Post by Brian Mackay on Jul 14, 2007 18:14:41 GMT
Castletown celebrate County League title as United slip up
By Iain Grant - iain-grant@ukf.net
Published: 13 July, 2007
THE champagne may have been missing but that did not take the fizz out of Castletown’s title celebrations on Wednesday night.
Soon after their battling 3-1 win over Rovers in Wick, they learned that the County League first division was theirs. Pentland United’s 2-2 draw versus Swifts in Thurso left Castletown uncatchable.
It is their fifth title success, with three coming from the mid to late 1970s followed by a dramatic last-night triumph in Thurso in 1989.
The latest success was missed by manager Ian MacDonald, who was yesterday due to fly back from a fortnight’s break in Thailand.
In charge of the team in his absence has been Colin MacLeod, the only member of the current playing squad left from the 1989 championship win.
He admits to having coached three of his current team-mates when they were under-eights.
“It’s extra-special for me, having seen quite a few of the guys develop through the age groups,” he said. “I’m delighted for them as they are a young side who have gone close over the past couple of seasons without winning anything.”
MacLeod said it had been tough watching the last quarter of an hour of the match against Rovers. “Usually, we finish games strongly but it was our third game in five days and our legs died in the last 15 minutes,” he said.
“Winning the title takes the pressure right off us and we can now just enjoy our last three league games.”
The villagers had started brightly, with Scott Manson just off target with an early chance.
Castletown got the rub of the green in six minutes when Rovers were awarded an indirect free kick on the edge of the six-yard box after Derek Shearer appeared to arm the ball clear.
A lively move at the other end resulted in Paul MacDonald setting up Stevie Reid for a shot which shaved the top of the crossbar.
Castletown took a 17th-minute lead when Alan Farquhar’s glorious through ball put Chris Sutherland clear. His first shot was parried by keeper Kevin McGee but Sutherland somehow bundled in the rebound.
John Harper went close twice before Greg MacLeod almost made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time.
The impressive Colin McKiddie and Reid forced smart stops from Asa Sinclair before Castletown extended their lead with a solo effort from Farquhar on 64 minutes.
Rovers hit back 12 minutes later when Shearer pulled down Reid in the box and Colin Sinclair banged home the spot-kick.
Alan Sinclair forced a fine save from his namesake before the visitors grabbed a third eight minutes from time when Manson’s cross was netted by Sutherland.
It was a timely strike as Rovers by then were calling the shots all over the park.
They should have reduced the leeway after 84 minutes when Asa Sinclair hauled down Reid as he ran through. The keeper escaped punishment and went on to use his feet to keep out Reid’s penalty.
Swifts’ erratic season continued with a classy display against United which deserved a three-point return.
The visitors drew first blood in an even first half thanks to a well-placed strike from Lee Sutherland.
Ex-United skipper Gavin Bremner popped up with a close-range equaliser. Swifts enjoyed a purple patch near the interval when Jamie MacKenzie struck the woodwork with a shot and a header.
The Thurso men went on to dominate the second period when they had a clutch of clear-cut chances.
Ten minutes after the break, Jamie MacKenzie’s close-in strike was beaten out by keeper Michael Gray into the path of Mark Nichol, who snatched his shot wide of the inviting target.
United’s defence was hard-pressed to absorb the pressure, with Graeme Reid inches away from scoring before Swifts went ahead after 61 minutes.
Nichol’s clipped low cross from the right flank was half-blocked by John Skinner before being poked into the inside of the far side-net by Jamie MacKenzie.
In a rare sortie by United, Grant Budge almost came up with the equaliser when his header came back off the underside of the bar.
Swifts’ Nigel MacKenzie was regularly causing problems down the right side and one inch-perfect cross after 73 minutes was wastefully volleyed wide by brother Jamie.
It proved a costly miss as a minute later Brian Gray coasted forward and, with no apparent threat looming, unleashed a booming 35-yard rocket which scorched high into the net past Lee Allan.
United were left short-handed for the closing 10 minutes when John Skinner was red-carded after picking up two bookings within a few minutes of each other.
