Morning kick-off has Groats in 'gr-eight' form
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Wick Groats marched into the last 16 of the Highland Amateur Cup as they demolished Barra 8-0.
Played in the neutral venue of Uig, on the Isle of Skye, Groats shook off the inconvenience of a 10.30am kick-off and catch their opponents napping.
A hat-trick from Sandy Sutherland got them on their way and he was joined on the scoresheet by Ben Sinclair (2), Liam Hely (2) and Gavin Sinclair.
Groats will face another Western Isles team, Point, in the last 16 with the neutral venue this time around being in Culbokie.
Manager Kevin Anderson said: "I certainly did not expect that. Delighted to have won, of course, but surprised at the margin of victory.
"From all we heard and from the information we gathered, we were told that Barra were a very good side and to expect a tough game.
"However, we just came flying out of the traps and that must have caught them off guard. We were five-nil up by half-time with another outstanding display.
"We travelled down the night before, a five-hour journey, and some of us stayed in Kyleakin while the rest found digs in Uig itself.
"The early kick-off didn't bother us at all – maybe we should play in the morning for every game if this is what happens – and the pitch itself, while narrow, was on a par with Castletown's excellent surface.
"We play Point in the next round and I'm not expecting a similar scoreline. Stornoway teams are traditionally very tough to beat – as we have found out ourselves in the past – so we won't be taking anything for granted."
Point themselves set up the last 16 tie against Groats with a 7-1 thrashing of Watten at neutral Maryburgh.
Lewis Jack was on target for the Caithness side but that was as good as it got as Point's Elliot Rudall (2), Andrew Morrison (2), Angus Macdonald, Josh Smith and Ron Jones all netted for the Isle of Lewis team.
Lybster bowed out of the competition with a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Orkney side Rendall.
Highland Amateur Cup third-round draw: Avoch v Ness; Bellmac/Staxigoe United v Kirkwall Thorfinn (home team is subject to the outcome of Staxigoe United's official complaint against Bellmac); Castletown v Lochinver; Loch Ness v Pentland United; Maryburgh v Rendall; Point v Wick Groats; Stornoway Athletic v Sleat and Strath; Whitedale v Lerwick Spurs.
Ties to be played on Saturday, June 29
