McKechnie wonder strike seals amazing win for Castletown
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A FREAK goal gave 10-man Castletown an astonishing 3-2 victory at Wick Thistle.
The two promotion-chasing sides met up at Upper Bignold for their crunch Caithness Amateur Football Association division two clash and those who attended this five-goal thriller were left clamouring for more.
Castletown raced into a 2-0 lead thanks to first-half goals from Shane Kennedy and Benn Murray.
Thistle came out after the break determined to get back in to the running and did so with Greg Mackay and Ross Macadie pulling it back to 2-2.
Castletown’s Ryan Forbes was sent off prior to the home side’s equaliser. Being a man down, and with the momentum firmly with their hosts, Castletown pulled up the drawbridge and braced themselves to repel the forthcoming siege.
The battering ram certainly hammered but Thistle could not dismantle Castletown’s defence.
Then came the counter-attack.
From 45 yards out, Jack McKechnie fired an incredible shot over the Wick keeper’s head and into the net.
Castletown chairman Kevin Mackay was exhilarated with his side’s victory.
He said: “We were cruising at 2-0 up but then in the second half, Thistle came out of the blocks.
“A goalkeeping error let them back in and then Ryan gets sent off for a second yellow. It was a silly foul and we can have no complaints.
“Then they equalised and it was real backs-to-the-wall stuff.
“They virtually had us trapped in our own box but thankfully, they kept passing up chance after chance.
“Just when you think we might get a point out of this, we then get three with Jack hitting a remarkable winner.
“Whether it was meant or not I don’t know, but they all count.”
Wick Thistle boss Peter Gunn was left scratching his head as to how his side didn’t claim the win. He said: “Their manager actually came over after the game to apologise. With all the pressure and chances we had in that second half, I don’t know how we did not get a third goal.
“It was a bit like a pinball machine in their penalty area the way the ball kept whizzing about. We had chances galore.
“Then came their winner. If he meant to aim a shot from that far out then that’s goal of the season.
“I’m a bit gutted, but the league is not over yet.”
Elsewhere, FC Retro top the league on goal difference from Castletown after their 3-1 win at Thurso Pentland.
Paul McDonald gave them the lead before Darryn Mackay levelled but further strikes from Scott McDonald and Joe Jolly left Retro boss Alan Steven very happy. He said: “It was a tight game which we did well to win.”
In the first round proper of Eain MacIntosh Cup, a brace from Euan Munro and Andrew Mackay gave High Ormlie Hotspur a 4-1 victory away to Top Joes. Ronald Shearer got the home side’s consolation.
The match was forfeited by Top Joes after Euan McGregor was badly injured.
After being assessed in hospital, McGregor was confirmed as having ligament damage, not a leg break as had been suspected. He hopes to be playing again in five weeks.
Elsewhere, Thurso Pentland racked up a 3-1 win away to Keiss. Two goals from Kieran Campbell and one from Scott Ross booked them their place in round two. Kris Campbell replied for Keiss.
James MacIntosh and Allan Munro were on target for Thurso Acks as they won 2-1 against Castletown who netted through Chris Sutherland.
