Pentland United players need to win individual battles in Avoch clash
Co-manager Michael Gray has said the Pentland United players will be instructed to win their individual battles in Saturday’s Highland Amateur Cup quarter-final against Avoch.
The tie at Ham Park is a rematch of last year’s final, which the Stabbies won 2-1 in Wick for a record-extending ninth triumph in the competition.
They are the only Caithness team left in this season’s tournament and they can expect another tough test against the Inverness and District FA heavyweights from the Black Isle.
United will be looking for an improvement after being beaten 4-2 by Wick Groats at a rainswept Upper Bignold on Tuesday night.
The Dunnet outfit went into the game knowing a point would be enough to secure back-to-back county league titles. Instead they suffered their first league defeat of the season.
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“We’ll look to have a little bit of a reset after what we’ve seen tonight,” Gray said as the United management team turned their thoughts towards the Avoch clash.
“Football is played on grass – you come up with strategies and plans and tactics but ultimately it comes down to 11 v 11 and individual battles. If you win those, ultimately you’ll come out on top.
“We’ll be asking the guys to have a little bit of self-reflection and then we’ll dust ourselves down and have a go and hopefully get through to the next round of the Highland Amateur Cup.”
The Stabbies are still well placed to retain the Division One trophy but Gray, speaking post-match in Wick, said: “I don’t think we’re in any position to be complacent. When you come to a place like this it’s very difficult.
“I didn’t think that we started the game very well and I felt that we didn’t show the right kind of mental attitude.
“We got level twice and conceded within minutes of that both times. That just shows that the concentration wasn’t at the necessary level.
“The shape that they got themselves into was quite bewildering at times. We spoke at length about certain aspects of the game and they just didn’t do it.
“That was a thoroughly disappointing performance. I’m disappointed for the supporters that came here expecting a big performance from them, given what was at stake. We’ve let them down.”
Pentland United are at home to John O’Groats in their next league fixture (August 5) before rounding off their Division One programme away to Castletown (August 12).
“We’ve got a little bit of work to do and it would be wrong to write off any other teams,” Gray added. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – every team has got something to play for at the moment.
“We’ve got John O’Groats next and I’m sure that they’ll fancy their chances.”
Results – Friday – Steven Cup semi-finals, first leg: Halkirk 4, Thurso Pentland 1; Wick Thistle 8, Watten 1. Division One: Lybster 2, John O’Groats 3.
Tuesday – Division One: Castletown 4, High Ormlie Hotspur 2; John O’Groats 2, Keiss 2; Lybster 2, Staxigoe United 6; Wick Groats 4, Pentland United 2.
Fixtures – Wednesday, July 23 – Steven Cup semi-final, second leg: Watten v Wick Thistle (7pm).
Thursday, July 24 – Steven Cup semi-final, second leg: Thurso Pentland v Halkirk (7pm).
Friday, July 25 – David Allan Shield quarter-finals: High Ormlie Hotspur v Lybster; Wick Thistle v Castletown (both 7pm).
Saturday, July 26 – Highland Amateur Cup quarter-final: Pentland United v Avoch (3pm).
Monday, July 28 – Division Two: Thurso Pentland v Acks (7.15pm).
Tuesday, July 29 – David Allan Shield, quarter-finals: Halkirk v Keiss; Pentland United v Watten. David Allan Shield, semi-final: High Ormlie Hotspur or Lybster v Wick Thistle or Castletown (all 7pm).
Wednesday, July 30 – Division Two: Top Joe’s v Halkirk (7.15pm).