Spurs in seventh heaven as they clinch promotion play-off spot
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High Ormlie Hotspur boss, Ewan McElroy, hailed the character of his young side after they clinched their spot in this year's promotion play-off.
Spurs turned on the style in the clash against already-promoted Wick Thistle with a thumping 7-3 victory against the Division Two champions.
Goals from Ryan Sutherland Snr (2), korbyn Cameron (2), Ryan Sutherland Jnr, Aaron Wilson and Grant Mackenzie sealed the win with a shell-shocked Thistle replying via Ross Mackay, Ross McAdie and Greg Gunn.
They will now face Castletown in the play-off on Friday, August 23 to see who will be playing Division One football next year.
For McElroy, this was a superb achievement considering the sluggish start his Spurs side had made to the campaign.
He said: "We had a dreadful start so it's no surprise the boys are delighted to make the play-off.
"We had a few new young players join us before this season started – some still at or had just left school – and they took a while to settle in.
"That maybe led to the poor results we had at the beginning but I always felt that on any given day, we could give most teams a game. We just managed to go on a run doing just that and getting results as well.
We had a dreadful start so it's no surprise the boys are delighted
"We've got a talented, hungry bunch of players here. We were confident we could beat Wick Thistle – who themselves have done brilliantly this year. However, the margin we beat them by was a surprise. I think our Steven Cup final against them on Friday will be a much tighter game though.
"As for Castletown, I'm surprised to be facing them in this because they are a good side. The word is that they've been putting in some good performances but have been unlucky not to get results.
"We're under no illusions that this will be tough. We'll be going out to enjoy the occasion. We sent ourselves a target of winning promotion within three years and now we've got a chance of doing that in year one of that plan."
Elsewhere in Division Two, events going on at Ormlie Park meant Halkirk's bid for the play-off spot was rendered meaningless despite thrashing bottom side Top Joes 7-1.
Stuart Campbell (2), Davy Byrne (2), Hamish Coghill, Matthew Mackay and Liam Mackay all hit the target with Derek Munro netting for Joes.
Watten drew 2-2 at home to Thurso Pentland. Shane Honeyman and Kai Cameron struck for them with Thurso hitting back via Ewan Scott and Nathan Quinn.
In Division One, Pentland United defeated Thurso Acks 3-1 thanks to goals from James Murray (2) and Colin McLean. Acks' goal was scored by Graham Bremner.
John O'Groats won 2-0 at Castletown via strikes from Eddie MacGregor and Jimmy Budge while Jonah Martens smashed in four goals as Lybster hammered Thurso Swifts 7-0. Kyle Sutherland, Gary Weir and Robbie McIvor also netted.
