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Lybster's 20-1 win 'sends out a message' as they chase a league and cup double





Lybster's Danny Doogan (centre) after scoring in the 3-1 Steven Cup victory over Top Joe's at Ormlie. Picture: James Gunn
Lybster's Danny Doogan (centre) after scoring in the 3-1 Steven Cup victory over Top Joe's at Ormlie. Picture: James Gunn

Lybster are setting their sights on a league and cup double in the closing weeks of the season – and they showed how ruthless they can be with an astonishing 20-goal performance on Monday night.

The villagers are top of Caithness AFA Division Two as they seek an immediate return to the top flight and they face Watten on Friday in the semi-finals of the Steven Cup, the knockout tournament for second-tier clubs.

On Monday, Lybster hit the net at a rate of once every four-and-a-half minutes as they showed no mercy to Thurso Pentland's youngsters in a league fixture at Cow Park which ended 20-1.

The league's top scorer Lewis Mackillop helped himself to five, Ross Steven got four and there were trebles from Danny Doogan and Gary Swanson. The others came from Steven Budge (2), Richard Budge, Michael Sutherland and an own goal.

Steven Esson's goal for Pentland briefly made it 1-1 but their task became all the more difficult when they had a man sent off in the first half.

Lybster manager Cameron Mackenzie praised the attitude shown by the Pentland players.

“You can see that there is football in a fair few of them, but they're just so young," he said. "They are turning up and putting the effort in, and they didn't give up at all – they kept going.

Top Joe's Derek Manson tries a shot at goal against Lybster in their Steven Cup quarter-final tie but it was saved. Picture: James Gunn
Top Joe's Derek Manson tries a shot at goal against Lybster in their Steven Cup quarter-final tie but it was saved. Picture: James Gunn

“It's not a score you see often, but it was good to see us go out and properly play to our full abilities.

"We've been falling a bit short in the past few weeks, we've been nowhere near our best.

“But if we win our next two league games, the league is ours – win the next two cup games and the cup is ours.”

“It was a bit of a shame beating the boys like that, but playing that well it sends a message that we're not going to be mucking about in the run-in to the end of the season.

"Everyone is going to be here for most of the games as well so we should be able to push on for this last bit.”

Thurso Swifts swept to a 5-0 home win against Watten. An own goal got them on their way and further strikes followed from Bailey Morrison (2), Eaden Ross and Kian Mackay.

Tony Miller scored twice in the first half as Keiss won 4-0 at home to Top Joe's, with the others coming from Bradley Thomson and Lee Oman.

Player/manager Thomson said: "It was another good win for us against a well-organised Top Joe's side and it keeps the pressure on the teams above us. We just have to win all of our games and see where we end up, as we are relying on other teams."

Top Joe's manager Bruce Cormack said: “After an encouraging start, we’ve faded away quite badly. But there are strong teams in the league and I feel the top three are stronger than in recent years.

"We have given teams a tough game often but have never really had the luck we’ve maybe deserved at times to have a few more points on the board.

"What has been encouraging is seeing some young boys getting game time and we have to push on with that next season. It is still important to have some older heads to keep them right, though."

In Division One, High Ormlie Hotspur had an impressive 4-0 away victory over a Wick Thistle side who were playing their third match in seven days. Kuba Koziol, Liam Bain and Aidan Reid were on target along with an own goal.

Wick Groats kept up their title challenge on Friday with a 2-1 win at John O'Groats. Eddie MacGregor put JOG in front but the visitors responded with goals from Steven Anderson and Korbyn Cameron.

In Friday's Steven Cup quarter-finals, Keiss eased to a 7-2 away win against Thurso Pentland while Lybster beat Top Joe's 3-1 at Ormlie.

Lybster's Alfie Mackay with Ken McElroy (Top Joe's) in close attendance. Picture: James Gunn
Lybster's Alfie Mackay with Ken McElroy (Top Joe's) in close attendance. Picture: James Gunn

Results – Caithness AFA Division One: John O'Groats 1, Wick Groats 2; Wick Thistle 0, High Ormlie Hotspur 4.

Division Two: Keiss 4, Top Joe's 0; Lybster 20, Thurso Pentland 1; Swifts 5, Watten 0.

Steven Cup, quarter-finals: Thurso Pentland 2, Keiss 7; Top Joe's 1, Lybster 3.

Fixtures – Tuesday, July 18 – Caithness AFA Division One: Acks v Castletown; Pentland United v Staxigoe United; Wick Groats v John O'Groats (all 7.30pm).

Friday, July 21 – Caithness AFA Division One: Staxigoe United v Wick Thistle (7.30pm).

Steven Cup, semi-finals: Lybster v Watten; Swifts v Keiss (both 7.15pm).

Saturday, July 22 – Ken Green Challenge Cup: Orkney AFA v Wick Academy (Pickaquoy Centre, Kirkwall, 12.30pm).


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