Sutherland warns there are no easy games as Pentland United eye another long run in Highland Amateur Cup
Former winners Pentland United are fancied by many to go all the way in the Highland Amateur Cup – but co-manager Ross Sutherland has warned there will be no easy games as the tournament reaches the third-round stage.
The Stabbies will be at home to North-West Sutherland league leaders Lairg Rovers in the last 16 following a comfortable 4-0 victory over Kirkwall Thorfinn at sunny Ham Park on Saturday.
Goals by Andy Mackay, Marc Macgregor and Conor Cormack gave United a 3-0 lead at half-time and there was no way back for the islanders when Cormack got his second of the afternoon soon after the break.
“The first goal took a wee while to come," Sutherland said. "We missed a few chances but we were well organised.
“The way we've been playing from the start of the season, we've been building ourselves into games so we had to try and change that mindset to get them on the front foot from the off – and they did that.
“We were moving the ball about pretty well and the chances were coming every few minutes.
“Overall we're pretty happy with the performance. We were a bit slack maybe in the last 20 minutes, but the changes do that.
“We tried to keep an eye on their games. Any team from Orkney that comes across, they are always going to give it their all from the first to the last minute, whether it's playing a bit of football or they're going long.
“It was a good battle. I'm delighted for the boys.
“Once we got the [first] goal, we calmed down a bit.
“The first 45 was probably the most intense that we've played all season. We got the ball down, we got it moving pretty quickly.
“There was better composure in the box but there's a little bit to go yet.”
The Dunnet outfit have won the competition a record eight times.
Sutherland said: “Every team likes a long run in the Highland Amateur Cup – that's the prestige of it, and there is a little bit of the unknown.
"There are no really easy games. If you don't put your mind to it, it's not going to work out for you.
“We'll just look forward to the next round now.”
Third-round draw: Avoch v Kirkwall Hotspurs; Black Rock Rovers v Golspie Stafford; Iochdar Saints v High Ormlie Hotspur; IRN Security v Sleat and Strath; Pentland United v Lairg Rovers; Ness v Carloway; Stromness Athletic v Wick Thistle; Wick Groats v Staxigoe United (ties to be played on Saturday, June 25).
Quarter-final draw: Stromness Athletic or Wick Thistle v Pentland United or Lairg Rovers; Black Rock Rovers or Golspie Stafford v Iochdar Saints or High Ormlie Hotspur; Ness or Carloway v Avoch or Kirkwall Hotspurs; IRN Security or Sleat and Strath v Wick Groats or Staxigoe United (ties to be played on Saturday, July 16).
Results – Highland Amateur Cup, round two (ties involving Caithness clubs): High Ormlie Hotspur 4, Lochinver 1; Loch Ness 2, Wick Groats 4; Pentland United 4, Kirkwall Thorfinn 0; Staxigoe United 4, Lochbroom 2; Watten 0, Iochdar Saints 4 (Bught Park, Inverness); Wick Thistle 2, Ardersier 0.
Fixtures – Tuesday, June 7 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-finals: John O'Groats v Pentland United; Staxigoe United v Top Joe's (both 7.15pm).
Colin Macleod Memorial Cup, quarter-final: Castletown v Wick Groats (7.15pm).
Thursday, June 9 – Caithness AFA Division One: Wick Thistle v High Ormlie Hotspur. Division Two: Castletown v Top Joe's; Pentland v Keiss; Watten v Swifts (all 7.30pm).
Friday, June 10 – Division One: John O'Groats v Acks; Pentland United v Lybster; Staxigoe United v Wick Groats (all 7.30pm).
