Staxigoe back in the cup as Bellmac get the boot
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Staxigoe United's Highland Amateur Cup dream is back on after they were re-instated back into the competition.
It looked as if the 2017 winners would have to wait another year for Cup glory when Inverness-shire side Bellmac edged them out 3-2.
But it transpired that there was some skullduggery afoot as the Bellmac goalkeeper listed on the official team-sheet was not who he was.
Daniel Rae is Bellmac's regular keeper and the team-sheet handed into the referee before the game had him down as playing.
However, Rae never actually played. Instead, a ringer by the name of Ryan Slaney – who plays for Sunnybank in the Aberdeen leagues – was fielded by Bellmac under Daniel's name.
A youtube clip of the game was viewed by a keen-eyed follower of a rival Inverness-shire league side who promptly got in touch with Staxigoe over Bellmac's attempt to hoodwink them.
Staxigoe put in an official complaint to the cup's organisers who upheld their grievance and put them into the last 16 of the draw while booting Bellmac out of the competition.
They will now host Orkney side Kirkwall Thorfinn in the next round.
Manager Andrew Banks said: "It appears that Bellmac have owned up to it making it pretty and open and shut case.
"It is strange moving into the next round of a cup competition in this manner but that's where we are now.
"Had it been on honest mistake made by Bellmac I'd feel differently about this but what they did was blatant cheating – they deserved what they got.
"As for Kirkwall Thorfinn, I don't know too much about their current squad but as I used to play for Kirkwall Hotspurs, I'll be tapping into the knowledge of my old teammates to see what info they can share about them."
Meanwhile. Staxigoe celebrated their good fortune by pulling in a superb performance to deny CAFA Division One leaders Wick Groats the three points in a 2-2 draw.
Kyle Henderson gave them an early lead only for Groats to hit back via Sandy Sutherland and Stewart Ross' penalty.
However, they were given a lifeline when Groats' Grant MacNab was sent off and they duly cashed in with Grant Aitkenhead bagging a well-earned point with his late strike.
Banks added: "It was a very good performance and result given how we were struggling for numbers – I even came out of retirement to play eighty minutes.
"A draw was a fair result although we had a great chance to win it late on when Kyle Henderson missed a chance that was easier than the one he put away for our first goal.
"We now need to show that we can put on this type of display every week – not just against Wick Groats. We need to do this against the likes of Lybster, Acks, Castletown and the rest."
Wick Groats boss Kevin Anderson had no complaints at the result – despite his side losing their 100 per cent record.
He said: "We were pretty disappointing to be honest. We did not reach the levels we have been hitting prior to this game.
"Staxigoe battled very hard and really played well. They could have nicked it at the end but fortunately, we got a point out of it.
"Some may look at this as a surprise result – and I understand why – but Staxigoe are in a false position.
"They are a better team than their league position reflects and I would not be too surprised if they start climbing the table now."
