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Wick Groats open up two-point lead in Caithness title race





Alan Mathieson scored twice against John O'Groats on Tuesday night.
Alan Mathieson scored twice against John O'Groats on Tuesday night.

Wick Groats have opened up a two-point lead at the top of the county league – but their manager Kevin Anderson reckons there could still be "twists and turns" in the remaining weeks of the title race.

While champions Pentland United were being held to a draw by Staxigoe United on Tuesday night, Wick Groats completed back-to-back wins over John O'Groats with a 4-1 victory at the Upper Bignold.

Anderson's side are now on 28 points, two clear of the Stabbies and with a superior goal difference. Both teams have three games remaining in Caithness AFA Division One, including a potentially decisive top-of-the-table clash in Wick on Tuesday, August 8.

"It doesn't really change too much," Anderson said. "If we win all our games, we win it. If they win all their games, they win it. It is very much game on.

"It makes for an interesting last three games but there could still be twists and turns – I've said it all along. We've got tough games and they've got tough games."

Alan Mathieson netted twice against John O'Groats. The others came from an own goal and a Steven Anderson spot-kick.

John O'Groats were awarded two penalties of their own. Eddie MacGregor missed his effort but Jordan Howden made no mistake when his turn came.

Manager Anderson added: "We were playing good stuff, even though the whole of the first half was torrential rain. But the park was good.

"John O'Groats are a good, hard-working team. They are a handful up front.

"We knocked the ball about well. Their keeper [Egert Indres] was really good – he had a couple of tremendous stops.

"We need to be a bit more ruthless in the final third. We could be doing a bit more to kill games when we're on top.

"We've been playing a bit better in the last couple of games. It's just about picking up points now, trying to get three points, and if you're playing well it's a bonus."

Results – Caithness AFA Division One: Acks 0, Castletown 3; John O'Groats 1, Wick Groats 2; Pentland United 1, Staxigoe United 1; Wick Groats 4, John O'Groats 1; Wick Thistle 0, High Ormlie Hotspur 4.

Division Two: Keiss 4, Top Joe's 0; Lybster 20, Thurso Pentland 1; Swifts 5, Watten 0.

Steven Cup, quarter-finals: Thurso Pentland 2, Keiss 7; Top Joe's 1, Lybster 3.

Fixtures – Friday, July 21 – Caithness AFA Division One: Staxigoe United v Wick Thistle (7.30pm).

Steven Cup, semi-finals: Lybster v Watten; Swifts v Keiss (both 7.15pm).

Saturday, July 22 – Ken Green Challenge Cup: Orkney AFA v Wick Academy (Pickaquoy Centre, Kirkwall, 12.30pm).

Monday, July 24 – Caithness AFA Division One: Castletown v John O'Groats. Division Two: Thurso Pentland v Swifts; Top Joe's v Lybster (all 7.15pm).

Tuesday, July 25 – Division One: Acks v Pentland United; High Ormlie Hotspur v Wick Groats; Wick Thistle v Staxigoe United. Division Two: Watten v Keiss (all 7.15pm).

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).


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