McElroy 'bursting with pride' as High Ormlie Hotspur lift Highland Amateur Cup
Co-manager Ewan McElroy said he was "bursting with pride" after High Ormlie Hotspur became first-time winners of the Highland Amateur Cup on Saturday with a shoot-out victory over Pentland United.
High Ormlie won 4-2 on penalties after the all-Caithness final ended 1-1 after extra time, sparking jubilant scenes at Wick's Harmsworth Park where a crowd approaching 1000 had watched an absorbing and closely contested tussle.
James Mackintosh gave Spurs a second-minute lead but James Murray equalised 10 minutes into the second half and the Stabbies had most of the territory as the game wore on.
High Ormlie goalkeeper Lewis Gallacher was the hero of the shoot-out, saving two of United's spot-kicks, allowing Rob McLean to settle the issue as Hotspur netted four out of four.
Hotspur only came into existence 10 years ago, having been founded by McElroy's brother Kenneth, and they are in their first season as a top-flight Caithness AFA club.
Ewan McElroy said: "It's rare that I'm speechless but I'm just about there. I'm absolutely bursting with pride – not just for the effort and performance of the boys today but also the contribution of all the players, volunteers and parents that have all been a part of this over the years.
"Without them it would never be possible so I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them for all their hard work.
"It was a tight affair. We started well, we tried to get the ball down and play. We knew that Stabs would be direct and we knew that we were going to have to withstand a bit of pressure.
"It was a wee bit of an onslaught but I thought the boys defended brilliantly. For their effort over the season I think they certainly deserved it."
Hotspur got off to a perfect start when Mackintosh scored in the second minute with a clinical finish after being set up by Liam Bain.
United pushed forward more after the break and Luke Manson wasn't far away with a low drive after a lay-off by Marc Macgregor.
The equaliser came after 55 minutes when Manson's clever through ball found Murray, who controlled it before sliding it past Gallacher.
Macgregor linked up with Murray on the right and the latter's low cross was turned over by Conor Cormack under pressure from a couple of defenders.
Roddy Innes was next to have a go for the Stabbies with a shot that almost evaded Gallacher, but the keeper got enough on it to push the ball away for a corner.
At the other end, shots from High Ormlie pair Ryan Sutherland jnr and William Cannop were blocked.
Mackintosh was then played through on the left but his effort trundled wide of the far post.
United continued to have most of the pressure in extra time. Manson came close with a shot that went through a forest of legs, Michael Petrie's cross brought a firm header from James McLean that was well saved by Gallacher, Conor Trueman had a shot blocked by the keeper and Colin Maclean tried a shot that curled over.
In the shoot-out James Murray and Marc Macgregor found the net for the Stabbies but Gallacher saved from James McLean and Colin Maclean.
Aidan Reid, Mark Webster and Ben Gordon scored High Ormlie's first three penalties before McLean hammered in the winning kick. United goalie James More got a hand to the efforts from Webster and Gordon but couldn't keep them out.
High Ormlie Hotspur are the sixth Caithness club to lift the Highlands and Islands' most prestigious amateur football trophy since it was first contested in 1978, following Pentland United (eight wins), Wick Groats (4), Thurso Pentland (3), Halkirk (2) and Wick Thistle (1).
High Ormlie Hotspur: Gallacher, Campbell, Bain (Ryan Sutherland jnr 59), Reid, McLean, Webster, Gordon, McNicol (Mackay 73), Cannop, Mackintosh, Wilson (Ross 115). Subs not used: Munro, Mackenzie, Ryan Sutherland snr, Coghill.
Pentland United: More, A Munro, I Mackintosh (S Munro 93), G Steven, McLean, Trueman, Cormack (Maclean 66), Manson, Macgregor, Murray, Innes (Petrie 87). Subs not used: M Steven, M Mackintosh, Forbes, Gray.
Referee: Stephen McDade.
Title-chasing Pentland United will be looking to pick themselves up for Tuesday's decisive round of county league fixtures after what co-manager Michael Gray called the "huge disappointment" of their shoot-out loss at the weekend.
United have won the Highland Amateur Cup a record eight times and Saturday's loss to High Ormlie Hotspur was only their second defeat in 10 finals.
"Unfortunately we had a terrible start," Gray said. "After that I thought we pretty much controlled most of the game, but you've got to be more clinical.
"A couple of decisions maybe didn't go our way in the box as well, but that's just life sometimes.
"Congratulations to High Ormlie – we knew that they were going to be a tough opponent and they've won it.
"It was a huge disappointment. At the end of the day you've just got to take it on the chin.
"I'm very proud of the response we got from the boys but maybe we just need to learn the lesson that when we create opportunities we've got to be that little bit more ruthless.
"I felt we had them pinned back for pretty much the second half and most of extra time too, but they've got a lot of pace up front in terms of the counter as well.
"I'm taking nothing away from them – they are worthy winners. We'll just have to lick our wounds and get going again on Tuesday."
Pentland United and reigning champions Wick Groats are level on points at the top of Caithness AFA Division One with one game to go.
The Stabbies round off their campaign with a home fixture against Wick Thistle, while Groats take on High Ormlie in Halkirk.
United have the superior goal difference, by five.
Results – Division Two: Castletown 5, Thurso Pentland 2.
Highland Amateur Cup final: High Ormlie Hotspur 1, Pentland United 1 (AET; High Ormlie won 4-2 on penalties).
Fixtures – Monday – Division Two: Keiss v Castletown; Thurso Pentland v Swifts; Top Joe's v Watten (6.45pm).
Tuesday – Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur v Wick Groats; Lybster v John O'Groats; Pentland United v Wick Thistle; Staxigoe United v Acks (6.45pm).
Friday – Relegation/promotion play-off (venue TBC).