Post by Brian Mackay on Jul 28, 2007 11:47:08 GMT
Swifts triumph in an eight-goal thriller
By Iain Grant
Published: 27 July, 2007
TWO late goals against Rovers in Wick saw Swifts through to the last four of the David Allan Shield.
They prevailed in an eight-goal thriller at Upper Bignold to earn a home tie versus John O'Groats.
Monday's other semi will see Castletown entertain Wick Groats.
Rovers drew first blood in Monday's high-tempo match when Paul MacDonald netted with a neat chip over trialist keeper Martin Jackson. Jamie Mackenzie restored parity with a peach of a 20-yard strike, only for Stevie Reid to put Rovers back in front direct from a free kick.
That is the way it stood at the interval in a competitive match in which both sides were committed to attacking football.
The contest went Swifts' way midway through the second half when Mark Nichol struck from 25 yards. That sparked a spirited response from the home men and within 10 minutes they levelled when Jackson fumbled Andrew Weir's cross-cum-shot into his net. With six minutes to go, Iain Elder came off the bench to get on the end of a cross to score with a left-foot volley to put Swifts 4-3 ahead.
Rovers had struck the post and crossbar either side of falling behind and in the last minute MacDonald was sent clear. He fluffed his would-be finish and in the last action, the Thurso men swept upfield and Nigel Mackenzie netted from an acute angle.
Next up for them are JOG who returned with a 2-0 win in a low-key encounter in Wick versus Thistle.
Stuart Sinclair (the elder) put the visitors in front with a 12-yard shot early on before Ian Rosie added a scrappy second just before the interval.
Castletown's quest to complement their league title with a cup was not overly stretched by Acks. Two early goals and two in the closing stages completed a 4-0 win what was a less-than-memorable affair at the village pitch.
The first goal came after a corner for the home side was headed out to the edge of the box. The ball fell into the stride of Colin Munro whose raking volley cannoned off a defender back towards him. His follow-up strike arrowed into the top corner to give the central defender his second counter of the season.
Shortly afterwards, a quickly-taken throw-in from Ewan Scott was played by Alan Farquhar towards Greg MacLeod who wrong footed his marker before netting.
Acks seldom threatened though Gary MacLeod passed up a snip of a chance to get his side back into the tie soon after the break.
The game lapsed into a prolonged scrappy spell with the tedium broken with some towsy exchanges.
Sub Steven MacDonald made the game safe for Castletown 10 minutes from time when Greg MacLeod provided the opening for him to beat keeper Brian Mackay with a well-judged lob.
Right at the death, the climax of a 10-pass move saw Chris Sutherland set up Farquhar with a back-post header to make it 4-0.
Castletown now face Wick Groats whose 5-2 win over Thurso Pentland at the Dammies was less comfortable than the scoreline suggests.
Mark Sheppard had the visitors in front after he converted Martin Sutherland's cross. Pentland levelled after youngster Mark Begg was floored in the box and Mark Makhouli netted the resultant spot-kick.
The run of Marks on the mark continued when Sheppard ran through unchallenged to grab his second of the evening in just about the last action of the half.
That is the way it stood until 20 minutes from time when Groats' player/manager Stewart Ross seized on a half-clearance from corner to rifle a shot into the roof of the net. Six minutes from time, Kevin Miller made it 4-1 with a free kick which deflected past Pentland's impressive stand-in keeper Mark Mancini.
Michael Foubister then turned the ball into his own net in trying to prevent Kyle Ross netting from his brother Stewart's cross.
The Thurso side got one back with two minutes left with a cracking strike from Nicky Rosie.
Castletown have stretched their lead at the top of John O'Groats Journal Division One to 12 points after coming from behind to defeat Acks 3-1 in Thurso.
Gary MacLeod had the Thurso men's tails up early on when he cut in from the left flank and steered the ball wide of keeper Asa Sinclair to score off a post. Ten minutes later, the villagers were on terms when Farquhar started and finished off a slick move.
Like the subsequent cup tie, Castletown only made certain of victory in the closing 10 minutes.
Backroom man Colin MacLeod came off the bench to spearhead the attack and the old warhorse latched on to a Sutherland cross to convert from the edge of the six-yard box. A last minute tap-in from MacDonald completed the scoring.
