Tactical switch does the trick for Groats
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A CHANGE of formation at half time got Wick Groats out of a sticky situation as they kept up their pursuit of Pentland United.
Groats, who lie a point behind their title rivals, managed to brush aside Thurso Swifts in a 3-0 win at Upper Bignold.
A double from Graham MacNab and one from Greg Shearer wrapped up the points but manager Kevin Anderson felt that such a victory was looking unlikely at the interval.
“The first half was nothing to write home about,” he said.
“Swifts sat deep and they set out to frustrate us. You have to say that their plan worked.
At half time we made a significant change. Instead of continuing with the 4-3-3 formation that we had started with, we switched to 4-4-2 – the idea being that we needed to get behind their defence in order to create some chances and we needed some men out wide to do that.
“Thankfully it worked as we got the first goal which meant that Swifts had to come out and play. We kept our shape and managed to add on another couple.”
Meanwhile, John O’Groats powered to a 4-0 win at struggling Halkirk.
A treble from Eddie MacGregor and a Saleem Bremner penalty helped them on their way and John O’Groats boss Grant Budge was quick to lavish praise on his hat-trick hero.
He said: “Eddie was absolutely superb. When he is on the straight and narrow, he is unplayable.
“The gym work he’s been putting in of late has paid off because, coupled with his pace, the strength he now has makes him difficult to defend against.
“Eddie’s goals will rightly take the limelight but a special word also for our centre-half Stuart Sinclair. He’s just back from injury and showed us all what a top-class player he is.”
Elsewhere, Thurso Acks were held 1-1 at home by Lybster. Acks’ goal came from Conor Trueman with Lybster’s Gary Weir netting in reply.
In Division Two, Thurso Pentland drew 2-2 with Watten at the Dammies. Pentland struck via Scott Ross and Lee Elder with Kai Cameron and Ryan Farquhar hitting back for the visitors.
It was a night to forget for Keiss in the quarter-finals of the David Allan Shield as they were thumped at home by Thurso Acks 14-0. Acks’ goals came from Paul Wares (3), Jordan Macgregor, Graham Bremner (2), Sean Munro, David Hale, Joe Sutherland (4) and Scott Bell (2).
In the other quarter-final, Colin MacLean, Conor Cormack (2), Murray Mackintosh and James Murray were on target for Pentland United as they beat Lybster 5-2. Gunn and Miller replied for the visitors.
