Praise for High Ormlie’s battling qualities after semi-final exit
Co-manager Liam Sutherland praised the battling qualities shown by under-strength High Ormlie Hotspur as they were knocked out of the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup.
Hotspur tasted defeat for the first time this season as Wick Groats won 3-0 in Saturday’s semi-final in Thurso.
After a goalless first half at the Dammies, Steven Anderson lit up the tie with a stunning free kick and Sandy Sutherland doubled their lead before Steven Sutherland added a stoppage-time penalty.
Liam Sutherland said: “It was a game of few chances, and when their chances came they took them. I thought in the first half we were definitely the better team.
“They were going long and I thought we dealt with it really well. We had a few chances in the first half but didn’t take them.
“In the second half we never got going properly. It was some strike for their first goal – Lewis [Gallacher] is a brilliant keeper and he’s not getting near that.
"We battled away, then the second went in with a few minutes left. We got caught out for the penalty when we were trying to go for it – we had to throw bodies forward.”
High Ormlie were so short-handed that two of the management team, Ewan McElroy and Sutherland himself, were listed as substitutes.
“I thought the boys battled away tremendously,” Sutherland said. “I’ve got nothing but praise for my boys.
“You could see how short we were on bodies. By the time I had to sign myself and Ewan, things were looking pretty bleak going into it today.
“But the boys on the park battled all game and I can’t fault them at all. It just didn’t fall our way.”
Sutherland added: “So far this season everyone has played their part tremendously. We’ve had a superb start – that’s our first loss this season.
“But the games are coming thick and fast. We've got two days and then we’ve got Pentland United on Tuesday night. Hopefully the boys will rest up and will be ready to go again on Tuesday.”
Keiss continued their 100 per cent start to the CAFA second division campaign when they came from behind to beat Halkirk 4-1 at Bayview Park on Friday.
Alan Larnach put the visitors in front but Tony Miller fired home the equaliser and Keiss pulled clear with further goals from Kyle Sutherland and Olly Manton.
Keiss player/manager Bradley Thomson was red-carded before half-time but Halkirk were unable to take advantage and Manton rounded off the scoring with his second of the night.
Results – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup, semi-finals: High Ormlie Hotspur 0, Wick Goats 3; Pentland United 5, Staxigoe United 3. CAFA Division Two: Keiss 4, Halkirk 1.
SWF Highlands and Islands League: Caithness 1, Sutherland 5.
Fixtures – Monday, May 20 – CAFA Division Two: Keiss v Top Joe’s (7.15pm).
Tuesday, May 21 – Division One: Castletown v Wick Groats; High Ormlie Hotspur v Pentland United; John O’Groats v Wick Thistle; Staxigoe United v Lybster (all 7.15pm).
Thursday, May 23 – Division Two: Acks v Pentland; Halkirk v Watten; Keiss v Swifts (all 7.15pm).
Friday, May 24 – Division One: Castletown v Lybster; High Ormlie Hotspur v Wick Thistle; John O’Groats v Wick Groats; Staxigoe United v Pentland United (all 7.15pm).
