Pentland United ‘not at our best yet’ after victory in top-of-the-table clash
Pentland United extended their 100 per cent start to the county league season by seeing off their closest challengers High Ormlie Hotspur – but the Stabbies’ co-manager Michael Gray says they have yet to find their best form.
The reigning champions’ 4-2 victory at Ormlie on Tuesday night allowed them to open up a three-point gap at the top of Division One after five games.
The Dunnet side went ahead after eight minutes through a back-post volley by Michael “Joe” Steven after an Innes Mackintosh corner.
Ten minutes later, Sean Campbell got on the end of another ball across the face of goal to lash in the second from close range.
Mark Munro reduced the deficit with a neat finish three minutes before the break.
However, Sam Mackay created space for himself to extend United’s lead two minutes into the second half and James Murray came off the bench to slam home their fourth on 65 minutes.
High Ormlie pulled one back after 77 minutes when James Mackintosh burst through to fire the ball high past James More.
Gray said: “I was very pleased with the creation of the chances and the attitude from the first whistle.
“You have to remember that the majority of High Ormlie play together through the winter, so they’ve got a really good understanding. But I felt that we showed a really good energy around the park and it was a pleasing evening.
“Our Achilles heel at the moment is we’re maybe not just as clinical as we’d like to be in those forward areas, so there are always areas we'd like to improve on.
“But when you come to a place like this, against a really good team, we’d have taken that before we started.”
Looking at the season as a whole, Gray said: “It’s early days yet. It has been a reasonable start, despite not being at our best yet, but we are hopefully going to start building up a little bit of momentum now.
“It could be a really busy period for us over the next four to five weeks, so it’s going to be important that we keep everybody together.
“We’ve got a few walking wounded tonight, so that’ll make things a little bit more difficult for Friday [away to Halkirk in the Stannergill Cup]. We’ll take it one game at a time.”
Ex-Wick Academy captain Richard Macadie came off the bench in the second half for his first appearance in a Pentland United shirt.
Gray said: “I don’t think you can put a price on the kind of experience that Richard has got – not just his ability on the park but his attitude and professionalism off the park. He will be a great asset to the group.”
Macadie could be in line for a starting place in Friday’s cup quarter-final.
Wick Groats moved to within two points of High Ormlie Hotspur with a comfortable 5-0 victory at Keiss. Liam Bremner hit a hat-trick, with the others coming from Grant Aitkenhead and Ross Davidson.
Bobby Gunn was a hat-trick hero for Lybster in their 3-1 home victory over Castletown.
Wednesday’s other Division One match ended all square as Staxigoe United drew 2-2 with John O’Groats in Wick.
Marc Macgregor’s brilliant strike put John O’Groats in front only for Staxigoe to respond after the break with well-taken goals by Matthew Aitkenhead and Sam Mackay.
Macgregor scored a late penalty to ensure a share of the points.
In Division Two, Halkirk had a 6-2 victory over Top Joe’s at Recreation Park. The Halkirk goals came from Owen Lockhart, Matthew Mackay, Liam Dykes, Olly Johnson, Ally Mackintosh and John Kay, with Kevin MacGregor and Martin Murray replying for Top Joe’s.
Meanwhile, Caithness AFA has confirmed that the recent High Ormlie Hotspur v Castletown match in Division One has been registered as a 1-0 win for the home side.
There were about four minutes of stoppage time remaining, with High Ormlie leading by that solitary goal, when the game was abandoned after an injury to Castletown’s Lewis Swan. It is understood CAFA contacted both clubs and it was agreed that the result would stand as there was so little time remaining.
Results – Highland Amateur Cup, north section, first round: Halkirk 3, Lochbroom 2; Helmsdale United 0, Wick Groats 3; Inver 16, Dornoch City 1; John O’Groats 1, High Ormlie Hotspur 4; Pentland United 14, Top Joe’s 0; Staxigoe United 2, Brora Wanderers 1; Thurso Acks 4, Lochinver 2; Watten 4, Thurso Pentland 3; Wick Thistle 3, Lybster 3 (after extra time – Thistle won 5-4 on penalties).
Caithness AFA Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur 2, Pentland United 4; Keiss 0, Wick Groats 5; Lybster 3, Castletown 1; Staxigoe United 2, John O’Groats 2. Division Two: Halkirk 6, Top Joe’s 2.
Fixtures – Wednesday, May 14 – Division Two: Acks v Thurso Pentland (7.15pm).
Friday, May 16 – Stannergill Cup, quarter-finals: Castletown v John O’Groats; Halkirk v Pentland United; Swifts v Wick Groats; Staxigoe United v High Ormlie Hotspur (all 7pm).
Sunday, May 18 – SWF Highlands and Islands League Cup: Caithness v Sutherland (Castletown, 2pm); Clachnacuddin v Shetland.
Monday, May 19 – Division One: Keiss v High Ormlie Hotspur; John O’Groats v Lybster; Pentland United v Staxigoe United; Wick Groats v Castletown (all 7.15pm).
Tuesday, May 20 – Division Two: Halkirk v Watten; Thurso Pentland v Top Joe’s; Wick Thistle v Acks (all 7.15pm).
Highland Amateur Cup second-round draw (ties to be played on Saturday, May 31): Avoch v Ferry United; Benbecula v High Ormlie Hotspur; Dounby Athletic v Kirkwall Thorfinn; East United v Barra; Fortrose v Black Rock Rovers; Halkirk v Carloway; Inverness Athletic v Fort William Reserves; Kirkwall Accies v Thurso Acks; Lerwick Spurs v Westside; Maryburgh v North West Skye; Scalloway v Iochdar Saints; Tornagrain v Pentland United; Watten v Staxigoe United; Whalsay v Portree; Wick Groats v CK Interiors; Wick Thistle v Inver.