We've put ourselves in a good position, says Anderson as Wick Groats win top-of-the-table clash
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Kevin Anderson insisted that “nothing is won or lost yet” after Wick Groats came from behind to beat Pentland United in Tuesday night's top-of-the-table clash in Caithness AFA Division One.
After a goalless first half at Ham Park, the champions went ahead through Conor Cormack. But Steven Anderson fired home the equaliser and Michael Steven sealed a 2-1 win directly from a corner, with the ball going in off the back post.
Manager Anderson said: “We were absolutely delighted to get the win.
“We'll play a lot better than we did on Tuesday night – it was quite a scrappy game. However, when you go out to Dunnet and get a win, you'd take that any day of the week.
"It doesn't really matter how you do it. Sometimes you need to roll the sleeves up and it's not the prettiest to see.
“We were good, but for the neutral there wasn't too much quality on show. It was a battling display.
"I felt we were worthy winners – we probably had the better of the chances."
The result lifted Wick Groats to the top of the table with a game in hand. It came a week after they had beaten the Stabbies 3-1 in a Colin Macleod Memorial Cup semi-final at the same ground.
“Nothing is won or lost yet – there are lots of games to come," Anderson said. "A lot of teams are evenly matched this year.
“We've had a good start, but for now that's all it is. We've put ourselves in a good position, which is all you can ask for.
“We have games coming thick and fast, which is what happens when you progress in cup competitions."
Pentland United co-manager Michael Gray felt the champions had been too tentative in possession.
"It was another disappointing evening," he said. "I thought overall we lacked that ruthless element in the final third. We created a number of openings but failed to really work the goalkeeper.
"We are still searching for fluency in our play, which to be fair is linked to the lack of consistency in the squad availability, but hopefully we are seeing some easing in the absentee list.
"Unfortunately we lost Mackenzie Beaton to a challenge and I had to go on and that certainly did not help the defence. I hold my hands up for my role in causing the corner that led to the winning goal.
"We also have to acknowledge that in Steven Anderson, Wick Groats have a very effective centre forward and they look to get the ball up to him quickly then work from there. I felt we could have been stronger in contesting the second ball.
"But overall, as I say, I am disappointed more by the fact we didn’t really perform to our capabilities – too tense or tentative in possession and maybe a little too hesitant in the challenge."
The Stabbies have bolstered their squad by bringing in Jamie Skinner, Finn As-Chainey and Ally Macleod.
Gray said: "We have had to look outwith the county to get us through a difficult period and we are very grateful to them for helping us out."
Results – CAFA Division One: Acks 2, John O'Groats 1; Castletown 2, Wick Groats 4; High Ormlie Hotspur 1, Pentland United 2; John O'Groats 1, Wick Thistle 0; Pentland United 1, Wick Groats 2; Staxigoe United 4, Acks 2; Staxigoe United 2, High Ormlie Hotspur 3; Wick Thistle 0, Castletown 0.
Division Two: Keiss 4, Lybster 1; Top Joe's 1, Swifts 2; Watten 8, Thurso Pentland 1.
Fixtures – Thursday, June 1 – Division Two: Watten v Lybster (7.30pm).
Saturday, June 3 – Highland Amateur Cup, round two, ties involving Caithness clubs: Castletown v Lerwick Celtic (2pm); Keiss v Carloway (at Ullapool, 1pm); Kirkwall Hotspurs v High Ormlie Hotspur (3pm); Wick Groats v Wick Thistle (3pm).
Tuesday, June 6 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, first round: High Ormlie Hotspur v John O'Groats; Pentland United v Swifts; Thurso Pentland v Acks; Watten v Wick Groats (all 7.15pm).
Thursday, June 8 – Eain Mackintosh Cup, first round: Castletown v Lybster; Staxigoe United v Top Joe's (both 7.15pm).
