Stability is number one target for Castletown on return to top flight
Stability is the main aim for Castletown in their first season back in the top flight of the Caithness summer league, according to manager Tom McKenna.
The Quarrymen finished 15 points clear of their nearest rivals Swifts in Division Two last year and have made a solid start to the new campaign, although they had to settle for a share of the points against Acks at Back Park on Friday night.
McKenna said: "I think last year there was an expectation of winning every game and being dominant within that league. This year we're honest with ourselves – we know our targets, we know our goals.
"From the club as a whole, if we can stabilise ourselves, stay in this league this year, that's our main target – and try and get a couple of good cup runs. Anything beyond that really is a bonus."
He added: "We're all individual competitors, we all want to do well, we all want to win football games. You've got to be ambitious."
Greg Macleod scored with a header in Friday's game, with Steven Lowe on target for Acks.
Castletown have won once, lost once and drawn twice in their opening four Division One fixtures.
"The players and myself were really disappointed," McKenna said after the 1-1 draw. "We wanted to come away from this week with seven points but we've come away with five now.
"We didn't have the relevant qualities in the relevant areas of the park to really press them and ask questions and be clinical in the final third.
"I can't fault the guys' effort, their honesty within the game. We just didn't have that wee bit of quality to take us over the line."
It was the first point of the season for Acks.
Their player/manager Craig Trueman said: "It was an even game and a draw was a fair result.
"From our point of view it was a much better team performance after the disappointing game before against Pentland United. Every one of our boys gave 100 per cent and that's all we can ask for.
"Hopefully we can now take the same effort and commitment into the rest of the season and start picking up some more points."
Andy Mackay's penalty was enough to give Pentland United a 1-0 victory over Staxigoe United at the Upper Bignold.
Wick Thistle remain unbeaten, and are sitting third in the table, after a 3-2 victory over High Ormlie Hotspur at Morrison Park in the other match to go ahead on Friday.
Kyle Henderson, Ross Mackay and Sam Barclay scored for Thistle, with Stuart Campbell and Kuba Koziol replying for Spurs.
It was the second defeat of the week against Wick opposition for High Ormlie, who had lost 4-0 to Groats on Tuesday.
The John O'Groats v Wick Groats match was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
Results from Friday – Caithness AFA Division One: Castletown 1, Acks 1; High Ormlie Hotspur 2, Wick Thistle 3; Staxigoe United 0, Pentland United 1.
Fixtures – Tuesday, May 2 – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup, first round: High Ormlie Hotspur v Lybster; Pentland United v Staxigoe United; Watten v Keiss (all 6.30pm).
Wednesday, May 3 – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup, first round: Castletown v Swifts; Thurso Pentland v Wick Thistle; Wick Groats v Acks (all 6.30pm).
Saturday, May 6 – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup quarter-finals: Castletown or Swifts v Wick Groats or Acks; High Ormlie Hotspur or Lybster v Pentland United or Staxigoe United; John O'Groats Top Joe's; Thurso Pentland or Wick Thistle v Watten or Keiss (all 3pm).