Wick Groats battle through to last 16 of Highland Amateur Cup as Thistle have three sent off
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Wick Groats manager Kevin Anderson admitted there was a lack of quality on show in Saturday's Highland Amateur Cup second-round derby against Wick Thistle – but was pleased to have achieved the main objective of securing a place in the last 16.
A hard-fought encounter at the Upper Bignold ended 1-1 after 90 minutes but Thistle imploded in extra time. They had three men sent off as Groats ran out 3-1 winners to book a third-round clash at home to Fortrose and Rosemarkie Union of the Inverness and district AFA.
"The game really lacked moments of quality," Anderson said. "There was not much composure but it was a local derby, there was a lot at stake, the next round of the Highland Amateur Cup, and sometimes you just need to battle through.
"And at the end of the day, winning when you're not playing well is a good trait. It's all about making sure your name is in the draw for the next round."
Groats went ahead inside the opening 15 minutes when Michael Steven's free kick from wide on the right was head-flicked in by John Budge.
Thistle equalised two minutes into first-half stoppage time when Kyle Henderson's cross was slotted home by Owen Harrold.
Thistle pair Steven Sutherland and Darren Macgregor were sent off by referee Liam Bremner within the space of a couple of minutes in the first half of extra time.
Korbyn Cameron restored Groats' advantage with a low shot from the edge of the box. Kyle Henderson became the third Thistle player to be given his marching orders before Sean Stewart put the outcome beyond doubt with a controlled finish.
"I thought it was a poor game," Anderson said. "Probably the only real quality for us in the first half was Michael Steven's ball in which we scored from – a great ball in and a good header from John.
"Likewise with them – a good ball in and we should have done better defensively. It was a good finish from Owen.
"We were cancelling each other out. It was scrappy, there was battling going on. It wasn't a day for much football being played.
"In the second half we were hoping to play a bit more, get the ball down and get a bit more width in the game. Again we just struggled to get going and likewise so did they.
"Halfway through the second half I was thinking 'penalties'. There was very little quality on show from either team.
"I felt we had more control of the game than them, but I also knew they were dangerous with the likes of Kyle Henderson up front.
"We knew we had to move them about [after the first two red cards] and we knew the chances would come – it was just a case of whether we took them or not. Thankfully we did, and we've got to go through it all again next Saturday."
Wick Thistle will be hoping to make up for their Highland Amateur Cup exit at the hands of Wick Groats when the teams meet again this Saturday in Castletown in the final of the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup.
The Jags had three players sent off in extra time as they lost out 3-1 to their town rivals at the Upper Bignold Park.
Thistle player/manager Owen Harrold said: "I think if we had kept 11 players on the park it was going to penalties. That's what it felt like.
"We started quite well in the first half of extra time and then obviously the red cards started coming. To be quite honest, we were kind of containing them when we went down to nine men and then obviously the goal just killed us.
"The positives are that we know we can compete with them and we've got to take the positives into next Saturday. There was nothing in that game – it could have gone either way, we all know that. Hopefully we can rectify it next week."
Lybster got their promotion charge back on track with a 9-1 demolition of Watten on Thursday night.
The Caithness AFA Division Two leaders had lost 4-1 to Keiss earlier in the week.
The division's top scorer Lewis Mackillop got a hat-trick and Danny Doogan also helped himself to a treble. Lybster's other goals came from Bobby Gunn, Elliot Cormack and Greg Mackay.
Kai Cameron scored for Watten with a free kick.
Results – Caithness AFA Division Two: Watten 1, Lybster 9.
Highland Amateur Cup, round two, ties involving Caithness clubs: Castletown 1, Lerwick Celtic 3; Keiss 1, Carloway 5 (at Ullapool); Kirkwall Hotspurs 1, High Ormlie Hotspur 3; Wick Groats 3, Wick Thistle 1 (after extra time).
Fixtures – 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).
Saturday, June 10 – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup final: Wick Groats v Wick Thistle (in Castletown, 3pm).
Highland Amateur Cup, third-round draw: Back v Avoch; Carloway v Golspie Stafford (in Ullapool); Clachnacuddin Reserves v Inver; Harris v Lerwick Celtic (in Maryburgh); Lerwick Spurs v High Ormlie Hotspur (in Kirkwall); Mallaig v Loch Ness; Stromness Athletic v Staxigoe United; Wick Groats v Fortrose and Rosemarkie Union (ties to be played on Saturday, June 24).
Quarter-final draw: Back or Avoch v Mallaig or Loch Ness; Clachnacuddin Reserves or Inver v Carloway or Golspie Stafford; Stromness Athletic or Staxigoe United v Lerwick Spurs or High Ormlie Hotspur; Wick Groats or Fortrose and Rosemarkie Union v Harris or Lerwick Celtic (ties to be played on Saturday, July 15).
Semi-finals on August 5; final on August 19.
