Lybster ready for ‘huge test’ after thumping win at Castletown
Lybster are looking ahead to “a huge test” against champions Pentland United next week after consolidating their place in the top four of Caithness AFA Division One with a thumping win at Castletown.
Goals from Robbie Murray (2), Ross Steven, Donnie Ross and Lewis Gill gave Lybster a 5-0 victory at Back Park on Tuesday, with Greg Mackay captaining the team for the first time.
It was Castletown’s first outing since losing 2-1 to Staxigoe United in the Stannergill Cup final.
Next up for Lybster is their encounter with Pentland United at Cow Park on Tuesday, June 17.
Lybster manager Cameron Mackenzie said: “Castletown are renowned for their defensive stability, so to beat them by such a large margin is a great achievement.
“I have to praise the youth players in my squad. We were missing a few senior figures, including our captain, and they stepped up wonderfully.
“These young players have all come on fantastically this season and deserve credit. We’ve now matched our points tally from the whole of last season.
“A huge shoutout must go towards our new keeper Matthew Reid, who at only 16 has been outstanding with top-drawer stops, saving two penalties this season as well.
“The entire team has performed admirably this year, not just the youth players. Bobby Gunn at the top of the league goalscoring charts deserves a mention too.
“Everyone is really looking forward to the Stabs game next week, especially with how close we’ve run the big teams previously this year. It’s a huge test for us and it’ll be exciting to see how we fare.”
Pentland United and High Ormlie Hotspur fought out a goalless draw in the top-of-the-table clash at Ham Park.
Cup winners Staxigoe United were brought down to earth with a bump as they were beaten 3-2 by John O’Groats at Folke Park.
Marc Macgregor scored twice and Saleem Bremner was also on target for JOG, with Staxigoe’s goals coming from Graham MacNab (penalty) and Sam Mackay.
Graham MacNab was reported to have been shown three red cards after an incident in the second half. CAFA is awaiting the official report from the referee.
The result meant John O’Groats moved up two places to sixth.
Results – Friday – Division Two: Swifts 0, Halkirk 0; Top Joe’s 0, Wick Thistle 10; Watten 2, Thurso Pentland 0.
Saturday – Stannergill Cup final: Castletown 1, Staxigoe United 2.
Sunday – SWF Highlands and Islands League: Orkney 5, Caithness 1.
Tuesday – Caithness AFA Division One: Castletown 0, Lybster 5; John O’Groats 3, Staxigoe United 2; Pentland United 0, High Ormlie Hotspur 0; Wick Groats 4, Keiss 0.
Fixtures – Wednesday, June 11 – Division Two: Acks v Top Joe’s; Wick Thistle v Watten (both 7.30pm). Thursday, June 12 – Division Two: Thurso Pentland v Swifts (7.30pm).
Saturday, June 14 – Highland Amateur Cup, round two: Wick Groats v CK Interiors (1pm; winners at home to Avoch on Saturday, June 21). Archer Shield inter-county match: Orkney v Caithness.
Monday, June 16 – Division Two: Acks v Thistle (7.30pm).
Tuesday, June 17 – Division One: Castletown v John O’Groats; High Ormlie Hotspur v Wick Groats; Lybster v Pentland United; Staxigoe United v Keiss. Division Two: Watten v Swifts (all 7.30pm).
CAFA standings – Division One: 1 Pentland United (played 7, points 19); 2 Wick Groats (7, 16); 3 High Ormlie Hotspur (7, 16); 4 Lybster (7, 12); 5 Staxigoe United (7, 8); 6 John O’Groats (7, 4); 7 Castletown (7, 3); 8 Keiss (7, 3).
Division Two: 1 Wick Thistle (played 5, points 15); 2 Thurso Pentland (5, 9); 3 Acks (5, 9); 4 Watten (4, 7); 5 Swifts (4, 4); 6 Top Joe’s (5, 0); 7 Halkirk (6, -1). Halkirk deducted six points for playing an ineligible player in two league fixtures.