Staxigoe just too hot to handle
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STAXIGOE UNITED 3 - 0 WICK THISTLE
STAXIGOE have not let the grass grow under their feet since re-establishing themselves on the county soccer scene two years ago.
After winning the second-division title and Steven Cup in their debut season, a fourth-place finish in the top flight last term showed they were a force to be reckoned with.
An 8-1 mauling in Dunnet on the opening evening of this year’s league campaign did not augur well. But they proved this to be a freak result in tasting defeat again just once in the dozen games they have played since.
On Saturday, in the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup final, their mix of promising youngsters and experienced old hands were just too much to handle for a tyro Thistle side at Castletown.
Arthur Bruce’s young guns battled to the end and showed the potential they have to turn into a more than useful outfit.
Gordie Reid tried hard to pull strings from the middle of the pitch but time and again he found his options extremely limited. Without the ball, United hounded and harried, and with it they looked the more purposeful and incisive.
They just about monopolised the clear scoring opportunities, converting three and going close on at least as many occasions.
Their opponents had the first effort on target when United keeper Daniel Budge was forced to go to ground to gather Marc Gunn’s well-struck free kick.
Until Brian Reid headed Gordie Reid’s centre against the face of the bar late on at 0-3, this was to be just about the Jags’ only serious attempt on goal.
Following the departure of the MacNab twins and Martin Bremner, United may have looked short on striking power. But they have unearthed a starlet in the diminutive Martin Banks whose pace and movement has been discomfiting defences all season.
Willie Little’s crude take-out of the striker after four minutes was marked by a caution. A couple of minutes later, Little was to the fore in a more constructive fashion when he blocked Martin Banks’s goal-bound header from Greg Shearer’s assist.
Neutrals were hoping second division Thistle would score first for the sake of the contest. But it was United who struck on 16 minutes when Jimmy Budge rose to plant Shearer’s cross from wide out on the right between the stretch of James Richard and the keeper’s left-hand post.
Central defender Gavin Sinclair was prominent in resisting further United pressure.
The solid defensive shield ensured Richard was well protected though the keeper was relieved to see a snap long-ranger from Colin Davidson clear his crossbar.
The Jags conceded again on 39 minutes just when it looked like they could get to the interval without further damage.
Richard will regret charging from his area to try and reach Colin Sinclair’s nudge upfield for Martin Banks to chase.
The forward always looked favourite to reach it and his lob went in after one bounce despite a gymnastic attempt by Gavin Sinclair to clear.
Sinclair played on after lengthy treatment for a muscle injury sustained in the manoeuvre.
United went on to largely dominate possession after the interval.
Early on Alan Sinclair headed just over from a corner from his brother Colin. The latter then struck the bar with a free kick as United went for the jugular.
On the hour-mark, Jimmy Budge joined team-mate Ben Taylor in the book after going off injured without permission.
The killer third goal came on 73 minutes when Stevie Reid’s free kick from the left side of the penalty box veered past Richard into the far corner of the net.
Thistle never gave up the cause with Brian Reid inches away from getting what would have been deserved reward for his side.
The last chance fell at the other end when Peter Niwa’s overhead kick was kept out by Richard.
Staxigoe United: D. Budge, Davidson (A. Banks 78), Cormack, A. Sinclair, Taylor, Reid, Niwa, Shearer (R. Budge 80), M. Banks, J. Budge (Hendry 64), C. Sinclair. Subs not used: Dunnett and Green.
Wick Thistle: Richard, Howden, McGee, Little, Sinclair (Swanson 80), B. Gunn (McLeod 36), G. Reid, B. Reid, Farquhar, Steven (Harrold 65), M. Gunn. Subs not used: Duffy and Banks.
Referee: G. Elder, Thurso.
Before the final, a squad comprising contemporaries of Colin Macleod played over-35s from Wick, Thurso and Halkirk. It ended up 3-0 for the visitors.
