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Wick Thistle keep their first division status after play-off win





Owen Harrold's Wick Thistle ensured they will stay in the top flight after winning their play-off. Picture: James Gunn
Owen Harrold's Wick Thistle ensured they will stay in the top flight after winning their play-off. Picture: James Gunn

Wick Thistle made sure they will be playing top-flight football in 2023 after they defeated Swifts 3-1 in the relegation/promotion play-off in Halkirk on Friday night.

Craig Gunn struck twice for the Jags before Danny Coghill extended their lead. Kevin Cairns pulled one back for the Thurso side.

Owen Harrold's side ended up second bottom of Caithness AFA Division One, a point ahead of relegated Lybster, while Swifts were runners-up to Castletown in Division Two.

The game at Morrison Park marked the culmination of a packed summer schedule for county league clubs.

Pentland United were crowned as champions for the first time since 2011 after their 6-1 victory over Thistle at Ham Park on the last night of first division action. Wick Groats had won eight titles in a row up to 2019, the last pre-Covid season, but had to settle for runners-up spot this time.

The league triumph completed a trophy treble for the Stabbies, who had earlier lifted the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup and the Eain Mackintosh Cup.

Wick Groats won the David Allan Shield, while Castletown were runaway winners of the second division and they also went on to win the Steven Cup.

High Ormlie Hotspur lifted the Highlands and Islands' most prestigious amateur trophy when they beat Pentland United 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the all-Caithness final of the Highland Amateur Cup at Harmsworth Park.

Hotspur were in their first season as a top-flight Caithness AFA club. They became the sixth Caithness team to lift the Highland Amateur Cup since it was first contested in 1978, following Pentland United (eight wins), Wick Groats (4), Thurso Pentland (3), Halkirk (2) and Wick Thistle (1).

Caithness AFA roll of honour for 2022:

  • Division One champions: Pentland United
  • Division One runners-up: Wick Groats
  • Division Two champions: Castletown
  • Division Two runners-up: Swifts
  • Colin Macleod Memorial Cup winners: Pentland United
  • Eain Mackintosh Cup winners: Pentland United
  • David Allan Shield winners: Wick Groats
  • Steven Cup winners: Castletown
  • Promotion/relegation play-off winners: Wick Thistle
  • Highland Amateur Cup winners: High Ormlie Hotspur
  • CAFA player of the year and top scorer: Marc Macgregor (Pentland United)
  • CAFA young player of the year: Alan Mathieson (Wick Groats)

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