Swifts return with victory over rivals
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THURSO Swifts announced their return to Division One in winning fashion as they claimed local bragging rights in their derby clash against Acks.
Swifts, who won promotion to the top flight last year, couldn’t have hoped for a better start to life in the big league after a 2-1 win at the Dammies.
Louis Webster had given Acks the lead on the stroke of half-time but a stirring second-half comeback from Swifts saw Darren Malcolm and Steven Lowe clinch a memorable victory.
A delighted Swifts boss Nigel Mackenzie said: “It was a good result given it was our first game following promotion.
“A local derby first up was never going to be easy but I’m proud of the character we showed.
“It was a fairly even game approaching half-time and then Acks caught us with a sucker punch.
“The opening stages of the second half saw Acks put some pressure on us but our defence – especially our two centre-halves, Andrew Bremner and James Swan – coped well.
“We then began to assert ourselves and got our reward with the two goals.”
Elsewhere, Pentland United put their Colin Macleod Cup exit behind them as they also got their Division One campaign off to a flying.
United turned on the style to go nap on Lybster in an emphatic 5-0 victory.
James Murray’s hat-trick along with goals Gary Manson and Innes Mackintosh sent them on their way and boss Michael Gray was delight with his side’s performance.
He said: “After being knocked out of the Colin Macleod Cup, it was good to get the league campaign off to a fine start.
“There were no failures on the park. We set out with a game plan to put them under pressure and it paid off.”
Fixtures (all kick-offs 6.45pm): Tonight – CAFA Division Two: Thurso Pentland v FC Retro. Colin Macleod Memorial Cup – quarter-final: Wick Groats v Staxigoe United.
Tuesday – CAFA Division Two: Castletown v Top Joes; Francis Street Club v FC Retro; High Ormlie Hotspur v Wick Thistle; Keiss v Watten.
Wednesday – CAFA Division One: John O’Groats v Halkirk; Lybster v Thurso Acks; Staxigoe United v Pentland United; Thurso Swifts v Wick Groats.
