Pentland United crowned as Caithness champions after title rivals' match is abandoned
Pentland United have been crowned as county champions for the first time in more than a decade – but the final round of fixtures in Caithness AFA Division One ended in confusion after the match involving their title rivals Wick Groats was abandoned.
The Stabbies were presented with the league trophy following their 6-1 victory Wick Thistle at Ham Park on Tuesday. Over at Morrison Park in Halkirk, Groats had been trailing 1-0 to High Ormlie Hotspur – only for that game to be called to a halt by referee Liam Bremner before the second half could get under way.
It is understood the match official felt threatened in a verbal exchange with Groats' Grant MacNab during the half-time break. MacNab, who had been booked in the first period, was shown a second yellow and a red, then a second red.
United and Groats had gone into the last night of league action level on points but the Stabbies had a superior goal difference by five. The margin of their result against Thistle meant Groats would have needed to beat High Ormlie – winners of the Highland Amateur Cup at the weekend – by 11 goals to retain the title.
Groats have apologised and said that "no official should ever feel threatened".
Caithness Amateur Football Association said yesterday it is carrying out a full investigation, having consulted the Scottish AFA. The investigation is likely to take about a week.
In the meantime, Pentland United are celebrating a league triumph for the first time since 2011. Groats went on to win eight titles in a row up to 2019, the last pre-Covid season.
It completed a 2022 trophy treble for the Dunnet outfit after they lifted the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup and the Eain Mackintosh Cup earlier in the summer, and helped make up for the disappointment of Saturday's Highland Amateur Cup final shoot-out loss to High Ormlie.
“It's got a very nice ring about it, being champions again," co-manager Michael Gray said. "It has been a long, hard season with plenty of ups and downs – none more so than Saturday – but the players have shown fantastic character.
“I am very proud of them. That's a treble for us this year and I think it's a really encouraging sign of things to come, looking at the age demographic of the group as well.
“It stands us in great stead for next year.”
William Cannop's goal had given High Ormlie the advantage over Wick Groats before the call-off.
Groats manager Kevin Anderson said on Wednesday: "What happened with the referee is something that quite simply should not happen at any level of football – it reflects badly on our club, but most importantly has put a referee in a position that he felt the only way ahead was to abandon a game.
"This should not happen. No official should ever feel threatened. Without referees we’d have no football. I have spoken to Liam and apologised on behalf of myself, the team and the club.
"I had informed the player in question that he was being subbed at half-time, and the flashpoint happened while the official and player were on their way to the changing rooms.
"Myself and the rest of the team were on the park preparing for the second half. It goes without saying it’s not something as a club that we condone."
Groats were left to reflect on their 3-1 defeat to Staxigoe United in June, a result that left them playing catch-up in the title race even after their 5-1 victory over Pentland United the following month.
CAFA secretary Andrew Lannon handed over the player of the season award to Pentland United's 35-goal striker Marc Macgregor before presenting the league trophy to club captain Andy Mackay.
Macgregor had scored a first-half treble to put the Stabbies in charge. He broke through the Thistle defence to slot home the opener after seven minutes, and found the net again on 28 minutes with a downward header from a corner.
The striker lashed in his third from a tight angle on the 45-minute mark but there was still time before the break for Gary Pullen to pull one back from the penalty spot.
With 10 minutes to go, Sean Munro extended United's lead with a low drive from the edge of the box after a free kick had been blocked. James Murray weaved his way through before drilling in their fifth on 88 minutes and as the game entered stoppage time Murray completed the scoring with a header.
Gray added: “I commend Wick Thistle. They are a young team but they played some really good stuff, they fought, they kept good shape, they moved, and they made it a right competitive game."
Captain Mackay said: "The goal difference speaks for itself. We've scored a lot of late goals but they all count the same – it's a 90-minute match.
"It's good to get over the disappointment of Saturday."
Results – Highland Amateur Cup final: High Ormlie Hotspur 1, Pentland United 1 (AET; High Ormlie won 4-2 on penalties).
Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur v Wick Groats abandoned; Lybster 0, John O'Groats 1; Pentland United 6, Wick Thistle 1; Staxigoe United 3, Acks 1.
Division Two: Keiss 0, Castletown 0; Thurso Pentland 2, Swifts 2; Top Joe's 0, Watten 2.
Fixture – Friday – Relegation/promotion play-off: Swifts v Wick Thistle (at Morrison Park, Halkirk, 7.30pm).
