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We need to win every game, says Wick Groats boss





Korbyn Cameron, in action here against High Ormlie Hotspur, gave Wick Groats an early lead against John O'Groats in midweek. Picture: James Gunn
Korbyn Cameron, in action here against High Ormlie Hotspur, gave Wick Groats an early lead against John O'Groats in midweek. Picture: James Gunn

Wick Groats’ target is to “win every game” in the remainder of the Caithness AFA Division One campaign as they look to make up ground on leaders Pentland United.

The reigning county champions beat John O’Groats 3-0 at home on Tuesday night to move within a point of the Stabbies, with the Dunnet side playing their game in hand against Staxigoe United on Wednesday.

“We just need to try and win all our games, it’s as simple as that,” manager Kevin Anderson said. “It’s the old cliché, a game at a time.

“We are needing Pentland United to drop points and we need to win also. It’s going to be tough.

“We have High Ormlie [away next Tuesday] and Pentland United [at home on August 6], certainly games that we can win, so that’s our target – just win every game, a game at a time, and see where it takes us.”

Wick Groats went ahead within two minutes of the start on Tuesday as Korbyn Cameron cut in from the left and slotted the ball in from a tight angle.

With 20 minutes gone, Conor Farquhar drilled a low shot into the corner after a spell of pressure to give the home side a two-goal advantage at the break.

Farquhar turned provider for the third, setting up substitute Jonah Martens for a neat finish in stoppage time.

Anderson said: “To be honest, I felt the first 45 minutes was probably the best football we’ve played all year. We pressed well all over the park, we were looking hungry, we were creating chances.

“Probably the only complaint I could have from the first half is we should have had a couple more goals.

“John O’Groats are dangerous from set-pieces – there’s a lot of height in their team. Our boys gave away a couple of stupid fouls and they had a couple of decent deliveries that did cause us issues.

“Half-time probably came at a bad time for us. We took a while to get going again in the second half.

“They work hard, they’re a well-organised team. They’re quite a proud team. It’s very seldom that we've ever given them a doing.”

Liam Bremner and Ben Sinclair were among the substitutes for Wick Groats along with Martens.

“It has been a bit of a stop-start season with injuries,” Anderson said. “We had a strong bench tonight but it was just to nurse minutes in them, get them on the park and see how they’re feeling, how they're reacting.”

Anderson felt that Bryan McKiddie had been “immense” in midfield.

Two teams in the bottom half of the table met at Cow Park. Lybster went two up against Castletown, courtesy of Bobby Gunn and Gary Weir, but the visitors hit back through Jack MacGregor and Dylan Alexander to secure a 2-2 draw.

Wick Groats manager Kevin Anderson. Picture: James Gunn
Wick Groats manager Kevin Anderson. Picture: James Gunn

Lybster manager Cameron Mackenzie reckoned it was still a point gained and he is confident the team can preserve their top-flight status.

“I can’t lie, it was disappointing to draw after being two up at half-time,” Mackenzie said. “Looking at the bigger picture, though, it’s still a good point to get on the board.

“Really it was a game of two halves. In the first half we really dominated and could have had a few more.

“Fair play to Castletown and the character they showed as they came out in the second half and completely tipped the game on its head. They could have scored more than two.

“It’s all in our hands to stay up. After a tough run of fixtures where I’ve seriously questioned the mentality of the squad, I felt I saw the real Lybster come back in the first half.

“We played some great football and we had confidence and fight in abundance. If we can completely recapture that in the run-in then I’m confident we can keep our spot in the first division.”

Results – Highland Amateur Cup, quarter-finals: High Ormlie Hotspur 3, Black Rock Rovers 1; Pentland United 2, Ness 1; Sleat and Strath 2, Avoch 3; Stornoway Athletic 4, Helmsdale United 0.

Steven Cup, quarter-finals, second leg: Keiss 1, Watten 0 (Keiss win 4-3 on aggregate); Swifts 0, Halkirk 3 (Halkirk win 4-1 on aggregate); Top Joe’s 2, Acks 3 (Acks win 5-3 on aggregate).

CAFA Division One: Lybster 2, Castletown 2; Wick Groats 3, John O’Groats 0.

Fixtures – Wednesday, July 17 – CAFA Division One: Pentland United v Staxigoe United; Wick Thistle v High Ormlie Hotspur (both 7.30pm).

Thursday, July 18 – Steven Cup, semi-final, first leg: Acks v Pentland (7.15pm).

Friday, July 19 – Steven Cup, semi-final, first leg: Halkirk v Keiss (7.15pm).

Saturday, July 20 – Archer Shield: Caithness v Orkney (Castletown, 2pm).

Tuesday, July 23 – CAFA Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur v Wick Groats; John O’Groats v Castletown; Lybster v Pentland United; Staxigoe United v Wick Thistle (all 7.15pm).

Wednesday, July 24 – Steven Cup, semi-finals, second leg: Keiss v Halkirk; Pentland v Acks (both 7pm).


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