Post by Brian Mackay on Jun 16, 2007 14:26:50 GMT
Castletown keep three-point advantage
By Iain Grant - iain-grant@ukf.net
Published: 15 June, 2007
CASTLETOWN and Pentland United are continuing their dogfight at the top of the first division in the County League. Their respective wins in tricky away fixtures mean Castletown retain a three-point advantage over their local rivals.
The pair have pulled away over third-placed Swifts who would, however, force their way back into the title race were they to win their two games in hand.
Castletown's 2-0 victory at John O'Groats was based on a workmanlike if unspectacular display. The goals came in a five-minute spell towards the end of the first half.
Like the general run of the game, the strikes were unremarkable. Chris Sutherland was credited with the first, though John O'Groats defender Graham Tait got the final touch, and Alan Farquhar added a scrappy second.
John O'Groats could have few complaints about the outcome after failing to get a serious effort on target all evening.
A late penalty winner away to Wick Rovers had earlier enabled United to go top on goal difference.
A competitive tussle was made tough for the home side when a second booking signalled an early shower for Colin Sinclair seven minutes from the interval. Paul MacDonald missed the target with just keeper Michael Gray to beat with the best chance of the match after 55 minutes.
United created several decent openings before they clinched all three points when Stevie Muir conceded a penalty and Brian Gray blasted home the spot-kick.
The performance of the week came from Acks, who put the brakes on Halkirk's four-game winning streak. The village side left the Dammies shell-shocked and fortunate to have lost by only 3-0.
Acks bossed the game from the start and forged ahead after 15 minutes. Keith Foubister's angled shot produced a fine parry from Stuart MacCulloch but the goalie was powerless to keep out the follow-up header from Gary Macleod.
Acks were strengthened by the inclusion of experienced midfielder Gavin Bremner. Having parted company with Pentland United, he played as a trialist for his former club.
Bremner had assists as Acks grabbed two more before the break.
His corner was converted by Murray Coghill's looping header and the same pair repeated the act from a free kick. Bremner's delivery this time produced a deadly aerial finish from six yards.
The visitors enjoyed a brief flurry after the interval but had MacCulloch to thank for a number of cracking saves, notably late on when he somehow managed to get a hand to a blistering volley from Acks' Liam Wann.
Graham Tait and Martin Sinclair had earlier scored doubles as John O'Groats stayed in mid-table on the back of a fine 4-1 victory away to Wick Thistle.
Wick Groats can wrap up the second division title with a win against town rivals Francis Street Club next Thursday. They closed in on the championship with a comfortable 4-0 success over Lybster on Tuesday.
The visitors defended stoutly early on, with keeper Lee Sutherland in fine form.
Groats took the lead through a diving header from Kevin Miller and Stewart Ross made it 2-0 before the interval after latching onto a cross from Martin Sutherland.
Greg Shearer added a third when he finished off a slick move with a curling strike from just inside the box.
Lee Sutherland was prominent with some excellent stops but he was beaten again near the end when Andrew Cumming cut in from the left and netted with a neat chip.
FSC had earlier completed a comfortable 3-0 win at home over Lybster.
Defender James MacDonald marked his return from a five-week lay-off with a tap-in from a corner to put his side ahead. Brian Reid did not know much about the second when he got in the way of a clearance and the ball flew into the net off his nether regions.
After the break, Darren Shepherd made it 3-0 with a rasping volley from a David Taylor assist.
FSC on Tuesday saw their slim title hopes go up in smoke when they went down 3-2 to Ashes at Ormlie.
The Thurso men twice came from behind to grab a late winner after having a man sent off.
FSC struck first through Nathan Mackay, who netted with a close-range back-post header. That was how it stood until early in the second period when Ricky Flowerday benefited from a favourable ricochet to convert from six yards.
Veteran Derek Whaley restored FSC's lead with a low drive only for Willie Miller to level with an opportunist strike from the edge of the box.
Ashes had youngster Alan Struthers red-carded for dissent before Flowerday grabbed his second, beating a defender and firing a powerful shot high into the top right-hand corner.
FSC were denied a point in the final minute by a fingertip save from Ashes keeper Mark Mackenzie.
Castletown hitman Alan Farquhar celebrates after firing in his second goal during the cup semi-final against Swifts. He went on to complete a hat-trick as the village side ran out 3-0 winners. John Baikie 07789 557586
* The league's top two will go head-to-head to determine where the first silverware of the county season ends up. Castletown and Pentland United both had largely trouble-free passages to the July 7 showdown at Halkirk in their respective Eain Mackintosh Cup semis on Wednesday.
Castletown maintained their unbeaten county record when they returned from the Dammies with a 3-0 victory over Swifts.
The home side's challenge was hit by having a handful of key players missing, including suspended pair Jamie MacKenzie and Willie Steven.
They were dealt an early blow when the break of the ball from a Chris Sutherland foray landed favourably for Alan Farquhar, who coolly side-footed home.
