Wick Groats 'a joy to watch' as crunch game looms between top two
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Wick Groats are potentially one game away from regaining the Caithness county league crown after producing some of their best form this season in a 5-0 victory over High Ormlie Hotspur.
Groats are at home to reigning champions Pentland United on August 8 and a win for Kevin Anderson's men that night would give them the title with a game to spare. Any other outcome would mean the championship being settled in the final round of fixtures, a week later, when Groats are away to relegation-threatened Acks and the Stabbies are at home to Wick Thistle.
Tuesday's emphatic win at Ormlie in Caithness AFA Division One came just two-and-a-half weeks after Groats had been beaten 6-0 by Hotspur in the Eain Mackintosh Cup final.
Steven Anderson scored twice, including a penalty, and Alan Mathieson also got a double to put Groats four up by half-time. Brandon Sinclair added the fifth.
"We were absolutely delighted with the result," manager Anderson said. "We had a strong squad, probably the strongest squad we've had this season. The bench was full, the starting eleven was very good, and we were at it from the first minute.
"I wouldn't want to single one player out. Collectively we were just in their faces from the first minute. There was lots of energy in the team, we were playing good football and scoring good goals.
"To be honest, on another night we could easily have scored another three or four, but their goalkeeper had a couple of tremendous stops in the second half.
"After the cup final there was no point looking backwards – you need to look forward. The cup final was still fresh in our minds but it's gone now.
"The reaction was good. When you get setbacks it's about how you bounce back from them."
He added: "It was a joy to watch. We need to keep it going now."
County champions Pentland United have set themselves a target of taking maximum points from their last two fixtures in Caithness AFA Division One.
The Stabbies eased to a 6-0 away victory over Acks on Tuesday night, but Wick Groats' 5-0 win against High Ormlie Hotspur means the title race will be over if Groats prevail when the top two meet in Wick on August 8.
There were two goals apiece from Marc Macgregor, Sean Campbell and James Murray as United swept Acks aside.
The Dunnet club's co-manager Michael Gray said: "If we want to win the league we're going to need to take six points from our last two games. That's the equation as far as we're concerned and that's what we'll be aiming to do.
"We've got the David Allan Shield in between and we'd like to get our hands on that as well. That's another motivation for us."
Kyle Henderson grabbed a hat-trick, including a penalty, in Wick Thistle's 3-2 victory over Staxigoe United. Henderson and player/manager Owen Harrold were making their last appearances for the Jags before moving to Wick Academy.
Martin Banks and Hasheem Bremner scored for Staxigoe.
Tony Miller helped himself to another four goals as Keiss won 6-1 at Watten in Division Two. Alan Steven got the other two for Keiss, with Kai Cameron replying for the home side.
Results – Caithness AFA Division One: Acks 0, Pentland United 6; Castletown 1, John O'Groats 2; High Ormlie Hotspur 0, Wick Groats 5; Staxigoe United 3, Wick Thistle 1; Wick Thistle 3, Staxigoe United 2. Division Two: Thurso Pentland 0, Swifts 5; Top Joe's 3, Lybster 3; Watten 1, Keiss 6.
Steven Cup, semi-finals: Lybster 7, Watten 0; Swifts 1, Keiss 0. Ken Green Challenge Cup: Orkney AFA 3, Wick Academy 0.
Fixtures – Friday, July 28 – David Allan Shield, quarter-finals: Castletown v Acks; High Ormlie Hotspur v Top Joe's; Staxigoe United v Pentland United (at Lybster); Wick Thistle v Wick Groats (all 7pm).
Saturday, July 29 – Highland League: Banks O' Dee v Wick Academy (3pm).
Tuesday, August 1 – David Allan Shield, semi-finals: High Ormlie Hotspur or Top Joe's v Castletown or Acks; Staxigoe United or Pentland United v Wick Thistle or Wick Groats (both 7pm).
Saturday, August 5 – Steven Cup final: Lybster v Swifts (Cow Park, Lybster, kick-off 12 noon).
Highland Amateur Cup, semi-final: Stromness Athletic v Wick Groats (Back Park, Castletown, 2.30pm).
Highland League: Wick Academy v Deveronvale (3pm).
