Post by Brian Mackay on May 16, 2007 22:10:26 GMT
Halkirk hold former champions to a draw - from JOG Journal website
By Iain Grant
Published: 16 May, 2007
THRILLS were in plentiful supply on Saturday when all the Caithness county sides were in action in the first round of the MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup.
Four face replays on Saturday while Swifts, Rovers and Ashes won the honours in town derbies.
Halkirk, arguably, pulled off the best result of the day after twice coming from behind at Dunnet to draw 2-2 with five-times former champions Pentland United.
They bounced back well from their 4-0 defeat in their visit to Ham Park last week on league business.
The deadlock in an even first half was broken when a wayward clearance by Halkirk keeper Stuart MacCulloch fell to Scott Mackay Steven who wasted no time in dispatching a volley into the roof of the net.
The visitors levelled on the hour mark through Michael Bremner's deflected free kick.
United quickly re-seized the initiative when Martin Bain's inviting cross was met by an unstoppable left-foot volley from Tony Farquhar.
Halkirk battled back and drew level again after a length-of-the-park move ended with Bremner playing in Ian Adamson who coolly netted.
After Farquhar looked to have a fair claim for a penalty when he was downed in the box, United's cause was hit when both Michael Steven and Willie Inrig were dismissed after they picked up two cautions.
Francis Street Club came close to completing what would have been a remarkable late comeback in their derby joust versus Rovers at Upper Bignold.
Andy Harper's men looked down and out when Stevie Reid made it 4-0 for the first-division outfit with just under 10 minutes left.
A couple of changes by Rovers left them exposed but there seemed no cause for panic when FSC's Davie Taylor pulled one back after young keeper Stevie Kelly could not hold Craig Henderson's free kick.
Nathan Mackay reduced the leeway to 2-4 and when youngster Gregg Gunn got another, the Rovers' camp were well and truly rattled.
The ship was steadied by Reid whose hat-trick goal ended the scoring at 5-3 for Sanders Harper's troops.
John Harper had earlier scored at the start of both halves to help put Rovers apparently on easy street.
Later on the same pitch, Wick Groats made short work of Lochinver.
Kyle Ross grabbed a double in their 7-2 victory with the other goals falling to Martin Sutherland, Christopher Taylor, Derek Shearer, Mark Sheppard and Stewart Ross.
The scheduled clash at the adjoining Harmsworth Park failed to materialise after Thistle's opponents, Dornoch, scratched on Friday evening.
The early match at the Dammies saw Swifts get the better of co-tenants Acks after a very competitive tussle.
Swifts went in front after 35 minutes when a well-worked move ended with Nigel Mackenzie cutting inside and teeing up brother Jamie to score.
All three Murray brothers – Alan, Martin and Neil – were in action for Acks who had their moments but who were indebted to goalkeeper Brian Mackay for keeping them in the tie with a string of excellent saves.
Midway through the half he could do nothing when Gary Coghill's clearance cannoned off Willie Steven into the back of the net.
Later, Thurso Pentland came within a couple of minutes of knocking out Golspie Stafford.
After Stephen MacLeod levelled Adam Sutherland's opener for the hosts, Sutherland struck twice more either side of the interval to put his side in the driving seat.
Stafford came back strongly and hit woodwork several times before getting one back through an own goal.
Lybster in action against Tongue United at Bettyhill – an encounter that ended in a 2-2 draw.
There was just two minutes remaining when MacLeod got his second from a free kick.
Castletown came from behind to secure a comfortable 4-1 success at home to Embo. The lead was gained in freak fashion when a monster clearance from the visiting keeper bounced on the hard ground and over the home number one Asa Sinclair into the net.
This served as a wake-up call to a Castletown side who had started very poorly.
Within a couple of minutes of conceding, Chris Sutherland equalised and Graham MacDonald fired them into an interval lead.
Sutherland then followed up Steven Morris's blocked shot to score his second and then set up Pher Nicolson for a late fourth with a measured finish from the edge of the box.