Swifts had decent chances to level before the interval, with Nigel MacKenzie skying a shot when sent clear by trialist Gavin Bremner. Iain Elder also missed a couple of good openings.
Castletown doubled their advantage 10 minutes after the break. Derrick Shearer and Ewan Scott cut open the defence to allow Farquhar to provide the final killer touch.
Farquhar completed a man-of-the-match display when he weighed in with an unstoppable volley late on to complete his hat-trick.
Meanwhile, it was Groundhog Day in Halkirk where the home side went down 2-0 to Pentland United. The scoreline and the pattern of the game mirrored the recent Highland Amateur Cup replay between the sides at Recreation Park.
United were in charge for most of the first half, with Halkirk displaying little in the way of a threat.
The visitors went in front midway through the half when Grant Budge fed Jocky Sutherland to convert from point-blank range.
The lead was extended just before the interval when Andrew Richardson found space to drill home from 12 yards.
Halkirk were much improved in the second period when visiting keeper Michael Gray was fully stretched to deny efforts from Russell Bain, Stevie Elder and Ian Adamson.
United almost extended their lead in the dying minutes when Richardson hit a post.
United had earlier comfortably accounted for Top Joe's in Dunnet to secure their passage to the last four. And-rew Richardson, Shaun Swanson and Lee Sutherland all grabbed doubles in their 8-0 victory, with the others coming from Derek Manson and Ewen Boyd.
* Fixtures: Tonight (Friday, 7.30) – County League, Division One: Wick Rovers v Thurso Pentland.
Saturday– Inter-county (seniors and under-18s): Orkney v Caithness.
Roddy Gray Memorial Cup, veterans' seven-a-side competition (Sir George's Park, 12.00).
Monday (7.30): County League, Division One: Halkirk v Wick Thistle; Swifts v Acks.
Tuesday (7.30) – Division One: Thurso Pentland v John O'Groats. Division Two: Keiss v Ashes; Top Joe's v Lybster.
Wednesday (7.30) – Division One: Acks v Pentland United; Wick Thistle v Rovers.
Thursday (7.30) – Division Two: FSC v Wick Groats.
Results – Macleod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, second round replay: Contin 5, Wick Groats 3.
County League, Division One: Acks 3, Halkirk 0; John O'Groats 0, Castletown 2; Wick Rovers 0, Pentland United 1; Wick Thistle 1, John O'Groats 4.
Division Two: Ashes 3, FSC 2; FSC 3, Lybster 0; Wick Groats 4, Lybster 0.
Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-final: Pentland United 8, Top Joe's 0. Semi-finals: Halkirk 0, Pentland United 2; Swifts 0, Castletown 3.
By Iain Grant - iain-grant@ukf.net
Published: 15 June, 2007
CASTLETOWN and Pentland United are continuing their dogfight at the top of the first division in the County League. Their respective wins in tricky away fixtures mean Castletown retain a three-point advantage over their local rivals.
The pair have pulled away over third-placed Swifts who would, however, force their way back into the title race were they to win their two games in hand.
Castletown's 2-0 victory at John O'Groats was based on a workmanlike if unspectacular display. The goals came in a five-minute spell towards the end of the first half.
Like the general run of the game, the strikes were unremarkable. Chris Sutherland was credited with the first, though John O'Groats defender Graham Tait got the final touch, and Alan Farquhar added a scrappy second.
John O'Groats could have few complaints about the outcome after failing to get a serious effort on target all evening.
A late penalty winner away to Wick Rovers had earlier enabled United to go top on goal difference.
A competitive tussle was made tough for the home side when a second booking signalled an early shower for Colin Sinclair seven minutes from the interval. Paul MacDonald missed the target with just keeper Michael Gray to beat with the best chance of the match after 55 minutes.
United created several decent openings before they clinched all three points when Stevie Muir conceded a penalty and Brian Gray blasted home the spot-kick.
The performance of the week came from Acks, who put the brakes on Halkirk's four-game winning streak. The village side left the Dammies shell-shocked and fortunate to have lost by only 3-0.
Acks bossed the game from the start and forged ahead after 15 minutes. Keith Foubister's angled shot produced a fine parry from Stuart MacCulloch but the goalie was powerless to keep out the follow-up header from Gary Macleod.
Acks were strengthened by the inclusion of experienced midfielder Gavin Bremner. Having parted company with Pentland United, he played as a trialist for his former club.
Bremner had assists as Acks grabbed two more before the break.
His corner was converted by Murray Coghill's looping header and the same pair repeated the act from a free kick. Bremner's delivery this time produced a deadly aerial finish from six yards.
The visitors enjoyed a brief flurry after the interval but had MacCulloch to thank for a number of cracking saves, notably late on when he somehow managed to get a hand to a blistering volley from Acks' Liam Wann.
Graham Tait and Martin Sinclair had earlier scored doubles as John O'Groats stayed in mid-table on the back of a fine 4-1 victory away to Wick Thistle.
Wick Groats can wrap up the second division title with a win against town rivals Francis Street Club next Thursday. They closed in on the championship with a comfortable 4-0 success over Lybster on Tuesday.
