‘Mighty sigh of relief’ for Pentland United as holders go through to face Avoch
Michael Gray admitted Pentland United had been “staring defeat in the face” against Inverness Athletic before emerging as 5-3 winners after extra time in their Highland Amateur Cup third-round tie.
The Stabbies went from two goals up to 3-2 down before Sam Mackay powered home a dramatic equaliser in the last minute of the 90 at Ham Park on Saturday. The holders went on to add two more and their reward is a quarter-final tie at home to Avoch – the side they defeated in last year’s final in Wick.
“I think the overwhelming emotion is relief,” co-manager Gray said. “For long spells it looked like we were staring defeat in the face, but I have to give the group great credit for keeping going to the bitter end and turning it around.
“The elements certainly played a huge part in the game and I think it’s fair to say Inverness Athletic utilised the wind to greater effect than we did. But Sam pulled one out of the bag in the last minute with a vicious strike from 25 yards that was moving all over the place as it flew into the roof of the net.
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“We had gone into the game missing quite a few of the squad, so we had to ask everyone to dig deep and there were a lot of sore bodies in the changing room afterwards as it was an energy-sapping game.”
United’s opener came when Andrew Mackay took a quick free kick to release Sean Campbell down the left. He crossed for Cameron Montgomery to help the ball goalwards and Sean Munro forced it in.
James Murray added the second after collecting a through ball from Campbell and rounding the keeper.
Athletic pulled one back on the hour mark when a long ball over the top found Tom Henderson, who ran on to finish with his left foot.
Soon after, Luke Mackay levelled the tie with an up-and-under from inside his own half which goalie Connor Dunnett couldn’t quite keep out.
Alex Heggie was credited with the visitors’ third, after the ball came back off a post and struck Ross Allan.
Andrew Brims forced a smart save and Campbell struck a post before Sam Mackay came to the rescue with what Gray described as a “moment of magic”.
In extra time, Joe Steven put the Stabbies 4-3 up when he bundled the ball in from a Campbell corner and the tie was settled in the last minute when Murray Mackintosh twisted away from two defenders before squaring the ball for Josh Sutherland to score.
Gray said the fifth goal allowed United to “breathe a mighty sigh of relief”.
He added: “I have to commend Inverness Athletic – they have a super young squad who know both sides of the game. They were technically sound but also worked hard and broke the tempo up very effectively.
“They have the potential to develop into a very good side and we’re delighted to have navigated our way into the quarter-finals.
“Avoch obviously are going to be a formidable test and they proved yet again what a good side they are by winning in Wick against Groats.
“But that is a little bit away. We have the more pressing matter of Lybster on Tuesday night which we know will be another stern test.”
Wick Groats were edged out by last season’s Highland Amateur Cup runners-up in a rematch of the 2023 final.
It was looking good for Groats when Steven Sutherland made the breakthrough after 70 minutes at the Upper Bignold. An own goal brought Avoch level and the Inverness and district Premier Division side won it in stoppage time when Michael McKenzie bundled the ball in.
The quarter-finals involving the two surviving Caithness teams are scheduled for Saturday, July 12.
Highland Amateur Cup quarter-finals: Carloway v Dounby Athletic (August 2); High Ormlie Hotspur v Maryburgh (July 12); Inver v Scalloway or Whalsay (August 2); Pentland United v Avoch (July 12).
Semi-finals (August 16): Carloway or Dounby Athletic v Inver or Scalloway/Whalsay; High Ormlie Hotspur or Maryburgh v Pentland United or Avoch.
Halkirk moved back to a positive points tally in Caithness AFA Division Two with a 2-0 win at Watten on Friday night. Euan Macgregor and Connor MacArthur got the goals.
Second-placed Thurso Pentland defeated Top Joe’s 3-0 at Ormlie, with all the goals coming after the break. Eadan Ross struck twice and Kian Helliwell added the other.
Caithness Ladies remain second in the SWF Highlands and Islands League after a 3-2 victory over Sutherland at Castletown on Sunday. Scorers were Shannon Campbell (2) and Rona Taylor.
Caithness are level on points with Clachnacuddin, who won 3-0 at Nairn. Caithness are away to Clach this weekend, with venue and kick-off time to be confirmed.
Results – Friday – Division Two: Top Joe’s 0, Thurso Pentland 3; Watten 0, Halkirk 2.
Saturday – Highland Amateur Cup, round three (ties involving Caithness clubs): High Ormlie Hotspur 1, Staxigoe United 0; Inver 5, Thurso Acks 1 (after extra time); Pentland United 5, Inverness Athletic 3 (after extra time); Wick Groats 1, Avoch 2.
Sunday – SWF Highlands and Islands League: Caithness 3, Sutherland 2.
Fixtures – Tuesday, June 24 – Division One: John O’Groats v Castletown; Keiss v Staxigoe United; Pentland United v Lybster; Wick Groats v High Ormlie Hotspur. Division Two: Top Joe’s v Acks (all 7.30pm).
Wednesday, June 25 – Division Two: Swifts v Thurso Pentland; Watten v Wick Thistle (both 7.30pm).
Friday, June 27 – Eain Mackintosh Cup semi-finals: Halkirk v Castletown; Pentland United v High Ormlie Hotspur (both 7.15pm). Division Two: Acks v Wick Thistle (7.30pm).
CAFA standings – Division One: 1 Pentland United (played 8, points 22); 2 Wick Groats (8, 19); 3 High Ormlie Hotspur (8, 16); 4 Lybster (8, 12); 5 Staxigoe United (8, 11); 6 John O’Groats (8, 5); 7 Castletown (8, 4); 8 Keiss (8, 3).
Division Two: 1 Wick Thistle (played 6, points 18); 2 Thurso Pentland (7, 15); 3 Acks (6, 12); 4 Watten (6, 8); 5 Swifts (6, 5); 6 Top Joe’s (6, 0); 7 Halkirk (7, 2). Halkirk deducted six points for playing an ineligible player in two league fixtures.
SWF Highlands and Islands League standings: 1 Buckie (played 6, points 18); 2 Caithness (6, 12); 3 Clachnacuddin (6, 12); 4 Orkney (6, 9); 5 Sutherland (7, 6); 6 Nairn St Ninian (7, 0).