Keiss put up a gallant fight before going down 3-1 at home to John O'Groats. The latter grabbed a fifth-minute lead thanks to a own goal but Keiss responded within 15 minutes through Peter Niwa.
They then had the better of the exchanges and Grant MacNab blew a gilt-edged chance after being set up by Colin MacKenzie.
JOG went in front after James Richards got hands to Martin Sinclair's stinging shot but was unable to prevent it crossing the line.
The first division outfit then sealed victory with a goal from Sean Henstridge.
Lybster and Tongue have to do it all over again after drawing 2-2 at Bettyhill.
In the other match, Ashes pipped Top Joe's by the odd goal in seven at Ormlie.
Craig Hollywood and Graham Lowe had TJ's 2-0 up but they were reduced to 10 men when Steven Johns was red-carded.
A Gordie Harper double had Ashes level at the break but they fell behind again when Kevin Cowie netted.
TJ's faded late on and Ashes cashed in to win through, thanks to two goals in the last 12 minutes from Dougie Mackay.
Defending champions Avoch posted the biggest score of the first round, racking up a 14-1 victory at the home of Cromarty.
There were other big wins for two other Easter Ross sides who have regularly reached the latter stages of the competition in recent years.
Culbokie defeated Portree Juniors 8-0 while Fortrose won 8-1 at Sleat and Strath.
In a battle of former champions, Lochs were impressive 4-0 winners at Ness while other strong Western Isles contenders Back, Point, South End and Stornoway Athletic all progressed.
In Orkney, ex-winners Kirkwall Rovers and Kirkwall Thorfinn both won through.
MacLeod IFA Highland Cup first round, north Dornoch Firth zone: Castletown 4 Embo 1; Francis Street Club 3 Wick Rovers 5; Kinlochbervie 2 Durness 8; Keiss 1 John O'Groats 3.
Lochbroom 2 Brora Wanderers 4; Pentland United 2 Halkirk 2; Thurso Pentland 3 Golspie Stafford 3; Thurso Swifts 2 Thurso Acks 0.
Tongue United 2 Lybster 2; Top Joe's 3 Ashes 4; Wick Groats 7 Lochinver 2; Wick Thistle wo Dornoch City.
By Iain Grant
Published: 16 May, 2007
THRILLS were in plentiful supply on Saturday when all the Caithness county sides were in action in the first round of the MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup.
Four face replays on Saturday while Swifts, Rovers and Ashes won the honours in town derbies.
Halkirk, arguably, pulled off the best result of the day after twice coming from behind at Dunnet to draw 2-2 with five-times former champions Pentland United.
They bounced back well from their 4-0 defeat in their visit to Ham Park last week on league business.
The deadlock in an even first half was broken when a wayward clearance by Halkirk keeper Stuart MacCulloch fell to Scott Mackay Steven who wasted no time in dispatching a volley into the roof of the net.
The visitors levelled on the hour mark through Michael Bremner's deflected free kick.
United quickly re-seized the initiative when Martin Bain's inviting cross was met by an unstoppable left-foot volley from Tony Farquhar.
Halkirk battled back and drew level again after a length-of-the-park move ended with Bremner playing in Ian Adamson who coolly netted.
After Farquhar looked to have a fair claim for a penalty when he was downed in the box, United's cause was hit when both Michael Steven and Willie Inrig were dismissed after they picked up two cautions.
Francis Street Club came close to completing what would have been a remarkable late comeback in their derby joust versus Rovers at Upper Bignold.
Andy Harper's men looked down and out when Stevie Reid made it 4-0 for the first-division outfit with just under 10 minutes left.
A couple of changes by Rovers left them exposed but there seemed no cause for panic when FSC's Davie Taylor pulled one back after young keeper Stevie Kelly could not hold Craig Henderson's free kick.
Nathan Mackay reduced the leeway to 2-4 and when youngster Gregg Gunn got another, the Rovers' camp were well and truly rattled.
The ship was steadied by Reid whose hat-trick goal ended the scoring at 5-3 for Sanders Harper's troops.
John Harper had earlier scored at the start of both halves to help put Rovers apparently on easy street.
Later on the same pitch, Wick Groats made short work of Lochinver.
