We can perform to a higher standard, insists Lybster manager
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Manager Cameron Mackenzie admitted Lybster haven't been at their best over the past couple of weeks after the Caithness AFA Division Two leaders secured a 2-1 victory over Top Joe's.
Goals by Bobby Gunn and Robbie McIvor put the village outfit in control at sunny Cow Park on Wednesday night but Top Joe's fought back and Bruin Gunn reduced the deficit late on.
Lybster remain five points clear of second-placed Swifts.
Mackenzie said: “I'm happy that we got the result with many starters missing. The win is the main thing but I still feel my players can perform to a higher standard than they’ve shown in the past couple of weeks.
"However, you can't always be at your best and grinding wins during these periods is the main thing."
There was a contentious incident early in the game as Lybster goalkeeper Billy Miller was booked for a tackle outside his area, with many of the Top Joe's players calling for a red card.
Bobby Gunn opened the scoring when he nodded in at the back post from an Andrew Plowman header and Lybster led 1-0 at the break.
An injury to Jordan Bain saw Top Joe's without a goalkeeper, forcing a stand-in to take his place. McIvor added a second for Lybster when he picked the ball up from deep and struck a looping shot into the far corner.
Now two down and without their goalkeeper, it looked like a mountain too big to climb for the visitors. However, Bruin Gunn pulled one back with five minutes left.
Top Joe's manager Bruce Cormack said: “We felt that the Lybster goalie could have been sent off early on rather than the yellow card for the foul to our forward as we felt he denied a goalscoring opportunity/last man incident. But the referee felt otherwise and explained his decision when we spoke to him.
“The injury to our goalie early in the second half set us back a bit too, with one of our midfielders having to go in nets. But we were happy with the performance and I felt we gave a good account of ourselves.”
A stoppage-time goal by Alan Ferrier rescued a point for Keiss in their game against Watten, who had taken the lead through Shane Honeyman.
Ebisine Ambakederemo scored twice in Swifts' 8-0 victory over Thurso rivals Pentland. The others came from Eaden Ross, Darryn Mackay, John Maclean, Kian Mackay, Bailey Morrison and Andrew Bremner.
Results – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup final: Wick Groats 1, Wick Thistle 0 (in Castletown).
Caithness AFA Division One: John O'Groats 1, High Ormlie Hotspur 4; Pentland United 4, Castletown 2; Wick Groats 1, Staxigoe United 2.
Division Two: Keiss 1, Watten 1; Lybster 2, Top Joe's 1; Swifts 8, Thurso Pentland 0.
Saturday, June 17 – Archer Shield, Orkney v Caithness (in Stromness).
Sunday, June 18 – SWF Highlands and Islands League: Clachnacuddin Women v Caithness Ladies.
Monday, June 19 – Division Two: Keiss v Top Joe's; Thurso Pentland v Lybster; Watten v Swifts (all 7.30pm).
Wednesday, June 21 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-finals: Acks v Keiss; High Ormlie Hotspur v Castletown; Wick Groats v Staxigoe United; Wick Thistle v Pentland United (all 7.15pm).
