Wick Groats hit six against CK Interiors to set up Avoch clash
Wick Groats are heading for another clash of the heavyweights with Avoch after easing past CK Interiors in their delayed Highland Amateur Cup second-round tie.
Kevin Anderson’s side ran out 6-2 winners in a relentless downpour at the Upper Bignold Park on Saturday to set up a home clash with Avoch in round three.
Groats have come up against the Black Isle outfit four times in Highland Amateur Cup finals. Avoch won in 2012 and 2023, with Groats coming out on top in 2015 and 2019.
The winners of their encounter in Wick next Saturday will be away to holders Pentland United in the quarter-finals on July 12 if the Stabbies can get past Inverness Athletic.
Jonah Martens and Ben Sinclair scored two each on Saturday, while Groats’ other goals came from Ellis Alexander and Alan Mathieson. Gavin Urquhart got a second-half double for CK, who play in the Inverness and district first division.
Manager Anderson said: “I thought we played some good stuff in horrendous conditions.
“They were a good team, they knocked it about well. They were causing us problems.
“We came in 2-0 up at half-time. Being picky, we probably could have had another couple. We were a bit wasteful – we need to be more clinical in the final third.
“We’re delighted to get into the next round. You need to beat the best to win competitions, at the end of the day.”
Wick Groats have two league fixtures against High Ormlie Hotspur – away on Tuesday, then at home a week later – either side of their Highland Amateur Cup clash with Avoch.
“It’s a big week-and-a-half,” Anderson said. “The next couple of weeks could define our season.”
Groats have won four of the last 10 Highland Amateur Cup finals. Avoch have lifted the trophy seven times in the last 19 years, while Pentland United won it for a record-extending ninth time in 2024 – beating Avoch 2-1 at Harmsworth Park.
Wick Groats are one of five Caithness teams in the last 16.
The Caithness AFA select reclaimed the Archer Shield on Saturday when they beat Orkney on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Dounby. High Ormlie’s James Mackintosh scored for Caithness after the islanders had gone in front.
Caithness AFA squad: Ewan Grant, Lewis Swan, Stuart Campbell, Owen Harrold, Grant Innes, Carter Mackay, James Mackintosh, Ally Mackintosh, Richard Macadie, Liam Bain, Jack McKechnie, William Cannop, Kieran Macgregor, Kian Mackay.
Thurso Pentland kept their promotion hopes on track with a 1-0 win against Swifts at the Dammies on Thursday night. Tom Armitage headed in the only goal in the second half.
Results: Thursday – Division Two: Thurso Pentland 1, Swifts 0.
Saturday – Highland Amateur Cup, round two: Wick Groats 6, CK Interiors 2. Archer Shield inter-county match: Orkney 1, Caithness 1 (Caithness won on penalties).
Fixtures – Monday, June 16 – Division Two: Acks v Wick 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).
Friday, June 20 – Division Two: Top Joe’s v Thurso Pentland; Watten v Halkirk (both 7.30pm).
Saturday, June 21 – Highland Amateur Cup, round three (ties involving Caithness clubs): High Ormlie Hotspur v Staxigoe United; Inver v Thurso Acks; Pentland United v Inverness Athletic; Wick Groats v Avoch.
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 6, points 18); 2 Thurso Pentland (6, 12); 3 Acks (6, 12); 4 Watten (5, 7); 5 Swifts (5, 4); 6 Top Joe’s (6, 0); 7 Halkirk (6, -1). Halkirk deducted six points for playing an ineligible player in two league fixtures.