Sinclair wants Staxigoe to keep up the momentum after third win in a row
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Staxigoe United manager Colin Sinclair is urging his team to keep up the momentum after a third successive victory in all competitions.
They beat Castletown 3-2 in Wednesday night's Caithness AFA Division One clash at a rainy Back Park. Staxigoe had picked up their first league win of the season against Acks last week, then got the better of North West Sutherland champions Helmsdale United in the Highland Amateur Cup.
“That's three wins on the bounce now so hopefully we can keep the momentum going," Sinclair said. "We're getting a more settled team now so that is helping too.
“Confidence was down after the start we had, but let's hope we can build on this. There are no easy games.”
Michael Smith put Castletown ahead from the penalty spot but Staxigoe equalised when a deep cross was bundled in by a combination of Hasheem Bremner and Morgan Kennedy, with Kennedy appearing to get the last touch.
Kennedy scored from the spot in the second half and Darren Sheppard added a third for Staxigoe with a header from a free kick by 15-year-old Arran Bain.
Castletown's Jack McKechnie sent a superb first-time finish into the top corner with practically the last kick of the game.
Castletown had an energy-sapping Highland Amateur Cup tie on Saturday when they overcame Lairg Rovers.
Manager Tom McKenna said: “It did take a lot out of them going to extra time and penalties, then coming here playing a team that are quite sharp and mobile.
“We went 1-0 up and rather than being solid for the next 10 or 15 minutes, being resilient and protecting our lead, we put ourselves back under pressure.
“We did look lethargic. Our retention of the ball was poor whereas it's normally good.
“I can't take anything away from Staxigoe – they played at a good tempo and we struggled to deal with that at times.”
Wick Thistle underlined the progress they have made this season as they drew 1-1 with town rivals Groats. The Jags remain unbeaten.
Kyle Henderson put Thistle ahead in the first half with a brilliant finish. Groats' Stewart Atkins got a late leveller.
Thistle player/manager Owen Harrold said: “I thought we were by far the better team in the first half. We could have been out of sight with the chances we had – we played some brilliant football.
“In the second half we struggled to get anything going. Groats pushed us back and then got their breakthrough late on, but I couldn’t fault the boys' work rate and performance.
“There are lots of positives to take away from the game.”
Groats manager Kevin Anderson said: "I felt it was a game of two halves. We didn't get going at all in the first half, and to be honest were lucky to go in only 1-0 down at half-time.
"It was a poor goal lost from our point of view, but a great finish from Kyle Henderson.
"We were very passive and our decision-making wasn't good. You can carry one or two having an off game but unfortunately we had more than that.
"However, we got a reaction and in the second half we were much better. On another day could have won the game.
"A draw was probably a fair result over the 90 minutes, but we know we need to be so much better going forward."
Top Joe’s beat Thurso Pentland 6-1 in Division Two.
Joe’s Shaun MacDonald scored two classy finishes inside the opening 15 minutes. Derek Manson made it three after half an hour with a long-range effort and MacDonald added the fourth just before half-time.
Adam Sutherland scored a free kick for Pentland early in the second half and they then had Ian Smith sent off for persistent fouling.
Jordan McLean got Joe's fifth from the edge of the box and Luke Wilson rounded off the scoring with a towering header.
Results – CAFA Division One: Castletown 2, Staxigoe United 3; High Ormlie Hotspur 3, Acks 1; John O'Groats 1, Pentland United 2; Wick Groats 1, Wick Thistle 1. Division Two: Keiss 3, Swifts 3; Lybster 2, Watten 0; Thurso Pentland 1, Top Joe's 6.
Fixtures: Saturday, May 20 – Alan Farquhar Testimonial: Wick Academy v SPL Legends (2pm).
Monday, May 22 – CAFA Division Two: Keiss v Thurso Pentland; Swifts v Lybster; Watten v Top Joe's (all 7.15pm).
Tuesday, May 23 – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup, semi-finals: Pentland United v Wick Groats; Wick Thistle v John O'Groats (both 7pm).
Highland Amateur Cup, first round (north section) results: Castletown 2, Lairg Rovers 2 (Castletown won 3-2 on penalties); Golspie Stafford 7, Invergordon 3; Inver 3, Lochinver 2; Helmsdale United 1, Staxigoe United 2; High Ormlie Hotspur 3, Thurso Acks 1; Lochbroom 0, Wick Groats 5; Thurso Pentland 2, Keiss 8; Wick Thistle 3, Top Joe's 0.
Highland Amateur Cup second-round draw: Ardersier v Avoch; Barra v Stromness Athletic; Black Rock Rovers v Back; Castletown v Lerwick Celtic; Clachnacuddin U20 v Stornoway Athletic; Dounby Athletic v Harris; Ferrybache v Inver; Fortrose and Rosemarkie Union v Conon Bridge; Golspie Stafford v Ness United; Keiss v Carloway; Kirkwall Hotspurs v High Ormlie Hotspur; Lerwick Spurs v Gellions; Loch Ness Amateurs v Iochdar Saints; Mallaig v North West Skye; Staxigoe United v Inverness Athletic Amateurs; Wick Groats v Wick Thistle (ties to be played on Saturday, June 3).
