‘We need to be hungry’: Wick Groats hit six on opening night of county league
Last season was a disappointing one for Wick Groats by their high standards, but Kevin Anderson’s side got their 2025 campaign off to the perfect start with a 6-0 victory over John O’Groats in Caithness AFA Division One.
“I thought we played very well,” the manager said after the opening-night fixture at Folke Park on Tuesday. “It’s always a tough place to come – very seldom do we win like that.
“We’ve been training since January, a couple of sessions a week, and the boys have all been turning up. We’ve had good numbers.
“Last season was disappointing. We were so close yet so far away – we got to two cup finals, won neither of them, went out of the Highland Amateur Cup on penalties and were just short in the league.
“We need to be hungry, try to aim for everything, and see what we end up with.”
Wick Groats took control with two goals inside the opening 15 minutes.
Greg Shearer netted from close range after a header had been saved by home keeper Ryan Bain.
Ben Sinclair added the second with a ferocious shot from the edge of the box to round off a brilliant move.
Korbyn Cameron turned in the third early in the second half and new recruit Grant Aitkenhead tucked away a penalty to extend the lead.
Michael Steven burst through the middle and produced a neat finish for the fifth, and fellow substitute Conor Farquhar completed the scoring with a flashing shot from a tight angle on the left.
Anderson was particularly pleased to welcome back Alan Mathieson, who suffered a serious injury in the 2023 Highland Amateur Cup final. The forward came on as a substitute.
“We started well,” Anderson said. “I thought we were sharp, and we were missing a couple as well.
“It’s a good, big, competitive squad this year, although that can soon change with injuries. It’s brilliant to see Alan back on a football park.”
John O’Groats finished second bottom last summer and retained their top-flight status by beating Swifts in the promotion/relegation play-off.
Player/co-manager Stuart Sinclair is targeting a place in the top half of the table this time around.
“You could see they had a lot more winter football players in their team,” Sinclair said after John O'Groats had been hit for six by Wick Groats. “Hopefully we’ll get up to speed.
“We were missing a few key players and had boys playing out of position. The game got away from us towards the end.
“There were a lot of good things and a lot of things to work on.”
Sinclair added: “I’d like us to finish in the top half of the league. Realistically that’s where I see us if we achieve our potential, if we play well.
“I’d like to see us come way out of the relegation battle. It would be a lot more enjoyable if that was the case, looking towards the top half of the table.”
High Ormlie had a thumping 5-1 victory over Staxigoe United in Wick.
In Division Two, Acks began their promotion quest with a 2-0 win at Watten with goals from new signing Ebi Ambakederemo and Olaf Taylor.
Results – Tuesday – Division One: John O’Groats 0, Wick Groats 6; Staxigoe United 1, High Ormlie Hotspur 5. Division Two: Watten 0, Acks 2.
Fixtures – Wednesday, April 16 – Division One: Keiss v Lybster; Pentland United v Castletown. Division Two: Halkirk v Thurso Pentland; Swifts v Wick Thistle (all 6.30pm).
Saturday, April 19 – Highland Amateur Cup, north section, preliminary round (ties involving Caithness clubs): Golspie Stafford v John O’Groats; High Ormlie Hotspur v Castletown; Staxigoe United v Keiss; Thurso Swifts v Inver (3pm).
Tuesday, April 22 – Division One: Castletown v Keiss; Lybster v High Ormlie Hotspur; Wick Groats v Staxigoe United (6.45pm). Division Two: Acks v Swifts (6.45pm).
Wednesday, April 23 – Division One: John O’Groats v Pentland United (6.45pm). Division Two: Top Joe’s v Watten; Wick Thistle v Halkirk (6.45pm).
Friday, April 25 – Division One: Staxigoe United v Lybster (6.45pm).
