‘We want to win for each other’: High Ormlie keep up impressive run with victory at Dunnet
Ryan Sutherland Jnr believes the close bonds within the High Ormlie Hotspur squad have played a big part in their impressive run of form.
The player/co-manager praised the team’s “character and commitment” after they defeated Pentland United 3-1 in the quarter-finals of the Eain Mackintosh Cup.
Tuesday’s success at Ham Park made it four wins in a row for High Ormlie. After thumping Wick Thistle 8-2 in the league, they won 2-0 against Wick Groats in an Eain Mackintosh Cup first-round tie before beating Kirkwall Thorfinn 2-1 in the second round of the Highland Amateur Cup.
“That’s a massive last four results for us,” Sutherland said.
“It’s a really talented group of lads, technically, footballing-wise, but off the park at the same time we’re all best mates and at the end of the day we want to win for each other.
“I think that’s one of the main things.
“It was a real disappointment against Pentland United in the league [a 3-2 defeat just over two weeks ago] but I think it shows a lot about the boys – their character and commitment – to bounce back, beat Wick Groats, beat Stabbs and progress to the next round in the Highland Amateur Cup.
“Those are three top, top teams at amateur level in the north of Scotland. We’re delighted, but we’ll not get too ahead of ourselves.”
Liam Bain opened the scoring for Hotspur in Dunnet. Sean Munro equalised before the break but Stuart Campbell restored the visitors’ lead with a free kick in the second half before James Mackintosh rounded off the scoring.
High Ormlie, the Eain Mackintosh Cup holders, will face either Swifts or Lybster in the semi-finals at the beginning of July. Staxigoe United will meet the winners of the Halkirk v Watten tie.
Sutherland said: “There are still a few good teams in it and we still need to go out and beat whoever is in front of us, but with the form we’re on we’ve got a lot of confidence about us.
“With the squad that we have, and how well we’re playing, I think we should have confidence going into every single game.”
Halkirk recovered from their Highland Amateur Cup exit at the weekend by beating Top Joe’s 4-1 at Ormlie to book an Eain Mackintosh quarter-final clash with Watten on Friday.
Euan MacGregor, Shaun Macdonald (2) and Ally Mackintosh got the Halkirk goals, with Bruin Gunn on target for Top Joe’s.
Results – CAFA Division One: John O’Groats 0, Staxigoe United 1. Division Two: Keiss 2, Acks 3.
Highland Amateur Cup, second round (ties involving Caithness clubs): Fort William 1, Wick Groats 6; Halkirk 1, Stornoway Athletic 3 (in Ullapool); Kirkwall Thorfinn 1, High Ormlie Hotspur 2; Lerwick Thistle 4, Lybster 5; Pentland United 11, North Isles 0; Wick Thistle 1, Sleat and Strath 2.
Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-finals: Acks 0, Staxigoe United 6; Pentland United 1, High Ormlie Hotspur 3. First round: Top Joe’s 1, Halkirk 4.
Fixtures – Thursday, June 6 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-final: Swifts v Lybster (7.15pm).
Friday, June 7 – CAFA Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur v Castletown; Wick Thistle v Staxigoe United (both 7.30pm).
Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-final: Halkirk v Watten (7.15pm).
Saturday, June 8 – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup final: Pentland United v Wick Groats (at Castletown, 3pm).
Monday, June 10 – Division Two: Pentland v Watten; Top Joe’s v Keiss (both 7.30pm).
Tuesday, June 11 – Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur v John O’Groats; Pentland United v Castletown; Wick Groats v Staxigoe United (all 7.30pm).
Wednesday, June 12 – Division One: Wick Thistle v Lybster. Division Two: Swifts v Acks; Watten v Halkirk (all 7.30pm).
Highland Amateur Cup third-round draw (ties to be played on Saturday, June 29): Black Rock v Culbokie; High Ormlie Hotspur v Wick Groats; Maryburgh v Avoch; Pentland United v Lybster; Rendall v Ness; Stornoway Athletic v Inverness Athletic; Stromness Athletic v Helmsdale United; Tomatin United v Sleat and Strath.