‘We didn’t want them to win the league against us’: Wick Groats already looking to next season
Wick Groats manager Kevin Anderson accepts that the county league title race is effectively finished despite his team’s 4-2 midweek victory over table-topping Pentland United.
Tuesday’s result at a dismally wet Upper Bignold Park means that mathematically Groats can still catch the defending champions, who have a six-point advantage in Division One with two fixtures remaining.
Realistically, though, Groats are facing a second successive trophyless season and they already have one eye on the 2026 campaign.
“We know we can compete with the teams at the top,” Anderson said. “The average age of the squad is pretty good.”
Liam Bremner gave an attacking masterclass for Groats. He produced two top-quality finishes for the first and last goals of the night and also tucked away a penalty.
The opener came after 20 minutes when Bremner burst through into space and unleashed an unstoppable shot past keeper Connor Dunnett.
Within five minutes Pentland United grabbed a scrappy close-range equaliser. It looked like a possible own goal but was later credited to Conor Trueman.
A minute later the home side were awarded a penalty after a foul on Ben Sinclair. Bremner stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way.
Groats were reduced to 10 men on 57 minutes when Conor Farquhar was shown a second yellow for a challenge on Luke Manson inside the penalty area. Andy Mackay scored from the spot to make it 2-2.
Greg Shearer broke clear two minutes later and fired in the Wick side’s third.
Bremner completed his hat-trick on 66 minutes with a neat first-time finish after getting on the end of a low cross from the left.
Anderson acknowledged it has been “a very frustrating season” for Groats but said: “I thought we played really well.
“The main objective tonight was to play for a bit of pride. We knew if they had won they’d win the league, so obviously you’re not wanting that.
“We went down to 10 men and had to defend well.”
Wick Groats were knocked out of the David Allan Shield by Halkirk two weeks ago, then lost at Lybster in the league.
“We had a couple of bad results so we had to get that out of the system and get a performance under our belt,” Anderson said. “Unfortunately the league is gone.
“The squad is there, but it’s just a lack of consistency. We started the season well [with a 6-0 win at John O’Groats] and then we just kind of went flat.
“The personnel has changed a fair bit, but that’s no excuse. That’s what you have a squad for – you have a squad to chop and change, every team is the same.”
On Bremner’s display up front, Anderson said: “That was Liam back to his best. The first goal, what a strike. Then there was the penalty, and his third was a great first-time finish as well.”
Taylor Campbell made a key contribution with two goal-line clearances for Groats.
Anderson said: “Taylor had a great season for us and I thought Michael Steven was immense.”
The manager added: “It was certainly good to get a performance like that. As I say, the objective was to win the game and hopefully not have them win the league against us.
“You obviously are respectful. If they’d won it everybody would be standing out there applauding, but it goes on to the next round of fixtures now.”
Castletown moved further clear of bottom place in Caithness AFA Division One after a fine 4-2 victory over High Ormlie Hotspur at Back Park on Tuesday night.
Goals by Kuba Koziol and Mark Munro put the Thurso side 2-0 up but Castletown hit back through Harvey Labor, Jack MacGregor (2) and Kian Mackay.
Bottom team Keiss had to settle for a share of the points after taking an early two-goal lead at John O’Groats. Murray Mackay scored direct from a corner in the first minute and Olly Manton added their second a few minutes later.
JOG recovered and second-half headers from Jimmy Budge and Ross Harper – the latter in the 90th minute – tied it up at 2-2.
Staxigoe United strengthened their grip on fourth place with a 6-2 victory at Lybster.
Chrissy Green and Martin Banks both scored doubles for Staxigoe, with Sam Mackay and Hasheem Bremner getting the others. Lewis Gill netted twice for the home side.
Wick Thistle duly secured their place in the Steven Cup final with a 5-0 victory at Watten in the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday night. The Jags were already 8-1 up from the first leg last Friday so they progressed by an emphatic 13-1 aggregate score.
Jayden Bremner opened the scoring in the first minute and he went on to complete a first-half hat-trick. Their other goals came from Scott Durrand and Morgan Kennedy.
Results – Friday – Steven Cup semi-finals, first leg: Halkirk 4, Thurso Pentland 1; Wick Thistle 8, Watten 1. Division One: Lybster 2, John O’Groats 3.
Tuesday – Division One: Castletown 4, High Ormlie Hotspur 2; John O’Groats 2, Keiss 2; Lybster 2, Staxigoe United 6; Wick Groats 4, Pentland United 2.
Wednesday – Steven Cup semi-final, second leg: Watten 0, Wick Thistle 5 (aggregate 1-13).
Fixtures – Thursday, July 24 – Steven Cup semi-final, second leg: Thurso Pentland v Halkirk (7pm).
Friday, July 25 – David Allan Shield quarter-finals: High Ormlie Hotspur v Lybster; Wick Thistle v Castletown (both 7pm).
Saturday, July 26 – Highland Amateur Cup quarter-final: Pentland United v Avoch (3pm).
Monday, July 28 – Division Two: Thurso Pentland v Acks (7.15pm).
Tuesday, July 29 – David Allan Shield, quarter-finals: Halkirk v Keiss; Pentland United v Watten. David Allan Shield, semi-final: High Ormlie Hotspur or Lybster v Wick Thistle or Castletown (all 7pm).
Wednesday, July 30 – Division Two: Top Joe’s v Halkirk (7.15pm).
CAFA standings – Division One: 1 Pentland United (played 12, points 31); 2 Wick Groats (12, 25); 3 High Ormlie Hotspur (12, 22); 4 Staxigoe United (12, 18); 5 Lybster (12, 15); 6 John O’Groats (12, 15); 7 Castletown (12, 8); 8 Keiss (12, 4).
Division Two: 1 Wick Thistle (played 10, points 30); 2 Thurso Pentland (10, 19); 3 Acks (9, 15); 4 Watten (10, 11); 5 Halkirk (9, 8); 6 Swifts (9, 6); 7 Top Joe’s (9, 0). Halkirk deducted six points for playing an ineligible player in two league fixtures.
SWF Highlands and Islands League standings: 1 Buckie (played 7, points 21); 2 Caithness (8, 15); 3 Orkney (8, 15); 4 Clachnacuddin (8, 12); 5 Sutherland (7, 6); 6 Nairn St Ninian (8, 0).