Kyle Ross grabbed a double in their 7-2 victory with the other goals falling to Martin Sutherland, Christopher Taylor, Derek Shearer, Mark Sheppard and Stewart Ross.
The scheduled clash at the adjoining Harmsworth Park failed to materialise after Thistle's opponents, Dornoch, scratched on Friday evening.
The early match at the Dammies saw Swifts get the better of co-tenants Acks after a very competitive tussle.
Swifts went in front after 35 minutes when a well-worked move ended with Nigel Mackenzie cutting inside and teeing up brother Jamie to score.
All three Murray brothers – Alan, Martin and Neil – were in action for Acks who had their moments but who were indebted to goalkeeper Brian Mackay for keeping them in the tie with a string of excellent saves.
Midway through the half he could do nothing when Gary Coghill's clearance cannoned off Willie Steven into the back of the net.
Later, Thurso Pentland came within a couple of minutes of knocking out Golspie Stafford.
After Stephen MacLeod levelled Adam Sutherland's opener for the hosts, Sutherland struck twice more either side of the interval to put his side in the driving seat.
Stafford came back strongly and hit woodwork several times before getting one back through an own goal.
Lybster in action against Tongue United at Bettyhill – an encounter that ended in a 2-2 draw.
There was just two minutes remaining when MacLeod got his second from a free kick.
Castletown came from behind to secure a comfortable 4-1 success at home to Embo. The lead was gained in freak fashion when a monster clearance from the visiting keeper bounced on the hard ground and over the home number one Asa Sinclair into the net.
This served as a wake-up call to a Castletown side who had started very poorly.
Within a couple of minutes of conceding, Chris Sutherland equalised and Graham MacDonald fired them into an interval lead.
Sutherland then followed up Steven Morris's blocked shot to score his second and then set up Pher Nicolson for a late fourth with a measured finish from the edge of the box.
Keiss put up a gallant fight before going down 3-1 at home to John O'Groats. The latter grabbed a fifth-minute lead thanks to a own goal but Keiss responded within 15 minutes through Peter Niwa.
They then had the better of the exchanges and Grant MacNab blew a gilt-edged chance after being set up by Colin MacKenzie.
JOG went in front after James Richards got hands to Martin Sinclair's stinging shot but was unable to prevent it crossing the line.
The first division outfit then sealed victory with a goal from Sean Henstridge.
Lybster and Tongue have to do it all over again after drawing 2-2 at Bettyhill.
In the other match, Ashes pipped Top Joe's by the odd goal in seven at Ormlie.
Craig Hollywood and Graham Lowe had TJ's 2-0 up but they were reduced to 10 men when Steven Johns was red-carded.
A Gordie Harper double had Ashes level at the break but they fell behind again when Kevin Cowie netted.
TJ's faded late on and Ashes cashed in to win through, thanks to two goals in the last 12 minutes from Dougie Mackay.
Defending champions Avoch posted the biggest score of the first round, racking up a 14-1 victory at the home of Cromarty.
There were other big wins for two other Easter Ross sides who have regularly reached the latter stages of the competition in recent years.
Culbokie defeated Portree Juniors 8-0 while Fortrose won 8-1 at Sleat and Strath.
In a battle of former champions, Lochs were impressive 4-0 winners at Ness while other strong Western Isles contenders Back, Point, South End and Stornoway Athletic all progressed.
In Orkney, ex-winners Kirkwall Rovers and Kirkwall Thorfinn both won through.
MacLeod IFA Highland Cup first round, north Dornoch Firth zone: Castletown 4 Embo 1; Francis Street Club 3 Wick Rovers 5; Kinlochbervie 2 Durness 8; Keiss 1 John O'Groats 3.
Lochbroom 2 Brora Wanderers 4; Pentland United 2 Halkirk 2; Thurso Pentland 3 Golspie Stafford 3; Thurso Swifts 2 Thurso Acks 0.
Tongue United 2 Lybster 2; Top Joe's 3 Ashes 4; Wick Groats 7 Lochinver 2; Wick Thistle wo Dornoch City.