Post by Brian Mackay on May 20, 2007 20:46:00 GMT
Three-way race developing for division one title
By Iain Grant - iain-grant@ukf.net
Published: 18 May, 2007
THE John O'Groat Journal Caithness county league division one title race is developing into a three-way joust.
Unbeaten Castletown and new-look Swifts – who were in action in Dunnet last night – pose the principal threats to Pentland United's defence of the championship.
At the other end of the table, Thurso Pentland – still looking for their first point – need a major turnaround if they are to avoid the drop.
Castletown maintained their early-season head of steam while failing to fire on all cylinders in their 2-1 home victory over Rovers on Monday.
Chris Sutherland fired them into a second-minute lead before Colin McKiddie levelled with a cracking volley from the edge of the box after 20 minutes.
Play degenerated after the interval with chances at a premium at both ends.
Castletown grabbed all three points when Gavin Henderson's long-range drive on the hour-mark eluded visiting keeper Stevie Kelly.
Meanwhile, two second-half goals gave Swifts a hard-earned 2-0 win in Halkirk.
The village outfit were under the cosh for most of the game and rode their luck on several occasions, notably when Graeme Reid skied a penalty on the hour mark.
Shortly afterwards, Swifts went ahead with an opportunist strike from John Holmes. Ten minutes from time, Jamie MacKenzie took full advantage to score following a botched kick-out from Halkirk keeper Stuart MacCulloch.
Pentland United displayed a killer touch in the north-east derby when they rattled in five without reply against an out-of-sorts John O'Groats.
Missing the unavailable Stuart Sinclair (the younger) in the centre of defence, the home side were cut open time and again.
Tony Farquhar helped himself to a double with the others coming from Grant Budge, Aaron Smith and Brian Gray.
Wick Thistle climbed up a place after registering a 2-1 win away to Thurso Pentland. Terry Cannop headed the Jags in front from a corner.
The home side's vulnerability from set pieces was again exposed when Cannop's header from another corner was headed off the line and Graham Denoon netted the follow-up.
Despy Mackay got one back after the break when he latched on to a through ball and slotted it past keeper Graeme Williamson.
At the halfway stage in the second division, Wick Groats continue to set the pace.
Stewart Ross's men made heavy weather of securing a 4-1 win over bottom-of-the-table Top Joe's on Wednesday.
After Andrew Cummings put them in front, the visitors battled back to equalise early in the second half.
Martin Sutherland restored the lead before Mark Sheppard and a second from Cummings gave Groats much-needed extra breathing space.
Keiss kept in touch at the top following their last-gasp win at home to Francis Street Club.
They should have been home and hosed by half time when they spurned a hatful of chances after Colin Mackenzie put them in front early on.
The misses featured a weak penalty by Graham MacNab which was comfortably gathered by FSC keeper/manager Andrew Harper.
The pendulum swung FSC's way after the interval, especially after Grant MacNab was red-carded for a late tackle.
The visitors' pressure finally paid off five minutes from time when Graham Scollay converted a penalty. Mackenzie provided the sting in the tail for FSC when he scored after a glorious solo run from the halfway line.
Ashes meanwhile scored a 2-1 win at Ormlie over Lybster.
The scoreline is deceptive as the home side were coasting until a late spurt by the visitors.
Ashes' dominance was rewarded in the last play of the first half when Davie Stockan scored with a back-post finish following a corner.
The lead was doubled on the hour mark when veteran Willie Miller came off the bench to score with a bullet header from Gordon Harper's pinpoint cross.
Lybster's late surge saw Alan Larnach hit a post before Stephan Sutherland netted with a close-in header late on.
Fixtures – Tonight (7.15pm): Division Two, Top Joe's v FSC.
Tomorrow: MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup first round replay, Golspie Stafford v Thurso Pentland (1pm); Halkirk v Pentland United (12.30pm); Lybster v Tongue (3pm).
Monday (7.15pm): Eain Mackintosh Cup first round, Lybster v Top Joe's; Pentland United v Acks; Swifts v Wick Thistle; Wick Groats v Castletown.
Tuesday (7.15pm): Eain Mackintosh Cup first round, FSC v John O'Groats; Thurso Pentland v Halkirk.
Wednesday (7.15pm): Eain Mackintosh Cup first round, Rovers v Keiss.
Thursday (7.30pm): Division One, Thurso Pentland v Castletown.
Results – Division One: Castletown 2, Rovers 1; Halkirk 0, Swifts 2; John O'Groats 0, Pentland United 5; Thurso Pentland 1, Wick Thistle 2.
Division Two: Ashes 2, Lybster 1; Keiss 2, FSC 1; Wick Groats 4, Top Joe's 1.