The last chance of the evening came with eight minutes remaining after a deflected free kick left Stuart Campbell unattended 12 yards out. He was afflicted by the dreaded nose-bleed syndrome and blasted his shot high over the bar.
Castletown’s demanding run of matches had earlier seen them fully extended before posting a 2-0 win in Halkirk. Despite missing half a dozen regulars, the home side seriously threatened to put a spoke in their opponents’ title push.
Within the first minute, Stevie Campbell almost put Halkirk ahead with a 25-yard snap-shot. Michael Bremner then hit a post and Graham Swanson flashed a header from a corner a fraction wide.
Gary Calder and Chris Sutherland had gone close at the other end before Castletown took an ill-deserved lead a minute from the break. A shot deflected off Gavin Swanson’s shoulder to wrong-foot keeper Stuart MacCulloch.
The setback seemed to take the collective spring out of Neil Mackay’s men as Castletown went on close out the contest.
Sutherland had failed to convert a couple of clear openings before his side got the killer second on the hour mark. It stemmed from a Halkirk corner, with Farquhar leading the fast-track counter and setting up Stuart Florence for a simple finish.
Castletown were later denied a clear penalty when Ian Adamson downed Farquhar.
A familiar sight for opposing defences this season as Castletown find the net – on this occasion Alan Farquhar (right) is celebrating a goal against Swifts with team-mate Scott Manson.
In the closing stages Asa Sinclair tipped a rasping 30-yard volley from Bremner against the bar.
John O’Groats moved up to joint third after a gritty 2-0 victory over Acks at the Dammies.
The visitors were short-changed to be ahead by just one at the interval.
That they failed to add to Sean Henstridge’s close-range strike after 15 minutes was mainly due to the shot-stopping prowess of stand-in keeper Alec Clark. Henstridge and Calum Campbell were each thwarted several times.
The only decent chance for the home men fell to Murray Coghill, who was unable to find the target with a close-in header.
John O’Groats had to wait until 10 minutes from the end to make sure of victory. Ironically, Henstridge’s second was gifted to him by a blunder by Acks’ man of the match Clark when he was robbed as he tried to dribble out from his penalty box.
Wick Thistle’s tenure in the top division looks like coming to a sticky end. On Monday, they went down tamely 4-0 at home to bottom side Thurso Pentland.
Mark Makhouli grabbed a double as the visitors celebrated their first win of the campaign. The others came from Darren Mackay and Adam Sutherland.
Wick Groats opened their Steven Cup campaign with a runaway 6-1 victory over Ashes at Ormlie.
The highlight was a 30-yard angled strike from Graham Miller, the defender’s first of the season. That made it 3-1 after home striker Ricky Flowerday had replied to early goals from Stewart Ross and Martin Bremner.
Kyle Ross netted before the break and rammed home a penalty midway through the second period.
Ashes’ keeper Mark Mackenzie pulled off a series of reaction stops to keep the score respectable but could do nothing when Greg Shearer’s shot flew past him off the knee of central defender Davie Stockan to complete the scoring.
Ashes had earlier lost out 3-0 to Francis Street Club, who played Groats last night.
Nathan Mackay put FSC ahead with an opportunist strike before doubling the advantage when he turned in a cross from Derek Whaley. Mackay missed a snip to complete his hat-trick soon after the break.
The win was wrapped up when centre-back George McPhee surged forward and netted with an 18-yard strike which was deflected past Mackenzie.
Lybster had earlier claimed all three points in their opening sectional tie with a 5-2 victory away to Top Joe’s.
TJ’s looked in danger of suffering another major whipping after they went 3-0 down in 20 minutes, by when they had been reduced to 10 men following Andrew Cameron’s red card for dissent.
But the Thurso outfit saw out the rest of the first half without further loss and after 65 minutes contrived to pull a goal back through Mark Hutcheon.
Stephan Sutherland restored the three-goal margin for Lybster, whose early goals came from Michael Gow (2) and Alan Henderson.
Nathan Lightley then made it 5-1 before TJ’s stuffy resistance was rewarded by a late effort from Mark Mackay.
Lybster’s scheduled tussle in Keiss on Monday was scrubbed because of the lack of a referee.
