Keiss manager hopes extra-time victory can be turning point
Keiss manager Bradley Thomson hopes his team’s 2-1 extra-time victory over Acks in the Eain Mackintosh Cup can be a turning point after a tough start to the season.
James Robertson grabbed the winner for the villagers in Monday’s first-round tie at the Dammies. The sides were locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, with William Mackay equalising for Keiss after Lee Mackay had put Acks ahead in the second half.
Thomson said: “It was good to get a win again and the lads deserved it for their hard work. We’re delighted to progress to the next round.
“As everyone knows, we have had a tough season so far but fingers crossed this can be the turning point. It wasn’t a pretty game but both teams battled hard without too much quality in the final third.
“We wish Acks all the best for the rest of the season.”
Keiss will be away to Halkirk in next week’s quarter-finals.
Halkirk were 8-0 winners against Top Joe’s in Thurso. Owen Lockhart helped himself to a hat-trick, with the others coming from Euan Macgregor, Owen Cannop, Matthew Cook, Rory Taylor and an own goal.
Wick Thistle eased through to the last eight with a 3-0 victory in wet conditions at Watten.
Morgan Kennedy opened the scoring just after the half-hour mark. Cory Miller doubled the Jags’ lead early in the second half and Kennedy added his second of the night late on.
Meanwhile, Halkirk have been punished for an administrative oversight involving the recently introduced Comet player registration system.
The villagers were deducted six points for inadvertently fielding an ineligible player in two league fixtures.
In a club statement posted on social media, Halkirk made it clear there had been no intention to gain a sporting advantage and said: “We have to play by the rules, accept our punishment and learn for the future.”
Results – Stannergill Cup, semi-finals: Castletown 2, Swifts 1 (after extra time); Staxigoe United 2, Pentland United 1.
Eain Mackintosh Cup, first round: Acks 1, Keiss 2 (after extra time); Top Joe’s 0, Halkirk 8; Watten 0, Wick Thistle 3.
Fixtures – Tuesday, May 27 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, first round: Pentland United v Wick Groats; Staxigoe United v John O’Groats; Thurso Pentland v High Ormlie Hotspur (all 7.15pm).
Wednesday, May 28 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, first round: Swifts v Castletown (7.15pm).
Saturday, May 31 – Highland Amateur Cup, second round (3pm kick-off unless otherwise stated): Avoch v Ferry United; Benbecula v High Ormlie Hotspur (Evanton); Dounby Athletic v Kirkwall Thorfinn; Fortrose v Black Rock; Halkirk v Carloway (Culbokie, noon); Inverness Athletic v Fort William Reserves (Culbokie, 3.30pm); Kirkwall Accies v Thurso Acks; Lerwick Spurs v Westside (Helmsdale, 12.30pm); Maryburgh v North West Skye; Tornagrain v Pentland United (Culloden); Watten v Staxigoe United; Whalsay v Portree (Fortrose, 11.30am); Wick Thistle v Inver.
Tuesday, June 3 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-finals: Halkirk v Keiss; Pentland United or Wick Groats v Staxigoe United or John O’Groats; Swifts or Castletown v Wick Thistle; Thurso Pentland or High Ormlie Hotspur v Lybster (all 7.15pm).
CAFA standings – Division One: 1 Pentland United (played 6, points 18); 2 High Ormlie Hotspur (6, 15); 3 Wick Groats (6, 13); 4 Lybster (6, 9); 5 Staxigoe United (6, 8); 6 Castletown (6, 3); 7 John O’Groats (5, 1); 8 Keiss (5, 0).
Division Two: 1 Wick Thistle (played 4, points 12); 2 Thurso Pentland (4, 9); 3 Acks (5, 9); 4 Watten (3, 4); 5 Swifts (3, 3); 6 Top Joe’s (4, 0); 7 Halkirk (5, -2). Halkirk deducted six points for playing an ineligible player in two league fixtures.