Wick Groats’ delayed cup tie has knock-on effect on Archer Shield
Manager Kevin Anderson believes Wick Groats will have to be at their best if they are to get past CK Interiors in the Highland Amateur Cup this weekend and set up a third-round tie against old rivals Avoch.
Groats were given the go-ahead to play their delayed second-round game after appeals lodged over earlier ties were concluded.
Their encounter with CK Interiors, who play in the Inverness and district first division, takes place in Wick this Saturday, with a 1pm kick-off. The rearranged tie coincides with the annual Orkney v Caithness match for the Archer Shield, so some of Groats’ squad will be unavailable to represent their county.
Anderson said: “We’re delighted to be getting the tie played after the delay. It’s a shame the game has now clashed with the Archer Shield – a good few of our lads had been asked to play in that but are obviously playing for ourselves on Saturday now.
“It’s not going to be an easy game. They’ve been doing well in their own league, so we know we'll have to be at our best.”
Anderson’s side were 3-0 winners away to Helmsdale United in round one. The winners of Wick Groats v CK Interiors will be at home to Avoch, last year’s beaten finalists, on June 21.
A 4-0 home victory over Keiss on Tuesday night lifted Wick Groats to second in the Caithness AFA Division One table, within three points of leaders Pentland United. Scorers were Ross Davidson (2), Grant Aitkenhead and Jonah Martens.
Groats have come up against Avoch four times in Highland Amateur Cup finals. The Black Isle outfit won in 2012 and 2023, with Groats coming out on top in 2015 and 2019.
Wick Groats have won four of the last 10 Highland Amateur Cup finals. If they can get past CK they will be one of five Caithness teams in this season’s last 16.
Highland Amateur Cup third-round ties involving Caithness clubs (to be played on June 21): High Ormlie Hotspur v Staxigoe United; Inver v Thurso Acks; Pentland United v Inverness Athletic; Wick Groats or CK Interiors v Avoch.
Castletown boss Tom McKenna is again in charge of the Caithness select for the Archer Shield clash.
Results – Friday – Division Two: Swifts 0, Halkirk 0; Top Joe’s 0, Wick Thistle 10; Watten 2, Thurso Pentland 0.
Saturday – Stannergill Cup final: Castletown 1, Staxigoe United 2.
Sunday – SWF Highlands and Islands League: Orkney 5, Caithness 1.
Tuesday – Caithness AFA Division One: Castletown 0, Lybster 5; John O’Groats 3, Staxigoe United 2; Pentland United 0, High Ormlie Hotspur 0; Wick Groats 4, Keiss 0.
Fixtures – Wednesday, June 11 – Division Two: Acks v Top Joe’s; Wick Thistle v Watten (both 7.30pm). Thursday, June 12 – Division Two: Thurso Pentland v Swifts (7.30pm).
Saturday, June 14 – Highland Amateur Cup, round two: Wick Groats v CK Interiors (1pm; winners at home to Avoch on Saturday, June 21). Archer Shield inter-county match: Orkney v Caithness.
Monday, June 16 – Division Two: Acks v Thistle (7.30pm).
Tuesday, June 17 – Division One: Castletown v John O’Groats; High Ormlie Hotspur v Wick Groats; Lybster v Pentland United; Staxigoe United v Keiss. Division Two: Watten v Swifts (all 7.30pm).
CAFA standings – Division One: 1 Pentland United (played 7, points 19); 2 Wick Groats (7, 16); 3 High Ormlie Hotspur (7, 16); 4 Lybster (7, 12); 5 Staxigoe United (7, 8); 6 John O’Groats (7, 4); 7 Castletown (7, 3); 8 Keiss (7, 3).
Division Two: 1 Wick Thistle (played 5, points 15); 2 Thurso Pentland (5, 9); 3 Acks (5, 9); 4 Watten (4, 7); 5 Swifts (4, 4); 6 Top Joe’s (5, 0); 7 Halkirk (6, -1). Halkirk deducted six points for playing an ineligible player in two league fixtures.