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Treble for MacNab as Wick Groats progress to Eain Mackintosh Cup semi-finals


By Alan Hendry

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Graham MacNab tucks away his third of the night from the penalty spot. Picture: James Gunn
Graham MacNab tucks away his third of the night from the penalty spot. Picture: James Gunn

Graham MacNab and Steven Anderson continued their prolific partnership as Wick Groats progressed to the semi-finals of the Eain Mackintosh Cup with a 4-1 victory over Acks at the Dammies on Monday night.

MacNab hit a hat-trick, including a contentious penalty, and Anderson rounded off the scoring for the holders who will meet Castletown in the last four this weekend.

“It was a slightly frustrating game," manager Kevin Anderson said. "We knocked the ball about well without really having the killer touch in the final third.

“We were pleasing on the eye, and the ball retention was really good, but I felt we should have had the game killed off long before we did.

“The game was still live 60 to 70 minutes in, whereas we really should have had it dead and buried by then.”

Grant MacNab watches the ball bounce over goalkeeper Ryan Bain for the second goal. Picture: James Gunn
Grant MacNab watches the ball bounce over goalkeeper Ryan Bain for the second goal. Picture: James Gunn

Acks player/co-manager Craig Trueman said: "We made it competitive for most of the game. Considering on Friday morning we only had seven available players, we managed to put together a decent squad.

"We pulled Murray and Gary Coghill out of retirement and had two 16-year-olds in the squad. Both the young boys did well, considering it was against Wick Groats.

"We knew it was going to be tough. After we went 2-0 down early on it could have got a lot worse, but the boys' attitude was perfect and we battled away and made it hard for them to break us down."

After MacNab's early double, David Hale reduced the deficit for Acks before half-time. MacNab made it 3-1 after a disputed spot-kick decision.

"It might be the softest penalty I've ever seen given," Trueman said. "That killed us at 3-1 and they scored a fourth at the end when we were chasing the game."

Anderson admitted: “I felt it was a very soft penalty as well. If it had gone against us I would be debating that one, for sure.

“However, about 10 minutes later I thought we had a stonewall penalty for a push on the back of Korbyn Cameron.”

Adam Porteous (left) congratulates David Hale on scoring Acks' goal. Picture: James Gunn
Adam Porteous (left) congratulates David Hale on scoring Acks' goal. Picture: James Gunn

Results – Alan Farquhar testimonial: Caithness AFA 2, Wick Academy 3.

Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-final: Acks 1, Wick Groats 4.

Fixtures – Tuesday – David Allan Shield, first round: Keiss v Pentland United; Lybster v Swifts; Thurso Pentland v Wick Thistle; Staxigoe United v Top Joe's (7.15pm).

Wednesday – David Allan Shield, first round: John O'Groats v Watten; Wick Groats v High Ormlie Hotspur (7.15pm).

Saturday – Eain Mackintosh Cup, semi-finals: Castletown v Wick Groats; Staxigoe United v Pentland United (3pm).

Andrew Hardwick blocks a shot from Alan Mathieson. Picture: James Gunn
Andrew Hardwick blocks a shot from Alan Mathieson. Picture: James Gunn

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