eliminated from the 2024 Highland Amateur Cup on penalties.
Groats, who have won the competition four times since 2013, fought out a 1-1 draw with High Ormlie Hotspur in Saturday’s last-16 tie in Thurso, with Hotspur going on to prevail 4-3 in the shootout.
After a goalless first 90 minutes, Jonah Martens fired the Wick side in front but Aidan Reid popped up to level the tie. All 10 spot-kicks were on target, with Groats goalie Kieran Macleod keeping out one attempt while his High Ormlie counterpart Lewis Gallacher pulled off two saves.
Wick Groats thought they’d made the breakthrough in the second half of normal time when Conor Farquhar’s deep cross from the left was knocked in by Martens at the back post, only for the flag to go up for offside.
“It looked fine to us at the time,” Anderson said. “I actually had a couple of texts during the game saying it was not offside.
“At the end of the day we had plenty of time to deal with it. We went 1-0 up and I thought we were the better team, to be honest. We restricted them to very few chances.
“In the second half Kieran had two top, top saves and Lewis Gallacher did the same. They are two good keepers.
“Going into extra time we were quite confident and we went 1-0 up. I thought we were going to kick on and maybe get a second, but they’re a good team as well – take nothing away from them.
“It was a soft goal that we lost – we should be defending that better.
“They gambled, they fired Aidan Reid up front at the start of the second half in extra time, and it worked. Within a couple of minutes he had the ball in the back of the net.
“It was end to end for a while then. We were on the front foot, they were on the front foot, and once you hit penalties it’s a bit of a lottery.
“Over the piece I felt we probably edged it, but if you don’t take your chances that’s what happens.
“It’s a sickener but we’ve just got to take it on the chin. That’s football.”
It's the second time in three seasons that Wick Groats’ Highland Amateur Cup hopes have been ended by High Ormlie Hotspur.
Results – Highland Amateur Cup, third round: Black Rock Rovers 7, Culbokie 2; High Ormlie Hotspur 1, Wick Groats 1 (HOH won 4-3 on penalties after extra time); Pentland United 6, Lybster 0; Maryburgh 1, Avoch 2; Rendall 1, Ness 4; Stornoway Athletic 3, Inverness Athletic 1; Stromness Athletic 1, Helmsdale United 2; Tomatin United 1, Sleat and Strath 2.
Highland Amateur Cup quarter-final draw: High Ormlie Hotspur v Black Rock Rovers; Pentland United v Ness; Sleat and Strath v Avoch; Stornoway Athletic v Helmsdale United. (Ties to be played on Saturday, July 13; venues and kick-off times TBC).
CAFA results – Caithness AFA Division Two: Keiss 4, Watten 1; Pentland 1, Acks 4; Top Joe’s 1, Swifts 5.
Fixtures – Monday, July 1 – Division Two: Swifts v Halkirk (7.30pm).
Tuesday, July 2 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, semi-finals: Lybster v High Ormlie Hotspur; Watten v Staxigoe (both 7.15pm).
Wednesday, July 3 – Division One: Wick Thistle v Pentland United (7.30pm).
Thursday, July 4 – Division Two: Acks v Watten; Halkirk v Top Joe’s (both 7.30pm).
Saturday, July 6 – Eain Mackintosh Cup final (Halkirk, 3pm).