We can go far, says MacNab after his five-goal haul for Staxigoe
Prolific striker Graham MacNab believes Staxigoe United can go far in the Highland Amateur Cup this year after cruising to victory in their second-round tie at Watten.
The 33-year-old scored five as Staxigoe ran out 8-1 winners against their second division opponents in the only all-Caithness clash in the last 32 of the tournament.
MacNab brought his goal tally to nine in the space of five days, after scoring four times in a 5-1 victory over John O’Groats in the first round of the Eain Mackintosh Cup.
Dave Manson hit a first-half double at Watten on Saturday and Matthew Aitkenhead was also on target as Staxigoe led 5-0 at the break.
Having netted twice in the first period, MacNab added three more clinical finishes in the second half. Ryan Farquhar fired in a spectacular consolation goal for the home side.
“If we’ve got everybody there I think we’ve got one of the best squads in Caithness,” MacNab said.
“We got off to a slow start last year but we seem to be getting results now and we’ve definitely got a squad to go far.
“I’m enjoying my football. We’re all mates here and we get along well.”
Richard Macadie is now at Staxigoe United and MacNab believes the former Wick Academy captain will be a big influence on the club’s younger players.
“He adds experience because a lot of our boys are young,” MacNab said. “Richie is a good addition to the squad.”
MacNab acknowledged Watten’s improved performance after the break.
“They did well in the second half,” he said. “They got their shape a bit better and made it hard for us.”
MacNab believes Caithness clubs’ track record in the Highland Amateur Cup over the past decade or so speaks for itself.
Wick Groats have won four of the last 10 finals – with MacNab himself scoring the only goal the last time Groats lifted the trophy, in 2019.
Staxigoe reached the final in 2017 and High Ormlie Hotspur won it in 2022, then Pentland United became Highland Amateur Cup winners for a record-extending ninth time last summer.
“The standard is good up here,” MacNab said. “I’ve always thought the first division is one of the strongest in the Highlands.”
Watten manager Scott Bremner said: “We needed to have a very, very good day and they needed to have a very, very bad day, and it never quite happened.
“I thought we started well, the first 20 minutes, but when they scored their goals we couldn’t match their quality.
“When you’ve got players like Richard Macadie and the MacNab twins [Graham and Grant] in their team, it’s an uphill battle already. The quality was just too high.
“They are definitely up there as one of the favourites to go and win it. Credit to them, I wish them all the best.”
Staxigoe have been drawn away to the 2022 winners High Ormlie Hotspur in round three.
James Mackintosh hit a hat-trick as Hotspur thumped Benbecula 6-1 at neutral Evanton. Liam Bain scored twice and Mark Munro was also on target.
Mackintosh said: “We played well. It was pretty tight until we got the first goal, then everyone was a bit more relaxed and we were able to play our style of football.
“We’re looking forward to the next round. Staxigoe will be really tough opposition but I’m sure it will be a good game.”
Results – Highland Amateur Cup, second round: Avoch 3, Ferry United 1; Benbecula 1, High Ormlie Hotspur 6 (Evanton); Dounby Athletic 1, Kirkwall Thorfinn 1 (AET, Dounby won 3-2 on penalties); Fortrose 2, Black Rock 1; Halkirk 1, Carloway 5 (at Culbokie); Inverness Athletic 6, Fort William Reserves 1; Kirkwall Accies 0, Thurso Acks 4; Lerwick Spurs 4, Westside 1; Maryburgh 6, North West Skye 0; Tornagrain 1, Pentland United 5 (at Culloden); Watten 1, Staxigoe United 8; Whalsay 6, Portree 0; Wick Thistle 0, Inver 1.
Highland Amateur Cup third-round draw (ties to be played on June 21): Carloway v Fortrose; East United or Barra or Stornoway Athletic v Dounby Athletic; High Ormlie Hotspur v Staxigoe United; Inver v Thurso Acks; Lerwick Spurs v Maryburgh; Pentland United v Inverness Athletic; Scalloway or Iochdar Saints or Stornoway United v Whalsay; Wick Groats or CK Interiors or Culloden v Avoch.
Three second-round ties were postponed pending appeals.
Fixtures – Tuesday, June 3 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-finals: Castletown v Wick Thistle; Halkirk v Keiss; Pentland United v Staxigoe United; High Ormlie Hotspur v Lybster (all 7.15pm).
Friday, June 6 – Division Two: Swifts v Halkirk; Top Joe’s v Wick Thistle; Watten v Thurso Pentland (all 7.30pm).
Saturday, June 7 – Stannergill Cup final: Castletown v Staxigoe United (at Castletown, 3pm).
Sunday, June 8 – SWF Highlands and Islands League: Orkney v Caithness (kick-off TBC).