Tough trip to Orkney awaits High Ormlie after comeback win against Acks
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High Ormlie Hotspur will have to come through a tough trip to Orkney if they are to continue their love affair with the Highland Amateur Cup beyond round two of this year's competition.
The holders have been drawn away to Kirkwall Hotspurs after staging a second-half recovery to beat Thurso Acks 3-1 in Saturday's first-round tie at Morrison Park.
Acks led at half-time through a penalty from Kyle Innes.
High Ormlie got themselves level when Aaron Wilson's cross from the right was knocked into his own net by Acks' Iain Macrae. The holders were soon in front when James Mackintosh broke through and clipped the ball in, then William Cannop put the tie beyond Acks' reach with another clinical finish.
High Ormlie co-manager Liam Sutherland said: "At half-time everyone realised that if we want to win this, we've got to work for each other. Nobody was going to step up and do it for them.
"In the first half we controlled a lot of the ball but we didn't create too much. They stuck at it and got the penalty.
"We had a strong bench to use and the boys that came on early, Aaron Wilson and Rob McLean, made a huge difference. They gave us more energy and got us going again.
"We could have got a few more goals but credit to all the boys, they all stepped up in the second half and pulled through.
"They absolutely love this tournament. No matter who's up next in the league it's always, 'When's the next round of the Highland Amateur?' They love the whole day out – it's a special occasion."
Acks player/manager Craig Trueman said: "We conceded a bad goal early on [in the second half] and the heads dropped.
"There was a 10-minute spell when we ended up conceding three goals and that's what cost us. We couldn't get back into it."
Trueman pointed out that Acks were missing five or six of their more experienced players.
"I can't fault the boys that were there," he added. "They all put a good shift in and we were unlucky. In the first half we were good.
"It maybe just comes with a bit of experience for the boys that were playing that when you concede that first goal, maybe just sit in for five or 10 minutes to make sure you don't concede again and keep yourself in the game – whereas we maybe lost our heads a bit, conceded a couple of quick goals after that, and the game was gone."
Staxigoe United made it through to the last 32 of the Highland Amateur Cup after coming from behind to win 2-1 against North West Sutherland League champions Helmsdale United at Couper Park on Saturday.
Kevin Cairns gave Helmsdale an early lead but Matthew Aitkenhead struck twice as Staxigoe earned a home tie against Inverness Athletic Amateurs in the next round.
Groats and Thistle will meet in a Wick derby after comfortable first-round wins at the weekend.
Steven Anderson, Ben Sinclair (2), Alan Mathieson and Jonah Martens were on target as Groats won 5-0 at Lochbroom. Thistle beat Top Joe's 3-0.
Keiss stormed to an 8-2 victory over Thurso Pentland in another all-Caithness tie and they will meet Carloway next.
Castletown earned a home tie against Lerwick Celtic after a shoot-out victory over Lairg Rovers at Back Park following a 2-2 draw.
Results – Highland Amateur Cup, first round (north section): Castletown 2, Lairg Rovers 2 (Castletown won 3-2 on penalties); Golspie Stafford 7, Invergordon 3; Inver 3, Lochinver 2; Helmsdale United 1, Staxigoe United 2; High Ormlie Hotspur 3, Thurso Acks 1; Lochbroom 0, Wick Groats 5; Thurso Pentland 2, Keiss 8; Wick Thistle 3, Top Joe's 0.
Draw for round two: Ardersier v Avoch; Barra v Stromness Athletic; Black Rock Rovers v Back; Castletown v Lerwick Celtic; Clachnacuddin U20 v Stornoway Athletic; Dounby Athletic v Harris; Ferrybache v Inver; Fortrose and Rosemarkie Union v Conon Bridge; Golspie Stafford v Ness United; Keiss v Carloway; Kirkwall Hotspurs v High Ormlie Hotspur; Lerwick Spurs v Gellions; Loch Ness Amateurs v Iochdar Saints; Mallaig v North West Skye; Staxigoe United v Inverness Athletic Amateurs; Wick Groats v Wick Thistle (ties to be played on Saturday, June 3).
Fixtures – Tuesday, May 16 – CAFA Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur v Acks; John O'Groats v Pentland United. Division Two: Keiss v Swifts; Lybster v Watten (all 7.15pm).
Wednesday, May 17 – Division One: Castletown v Staxigoe United; Wick Groats v Wick Thistle. Division Two: Thurso Pentland v Top Joe's (all 7.15pm).
Saturday, May 20 – Alan Farquhar testimonial: Wick Academy v SPL Legends (2pm).
