Wick Thistle through to cup semi-finals after 'rollicking' at half-time
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Wick Thistle player/manager Owen Harrold is sure the Jags will be in for a tough battle when they come up against John O'Groats in the last four of the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup.
Thistle are enjoying an unbeaten start to the 2023 county season and they booked their place in the semi-finals of the first knockout tournament with a 5-2 victory over Keiss on Saturday.
It was Division One against Division Two at Wick's Upper Bignold Park but there was nothing between the teams in the first half as the village outfit fought back from two goals down to make it all square.
Thistle took the lead with a great strike by Kieron Davies and Owen Harrold flicked in the second. Tony Miller's free kick reduced the deficit and Sean Campbell knocked in the equaliser.
The Jags took charge in the second half with a double by Sam Barclay either side of a Ross Mackay goal.
Harrold said: "We went downhill after we went 2-0 up. To be fair, I thought Keiss deserved to be ahead at half-time – they were the better team in the first half by a mile."
The Thistle players, he said, "got a rollicking" at half-time.
"We came out and we were far better. We played a little bit of football.
"In the first half we were just non-existent but it was pretty comfortable in the second half.
"We're just glad to get through. Keiss kind of tired – the fitness levels probably made the difference between the teams in the second half.
"Keiss have got a good team there. They look hungry and they'll probably do well in the second division.
"We were short – we were missing seven of the starting line-up. It did show in the first half, we were kind of all over the place a bit. But the young boys that came in did well."
John O'Groats await Thistle in the semi-finals on Tuesday, May 23, with the teams also due to meet in the league this Wednesday night.
"That'll be a tough one," Harrold said. "You know that John O'Groats will be strong, they'll battle.
"We drew with them twice last year, so hopefully we'll get one over them this year."
Keiss manager Bradley Thomson said: "We were probably the better team in the first half. We definitely deserved to be in a better position at half-time but they've got a lot of quality, they've got a lot of boys who play winter football.
"It took its toll in the end but it was a good effort from our boys.
"Thistle are doing well and they deserve it. They've come on a lot from last year and so have we.
"It was a good game for anybody that was watching it."
Keiss are in the midst of a busy spell of league and Highland Amateur Cup commitments.
"We've got Wednesday, Saturday, Tuesday, which is a lot to ask of the boys," Thomson said.
Holders Pentland United will face Wick Groats in the last four of the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup for the second season in a row after contrasting wins for the "big two" of Caithness summer football in their respective quarter-final ties at the weekend.
The Stabbies won 6-0 away to second division leaders Lybster, while Korbyn Cameron's goal was enough to give Groats a 1-0 victory over Castletown at Back Park.
United overcame Wick Groats 3-2 at the semi-final stage in 2022 before beating Acks 5-1 in the final. This year's semis are scheduled for Tuesday, May 23, with the final on Saturday, June 10.
The Stabbies had six different scorers against Lybster – Sean Campbell, Marc Macgregor, Owen Bain, Andy Mackay (penalty), James Murray and Innes Mackintosh.
John O’Groats booked a last-four meeting with Wick Thistle after a 6-1 home win against second division side Top Joe’s.
Scorers for John O'Groats were Eddie MacGregor, Grant Budge, Jimmy Budge, Saleem Bremner (2) and Martin Sinclair with a penalty. TJ’s goal came from Jack MacGregor.
Results – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup, quarter-finals: Castletown 0, Wick Groats 1; John O'Groats 6, Top Joe's 1; Lybster 0, Pentland United 6; Wick Thistle 5, Keiss 2.
Fixtures – Tuesday, May 9 – Division One: Acks v Staxigoe United; Wick Groats v Castletown. Division Two: Top Joe's v Thurso Pentland; Watten v Lybster (all 7pm).
Wednesday, May 10 – Division One: Pentland United v High Ormlie Hotspur; Wick Thistle v John O'Groats. Division Two: Swifts v Keiss (all 7pm).
Saturday, May 13 – Highland Amateur Cup, first round (north section): Castletown v Lairg Rovers; Golspie Stafford v Invergordon; Inver v Lochinver; Helmsdale United v Staxigoe United; High Ormlie Hotspur v Thurso Acks; Lochbroom v Wick Groats; Thurso Pentland v Keiss; Wick Thistle v Top Joe's (all 3pm).