Pentland United and John O'Groats shared the points in their derby clash at Ham Park.
United goals by Grant Budge and Andrew Richardson were countered by strikes from Stuart Sinclair (the elder) and Calum Campbell.
Rovers kept in contention to finish third with two wins either side of their cup KO.
They opened with a 2-0 win away to already-relegated Thurso Pentland. The goals came at the start and end of a match in which the home side had some decent spells but could easily have succumbed to a much heavier reverse.
Rovers scored with their first attack when Colin McKiddie's inswinging cross from the left was met by an unstoppable volley by Paul MacDonald.
Colin Sinclair then set up a decent chance for John Harper who blazed just wide while MacDonald under-hit a chip when sent clean through.
Pentland's best chance came five minutes from the interval when a venomous strike from Mark Makhouli was headed off the line.
Rovers threatened to pull away in the third quarter. A clutch of close calls featured a sequence on the hour-mark when a MacDonald shot came back off the inside of a post and Sinclair was unable to convert the rebound.
Rovers had to wait until the 88th minute before sealing victory when an untidy spell of play ended with Robert Bell sclaffing the ball into his own net.
Sanders Harper's men on Wednesday won by the odd goal in seven on their own pitch to avenge an early season defeat to Halkirk. After going ahead through Lee Lyall, Rovers were rocked by a well-taken double from Lee Elder.
Lyall levelled before the interval and Stevie Reid put them 3-2 in front with an opportunist strike after the turnaround.
Halkirk restored parity through a header from Luke Sawyer but had no response when MacDonald netted to extend his current scoring streak.
Keiss were almost shocked by an under-strength Lybster in their opening tie in the Steven Cup. Lybster arrived several players short with Keiss veterans Angus Mackay and Grant Nicolson sportingly agreeing to play as trialists to ensure the game went ahead.
Any notion the home side had of a one-sided romp was rudely disabused as they came in at the interval two goals behind.
Alan Larnach side-footed home after a sweeping move while Bobby Gunn doubled the lead with a cracking 20-yarder.
Keiss hit back soon after the break with a scrappy effort from Dean Salim.
Salim levelled with a penalty before putting his side ahead with a bullet header past keeper James Taylor. Graham MacNab then struck to give his side a less than comfortable 4-2 win.
On Wednesday, Keiss had no such problems in cracking 12 without reply past Top Joe's. Peter Niwa netted three in each half as the hapless visitors were put to the sword.
The first of Colin MacKenzie's double was the pick of the dozen, with the others coming from Mark Waring, Greg Simpson (2) and Ben Taylor.
John O'Groats set off tomorrow with their sights set on reaching the MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup final.
Management team Robbie Swanson and Willie Sinclair are calling on the squad to give it their best shot against the 1994 winners, Point.
Missing against the Stornoway outfit in neutral Culbokie will be their striker Sean Henstridge. The 23-year-old frontman, who has scored in every round so far, has to miss out as he had booked a foreign holiday and was unable to alter the date.
Brother Martin and Stuart Sinclair are getting a lift from father Willie right after the game to Newcastle Airport from where they are flying out for a holiday in the sun.
Apart from Henstridge, JOG have just about a full squad for the biggest game in the club's history.
Fixtures:
Tonight: Division One: Thurso Pentland v Swifts (7.30pm).
Tomorrow: MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup semi-final, John O'Groats v Point (Culbokie, noon).
Monday: David Allan Shield semi-final (7.15pm): Castletown v Wick Groats; Swifts v John O'Groats. Division One (7.30pm): Wick Thistle v Acks.
Tuesday: Steven Cup: Ashes v FSC (7.15pm).
Wednesday: Division One: Acks v Rovers; Castletown v Swifts; Halkirk v Thurso Pentland; Wick Thistle v Pentland United (7.30pm).
Thursday: Steven Cup: Lybster v Top Joe's (7.15pm).
Results:
Division One: Acks 1 Castletown 3; Pentland United 2 John O'Groats 2; Thurso Pentland 0 Rovers 2; Rovers 4 Halkirk 3.
David Allan Shield quarter-final: Castletown 4 Acks 0; Rovers 3 Swifts 5; Thurso Pentland 2 Wick Groats 5; Wick Thistle 0 John O'Groats 2.
