Thistle run riot with extra-time goal fest
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THERE was no shortage of goals in the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup quarter-finals last week – including a bumper 16 at Lower Bignold when Wick Thistle thrashed Thurso Pentland 12-4.
The scoreline, on the surface, would suggest a massacre but when you bear in mind that the tie finished at 3-3 before going into extra time then it seems Thistle’s stamina won the day.
The Wick side’s goals came via a Steven Hughes hat-trick – all three during a five-minute spell – Greg Gunn (2), Mark Gunn (2), Andy Falconer, Ross Macleod, Taylor Campbell, Greg Mackay and Steven Budge.
Darren Mackay (2), Kieran Campbell and Michael Mackintosh replied for Pentland who also had Scott Davidson and Scott Mackay sent off.
Thistle boss Peter Gunn had mixed feelings despite the emphatic scoreline.
He said: “I was a bit disappointed to go into extra time because I was wanting to see the Arsenal game!
“Joking apart, we were 3-2 up in the last 30 seconds only to lose the ball from a corner we had and then Pentland broke up the park to make it 3-3.
“We were also terrible in the first half and let them race into a 2-0 lead. We got one back on the stroke of half-time and then two more to go in front.
“But in extra time, we managed to get the job done – although it did get to be a bit embarrassing at times given the amount of scoring we did in a 30-minute period.”
Thurso Pentland chairman Martin Baker admitted his players had simply run out of gas by extra time.
He said: “Take away extra time and we performed really well over the 90 minutes. If that was a league game, this would be a good result.
“I felt Scott Davidson was harshly sent off with the referee reasoning that he was the last man during a Wick attack.
“Extra time comes along and Scott Mackay gets himself sent off as well with a moment of madness. No complaints with that one – I know it was a hefty challenge he received but you don’t retaliate by grabbing someone by the throat.
“The lads were tiring in any case but the second sending off just knocked the stuffing out of them. Credit to Wick Thistle, though, they smelt blood and they finished the job off.”
Playing Wick Thistle in the semi-finals will be Staxigoe United, who won the tie of the round against Wick Groats via a penalty shootout.
The match at Upper Bignold had finished 2-2 after extra time after Ryan Campbell’s double had cancelled out Gordy MacNab’s opener for Staxigoe. Ten minutes from time Bryan Reid levelled for United.
Hero for Staxigoe in the shootout was keeper Ryan Robertson, who United boss Andrew Banks admitted was close to moving elsewhere.
He said: “Ryan is our stand-in keeper and was set to move to Wick Thistle before the season began. However, we promised him that if he stayed, he would play in all the cup matches.
“He agreed and Ryan proved his worth by saving Groats’ first two penalties in the shootout.
“We have Wick Thistle in the semis now but we won’t take them for granted because they’re in the second division. They’re better than some teams in the first.”
Wick Groats boss Kevin Anderson admitted his side paid for not taking their chances. He said: “Fair play to Staxigoe because they were clinical in front of goal. We should have killed the game off when 2-1 in front.
“We’ll just take this one on the chin and move on.”
Steve Morris got the only goal of the game as Swifts won their tie at Halkirk 1-0.