The visitors defended stoutly early on, with keeper Lee Sutherland in fine form.
Groats took the lead through a diving header from Kevin Miller and Stewart Ross made it 2-0 before the interval after latching onto a cross from Martin Sutherland.
Greg Shearer added a third when he finished off a slick move with a curling strike from just inside the box.
Lee Sutherland was prominent with some excellent stops but he was beaten again near the end when Andrew Cumming cut in from the left and netted with a neat chip.
FSC had earlier completed a comfortable 3-0 win at home over Lybster.
Defender James MacDonald marked his return from a five-week lay-off with a tap-in from a corner to put his side ahead. Brian Reid did not know much about the second when he got in the way of a clearance and the ball flew into the net off his nether regions.
After the break, Darren Shepherd made it 3-0 with a rasping volley from a David Taylor assist.
FSC on Tuesday saw their slim title hopes go up in smoke when they went down 3-2 to Ashes at Ormlie.
The Thurso men twice came from behind to grab a late winner after having a man sent off.
FSC struck first through Nathan Mackay, who netted with a close-range back-post header. That was how it stood until early in the second period when Ricky Flowerday benefited from a favourable ricochet to convert from six yards.
Veteran Derek Whaley restored FSC's lead with a low drive only for Willie Miller to level with an opportunist strike from the edge of the box.
Ashes had youngster Alan Struthers red-carded for dissent before Flowerday grabbed his second, beating a defender and firing a powerful shot high into the top right-hand corner.
FSC were denied a point in the final minute by a fingertip save from Ashes keeper Mark Mackenzie.
Castletown hitman Alan Farquhar celebrates after firing in his second goal during the cup semi-final against Swifts. He went on to complete a hat-trick as the village side ran out 3-0 winners. John Baikie 07789 557586
* The league's top two will go head-to-head to determine where the first silverware of the county season ends up. Castletown and Pentland United both had largely trouble-free passages to the July 7 showdown at Halkirk in their respective Eain Mackintosh Cup semis on Wednesday.
Castletown maintained their unbeaten county record when they returned from the Dammies with a 3-0 victory over Swifts.
The home side's challenge was hit by having a handful of key players missing, including suspended pair Jamie MacKenzie and Willie Steven.
They were dealt an early blow when the break of the ball from a Chris Sutherland foray landed favourably for Alan Farquhar, who coolly side-footed home.
Swifts had decent chances to level before the interval, with Nigel MacKenzie skying a shot when sent clear by trialist Gavin Bremner. Iain Elder also missed a couple of good openings.
Castletown doubled their advantage 10 minutes after the break. Derrick Shearer and Ewan Scott cut open the defence to allow Farquhar to provide the final killer touch.
Farquhar completed a man-of-the-match display when he weighed in with an unstoppable volley late on to complete his hat-trick.
Meanwhile, it was Groundhog Day in Halkirk where the home side went down 2-0 to Pentland United. The scoreline and the pattern of the game mirrored the recent Highland Amateur Cup replay between the sides at Recreation Park.
United were in charge for most of the first half, with Halkirk displaying little in the way of a threat.
The visitors went in front midway through the half when Grant Budge fed Jocky Sutherland to convert from point-blank range.
The lead was extended just before the interval when Andrew Richardson found space to drill home from 12 yards.
Halkirk were much improved in the second period when visiting keeper Michael Gray was fully stretched to deny efforts from Russell Bain, Stevie Elder and Ian Adamson.
United almost extended their lead in the dying minutes when Richardson hit a post.
United had earlier comfortably accounted for Top Joe's in Dunnet to secure their passage to the last four. And-rew Richardson, Shaun Swanson and Lee Sutherland all grabbed doubles in their 8-0 victory, with the others coming from Derek Manson and Ewen Boyd.
* Fixtures: Tonight (Friday, 7.30) – County League, Division One: Wick Rovers v Thurso Pentland.
Saturday– Inter-county (seniors and under-18s): Orkney v Caithness.
Roddy Gray Memorial Cup, veterans' seven-a-side competition (Sir George's Park, 12.00).
Monday (7.30): County League, Division One: Halkirk v Wick Thistle; Swifts v Acks.
Tuesday (7.30) – Division One: Thurso Pentland v John O'Groats. Division Two: Keiss v Ashes; Top Joe's v Lybster.
Wednesday (7.30) – Division One: Acks v Pentland United; Wick Thistle v Rovers.
Thursday (7.30) – Division Two: FSC v Wick Groats.
Results – Macleod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, second round replay: Contin 5, Wick Groats 3.
County League, Division One: Acks 3, Halkirk 0; John O'Groats 0, Castletown 2; Wick Rovers 0, Pentland United 1; Wick Thistle 1, John O'Groats 4.
Division Two: Ashes 3, FSC 2; FSC 3, Lybster 0; Wick Groats 4, Lybster 0.
Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-final: Pentland United 8, Top Joe's 0. Semi-finals: Halkirk 0, Pentland United 2; Swifts 0, Castletown 3.