Steven Cup: Keiss 4 Lybster 2; Keiss 12 Top Joe's 0.
iain-grant@ukf.net
By Iain Grant
Published: 27 July, 2007
TWO late goals against Rovers in Wick saw Swifts through to the last four of the David Allan Shield.
They prevailed in an eight-goal thriller at Upper Bignold to earn a home tie versus John O'Groats.
Monday's other semi will see Castletown entertain Wick Groats.
Rovers drew first blood in Monday's high-tempo match when Paul MacDonald netted with a neat chip over trialist keeper Martin Jackson. Jamie Mackenzie restored parity with a peach of a 20-yard strike, only for Stevie Reid to put Rovers back in front direct from a free kick.
That is the way it stood at the interval in a competitive match in which both sides were committed to attacking football.
The contest went Swifts' way midway through the second half when Mark Nichol struck from 25 yards. That sparked a spirited response from the home men and within 10 minutes they levelled when Jackson fumbled Andrew Weir's cross-cum-shot into his net. With six minutes to go, Iain Elder came off the bench to get on the end of a cross to score with a left-foot volley to put Swifts 4-3 ahead.
Rovers had struck the post and crossbar either side of falling behind and in the last minute MacDonald was sent clear. He fluffed his would-be finish and in the last action, the Thurso men swept upfield and Nigel Mackenzie netted from an acute angle.
Next up for them are JOG who returned with a 2-0 win in a low-key encounter in Wick versus Thistle.
Stuart Sinclair (the elder) put the visitors in front with a 12-yard shot early on before Ian Rosie added a scrappy second just before the interval.
Castletown's quest to complement their league title with a cup was not overly stretched by Acks. Two early goals and two in the closing stages completed a 4-0 win what was a less-than-memorable affair at the village pitch.
The first goal came after a corner for the home side was headed out to the edge of the box. The ball fell into the stride of Colin Munro whose raking volley cannoned off a defender back towards him. His follow-up strike arrowed into the top corner to give the central defender his second counter of the season.
Shortly afterwards, a quickly-taken throw-in from Ewan Scott was played by Alan Farquhar towards Greg MacLeod who wrong footed his marker before netting.
Acks seldom threatened though Gary MacLeod passed up a snip of a chance to get his side back into the tie soon after the break.
The game lapsed into a prolonged scrappy spell with the tedium broken with some towsy exchanges.
Sub Steven MacDonald made the game safe for Castletown 10 minutes from time when Greg MacLeod provided the opening for him to beat keeper Brian Mackay with a well-judged lob.
Right at the death, the climax of a 10-pass move saw Chris Sutherland set up Farquhar with a back-post header to make it 4-0.
Castletown now face Wick Groats whose 5-2 win over Thurso Pentland at the Dammies was less comfortable than the scoreline suggests.
Mark Sheppard had the visitors in front after he converted Martin Sutherland's cross. Pentland levelled after youngster Mark Begg was floored in the box and Mark Makhouli netted the resultant spot-kick.
The run of Marks on the mark continued when Sheppard ran through unchallenged to grab his second of the evening in just about the last action of the half.
That is the way it stood until 20 minutes from time when Groats' player/manager Stewart Ross seized on a half-clearance from corner to rifle a shot into the roof of the net. Six minutes from time, Kevin Miller made it 4-1 with a free kick which deflected past Pentland's impressive stand-in keeper Mark Mancini.
Michael Foubister then turned the ball into his own net in trying to prevent Kyle Ross netting from his brother Stewart's cross.
The Thurso side got one back with two minutes left with a cracking strike from Nicky Rosie.
Castletown have stretched their lead at the top of John O'Groats Journal Division One to 12 points after coming from behind to defeat Acks 3-1 in Thurso.
Gary MacLeod had the Thurso men's tails up early on when he cut in from the left flank and steered the ball wide of keeper Asa Sinclair to score off a post. Ten minutes later, the villagers were on terms when Farquhar started and finished off a slick move.
Like the subsequent cup tie, Castletown only made certain of victory in the closing 10 minutes.
Backroom man Colin MacLeod came off the bench to spearhead the attack and the old warhorse latched on to a Sutherland cross to convert from the edge of the six-yard box. A last minute tap-in from MacDonald completed the scoring.
Pentland United and John O'Groats shared the points in their derby clash at Ham Park.