By Iain Grant - iain-grant@ukf.net
Published: 18 May, 2007
THE John O'Groat Journal Caithness county league division one title race is developing into a three-way joust.
Unbeaten Castletown and new-look Swifts – who were in action in Dunnet last night – pose the principal threats to Pentland United's defence of the championship.
At the other end of the table, Thurso Pentland – still looking for their first point – need a major turnaround if they are to avoid the drop.
Castletown maintained their early-season head of steam while failing to fire on all cylinders in their 2-1 home victory over Rovers on Monday.
Chris Sutherland fired them into a second-minute lead before Colin McKiddie levelled with a cracking volley from the edge of the box after 20 minutes.
Play degenerated after the interval with chances at a premium at both ends.
Castletown grabbed all three points when Gavin Henderson's long-range drive on the hour-mark eluded visiting keeper Stevie Kelly.
Meanwhile, two second-half goals gave Swifts a hard-earned 2-0 win in Halkirk.
The village outfit were under the cosh for most of the game and rode their luck on several occasions, notably when Graeme Reid skied a penalty on the hour mark.
Shortly afterwards, Swifts went ahead with an opportunist strike from John Holmes. Ten minutes from time, Jamie MacKenzie took full advantage to score following a botched kick-out from Halkirk keeper Stuart MacCulloch.
Pentland United displayed a killer touch in the north-east derby when they rattled in five without reply against an out-of-sorts John O'Groats.
Missing the unavailable Stuart Sinclair (the younger) in the centre of defence, the home side were cut open time and again.
Tony Farquhar helped himself to a double with the others coming from Grant Budge, Aaron Smith and Brian Gray.
Wick Thistle climbed up a place after registering a 2-1 win away to Thurso Pentland. Terry Cannop headed the Jags in front from a corner.
The home side's vulnerability from set pieces was again exposed when Cannop's header from another corner was headed off the line and Graham Denoon netted the follow-up.
Despy Mackay got one back after the break when he latched on to a through ball and slotted it past keeper Graeme Williamson.
At the halfway stage in the second division, Wick Groats continue to set the pace.
Stewart Ross's men made heavy weather of securing a 4-1 win over bottom-of-the-table Top Joe's on Wednesday.
After Andrew Cummings put them in front, the visitors battled back to equalise early in the second half.
Martin Sutherland restored the lead before Mark Sheppard and a second from Cummings gave Groats much-needed extra breathing space.
Keiss kept in touch at the top following their last-gasp win at home to Francis Street Club.
They should have been home and hosed by half time when they spurned a hatful of chances after Colin Mackenzie put them in front early on.
The misses featured a weak penalty by Graham MacNab which was comfortably gathered by FSC keeper/manager Andrew Harper.
The pendulum swung FSC's way after the interval, especially after Grant MacNab was red-carded for a late tackle.
The visitors' pressure finally paid off five minutes from time when Graham Scollay converted a penalty. Mackenzie provided the sting in the tail for FSC when he scored after a glorious solo run from the halfway line.
Ashes meanwhile scored a 2-1 win at Ormlie over Lybster.
The scoreline is deceptive as the home side were coasting until a late spurt by the visitors.
Ashes' dominance was rewarded in the last play of the first half when Davie Stockan scored with a back-post finish following a corner.
The lead was doubled on the hour mark when veteran Willie Miller came off the bench to score with a bullet header from Gordon Harper's pinpoint cross.
Lybster's late surge saw Alan Larnach hit a post before Stephan Sutherland netted with a close-in header late on.
Fixtures – Tonight (7.15pm): Division Two, Top Joe's v FSC.
Tomorrow: MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup first round replay, Golspie Stafford v Thurso Pentland (1pm); Halkirk v Pentland United (12.30pm); Lybster v Tongue (3pm).
Monday (7.15pm): Eain Mackintosh Cup first round, Lybster v Top Joe's; Pentland United v Acks; Swifts v Wick Thistle; Wick Groats v Castletown.
Tuesday (7.15pm): Eain Mackintosh Cup first round, FSC v John O'Groats; Thurso Pentland v Halkirk.
Wednesday (7.15pm): Eain Mackintosh Cup first round, Rovers v Keiss.
Thursday (7.30pm): Division One, Thurso Pentland v Castletown.
Results – Division One: Castletown 2, Rovers 1; Halkirk 0, Swifts 2; John O'Groats 0, Pentland United 5; Thurso Pentland 1, Wick Thistle 2.
Division Two: Ashes 2, Lybster 1; Keiss 2, FSC 1; Wick Groats 4, Top Joe's 1.