Second division champions Wick Thistle have ‘a lot to look forward to’
Wick Thistle have “a lot to look forward to” after securing an immediate return to the top flight of Caithness amateur football, according to Owen Harrold.
The player/manager highlighted the impact made by the Jags’ talented teenagers this season after a 3-0 victory over Swifts at the Upper Bignold made sure of the Caithness AFA Division Two title.
With maximum points from 10 games, and two fixtures remaining, Thistle cannot be caught and Harrold hopes his squad can have further success before the end of the season.
As well as targeting silverware in the Steven Cup, the knockout tournament for second division clubs, Thistle will be hoping for a good run in the David Allan Shield.
“For myself, the goal was just to get up as quickly as possible, to make a quick return, and then anything else was a bonus,” Harrold said after goals by Jayden Bremner (2) and Jamie Steven extended the Jags’ 100 per cent league record on Thursday night.
“That was the target from the get-go, and to do it with games in hand is even better because now we can concentrate on the Steven Cup and try to get another trophy to add to it.
“The young guys have been absolutely tremendous, every single one of them. It’s such a young squad. The aim is now to win the last two games and go unbeaten.
“It’s the young guys that have pulled us through this year. In every game they keep on improving and you kind of forget that they’re only 16 or 17, and they’ve still got their whole career ahead of them.
“It’s exciting looking at what’s going to happen next season. Those guys are going to be a year older and if they keep on improving at the rate of knots that they’re doing just now, we’ve got a lot to look forward to.
“It’s just trying to keep a hold of the young guys now because I would imagine a lot of clubs will be sniffing around.”
Harrold (29) has had to juggle his player/manager role with increased family commitments.
He said: “I’ve been trying to make as many games as I can, obviously, but I’ve got to take my hat off to Andrew Henderson and Martin Gunn – they are there every week, helping me out as much as they can when I can’t make it.
“We’ve had such a busy schedule so you’ve got to chop and change.”
Harrold will again be part of the Wick Academy squad in the coming Highland League season.
He also acknowledged the massive progress made by Thurso Pentland, who remain second in the table despite a 5-0 loss at home to in-form Halkirk.
“They’ve come on in leaps and bounds this year,” Harrold said of Pentland. “All they needed to do was persevere for a couple of years with a squad of young boys and look what’s happening now. They are well up the table.”
Ally Mackintosh scored twice for Halkirk on Thursday, including a penalty, with the others coming from Matthew Cook, Owen Cannop and an own goal.
On Friday, Bailey Morrison’s goal was enough to give Watten a 1-0 win against Acks at the Dammies. That allowed Watten to go back above Halkirk into fourth place.
Wick Academy’s scheduled friendly against Inverness Caledonian Thistle under-19s on Friday was cancelled because of a waterlogged pitch at the Upper Bignold.
Results – Thursday – Division Two: Thurso Pentland 0, Halkirk 5; Wick Thistle 3, Swifts 0.
Friday – Division Two: Acks 0, Watten 1.
Saturday – Eain Mackintosh Cup final: Castletown 0, Pentland United 5.
Fixtures – Tuesday, July 8 – David Allan Shield, round one: Acks v High Ormlie Hotspur; Pentland United v Thurso Pentland; Watten v Top Joe’s; Wick Thistle v Swifts (all 7.15pm).
Wednesday, July 9 – David Allan Shield, round one: Halkirk v Wick Groats; Lybster v John O’Groats; Staxigoe United v Castletown (all 7.15pm).
CAFA standings – Division One: 1 Pentland United (played 10, points 28); 2 Wick Groats (10, 22); 3 High Ormlie Hotspur (10, 22); 4 Staxigoe United (10, 14); 5 Lybster (9, 12); 6 John O’Groats (9, 8); 7 Castletown (10, 4); 8 Keiss (10, 3).
Division Two: 1 Wick Thistle (played 10, points 30); 2 Thurso Pentland (10, 19); 3 Acks (9, 15); 4 Watten (10, 11); 5 Halkirk (9, 8); 6 Swifts (9, 6); 7 Top Joe’s (9, 0). Halkirk deducted six points for playing an ineligible player in two league fixtures.
SWF Highlands and Islands League standings: 1 Buckie (played 6, points 18); 2 Caithness (7, 15); 3 Clachnacuddin (7, 12); 4 Orkney (6, 9); 5 Sutherland (7, 6); 6 Nairn St Ninian (7, 0).