United goals by Grant Budge and Andrew Richardson were countered by strikes from Stuart Sinclair (the elder) and Calum Campbell.
Rovers kept in contention to finish third with two wins either side of their cup KO.
They opened with a 2-0 win away to already-relegated Thurso Pentland. The goals came at the start and end of a match in which the home side had some decent spells but could easily have succumbed to a much heavier reverse.
Rovers scored with their first attack when Colin McKiddie's inswinging cross from the left was met by an unstoppable volley by Paul MacDonald.
Colin Sinclair then set up a decent chance for John Harper who blazed just wide while MacDonald under-hit a chip when sent clean through.
Pentland's best chance came five minutes from the interval when a venomous strike from Mark Makhouli was headed off the line.
Rovers threatened to pull away in the third quarter. A clutch of close calls featured a sequence on the hour-mark when a MacDonald shot came back off the inside of a post and Sinclair was unable to convert the rebound.
Rovers had to wait until the 88th minute before sealing victory when an untidy spell of play ended with Robert Bell sclaffing the ball into his own net.
Sanders Harper's men on Wednesday won by the odd goal in seven on their own pitch to avenge an early season defeat to Halkirk. After going ahead through Lee Lyall, Rovers were rocked by a well-taken double from Lee Elder.
Lyall levelled before the interval and Stevie Reid put them 3-2 in front with an opportunist strike after the turnaround.
Halkirk restored parity through a header from Luke Sawyer but had no response when MacDonald netted to extend his current scoring streak.
Keiss were almost shocked by an under-strength Lybster in their opening tie in the Steven Cup. Lybster arrived several players short with Keiss veterans Angus Mackay and Grant Nicolson sportingly agreeing to play as trialists to ensure the game went ahead.
Any notion the home side had of a one-sided romp was rudely disabused as they came in at the interval two goals behind.
Alan Larnach side-footed home after a sweeping move while Bobby Gunn doubled the lead with a cracking 20-yarder.
Keiss hit back soon after the break with a scrappy effort from Dean Salim.
Salim levelled with a penalty before putting his side ahead with a bullet header past keeper James Taylor. Graham MacNab then struck to give his side a less than comfortable 4-2 win.
On Wednesday, Keiss had no such problems in cracking 12 without reply past Top Joe's. Peter Niwa netted three in each half as the hapless visitors were put to the sword.
The first of Colin MacKenzie's double was the pick of the dozen, with the others coming from Mark Waring, Greg Simpson (2) and Ben Taylor.
John O'Groats set off tomorrow with their sights set on reaching the MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup final.
Management team Robbie Swanson and Willie Sinclair are calling on the squad to give it their best shot against the 1994 winners, Point.
Missing against the Stornoway outfit in neutral Culbokie will be their striker Sean Henstridge. The 23-year-old frontman, who has scored in every round so far, has to miss out as he had booked a foreign holiday and was unable to alter the date.
Brother Martin and Stuart Sinclair are getting a lift from father Willie right after the game to Newcastle Airport from where they are flying out for a holiday in the sun.
Apart from Henstridge, JOG have just about a full squad for the biggest game in the club's history.
Fixtures:
Tonight: Division One: Thurso Pentland v Swifts (7.30pm).
Tomorrow: MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup semi-final, John O'Groats v Point (Culbokie, noon).
Monday: David Allan Shield semi-final (7.15pm): Castletown v Wick Groats; Swifts v John O'Groats. Division One (7.30pm): Wick Thistle v Acks.
Tuesday: Steven Cup: Ashes v FSC (7.15pm).
Wednesday: Division One: Acks v Rovers; Castletown v Swifts; Halkirk v Thurso Pentland; Wick Thistle v Pentland United (7.30pm).
Thursday: Steven Cup: Lybster v Top Joe's (7.15pm).
Results:
Division One: Acks 1 Castletown 3; Pentland United 2 John O'Groats 2; Thurso Pentland 0 Rovers 2; Rovers 4 Halkirk 3.
David Allan Shield quarter-final: Castletown 4 Acks 0; Rovers 3 Swifts 5; Thurso Pentland 2 Wick Groats 5; Wick Thistle 0 John O'Groats 2.
Steven Cup: Keiss 4 Lybster 2; Keiss 12 Top Joe's 0.
iain-grant@ukf.net