* The tie of the quarter-finals in the Macleod IFA Highland Amateur Cup tomorrow is at Dunnet, where Pentland United entertain holders Avoch.
At the same stage of the tournament two years ago, the Black Isle side prevailed 4-3 at Ham Park despite having their keeper sent off early on.
Avoch have had a tough defence of their trophy, requiring replays before beating Kirkwall Thorfinn and Swifts in the last two rounds. United should be near full strength for tomorrow’s tussle.
John O’Groats, meanwhile, will be seeking to claim their first semi-final spot in the tournament when they entertain Culbokie. The other ties see Point play host to Dingwall Thistle tonight and Lochs play Gairloch Aultbea United in Stornoway tomorrow morning.
* Fixtures: Saturday – Macleod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, quarter-finals: John O’Groats v Culbokie (2.00); Pentland United v Avoch (3.00).
Monday (7.15) – David Allan Shield, first round: Acks v Top Joe’s; Halkirk v Thurso Pentland; Wick Rovers v Pentland United.
Tuesday (7.15) – David Allan Shield, first round: FSC v Swifts; Lybster v John O’Groats.
Wednesday – David Allan Shield, first round (7.15): Ashes v Wick Thistle; Wick Groats v Keiss. County League, Division One (7.30): Castletown v Halkirk.
Thursday (7.30) – Division One: Pentland United v John O’Groats; Thurso Pentland v Rovers.
* Results – Eain Mackintosh Cup final: Castletown 0, Pentland United 2.
County League, Division One: Acks 0, John O’Groats 2; Halkirk 0, Castletown 2; Wick Rovers 1, Castletown 3; Swifts 2, Pentland United 2; Wick Thistle 0, Thurso Pentland 4.
Steven Cup: Ashes 1, Wick Groats 6; FSC 3, Ashes 0; Top Joe’s 2, Lybster 5.
By Iain Grant - iain-grant@ukf.net
Published: 13 July, 2007
THE champagne may have been missing but that did not take the fizz out of Castletown’s title celebrations on Wednesday night.
Soon after their battling 3-1 win over Rovers in Wick, they learned that the County League first division was theirs. Pentland United’s 2-2 draw versus Swifts in Thurso left Castletown uncatchable.
It is their fifth title success, with three coming from the mid to late 1970s followed by a dramatic last-night triumph in Thurso in 1989.
The latest success was missed by manager Ian MacDonald, who was yesterday due to fly back from a fortnight’s break in Thailand.
In charge of the team in his absence has been Colin MacLeod, the only member of the current playing squad left from the 1989 championship win.
He admits to having coached three of his current team-mates when they were under-eights.
“It’s extra-special for me, having seen quite a few of the guys develop through the age groups,” he said. “I’m delighted for them as they are a young side who have gone close over the past couple of seasons without winning anything.”
MacLeod said it had been tough watching the last quarter of an hour of the match against Rovers. “Usually, we finish games strongly but it was our third game in five days and our legs died in the last 15 minutes,” he said.
“Winning the title takes the pressure right off us and we can now just enjoy our last three league games.”
The villagers had started brightly, with Scott Manson just off target with an early chance.
Castletown got the rub of the green in six minutes when Rovers were awarded an indirect free kick on the edge of the six-yard box after Derek Shearer appeared to arm the ball clear.
A lively move at the other end resulted in Paul MacDonald setting up Stevie Reid for a shot which shaved the top of the crossbar.
Castletown took a 17th-minute lead when Alan Farquhar’s glorious through ball put Chris Sutherland clear. His first shot was parried by keeper Kevin McGee but Sutherland somehow bundled in the rebound.
John Harper went close twice before Greg MacLeod almost made it 2-0 on the stroke of half-time.
The impressive Colin McKiddie and Reid forced smart stops from Asa Sinclair before Castletown extended their lead with a solo effort from Farquhar on 64 minutes.
Rovers hit back 12 minutes later when Shearer pulled down Reid in the box and Colin Sinclair banged home the spot-kick.
Alan Sinclair forced a fine save from his namesake before the visitors grabbed a third eight minutes from time when Manson’s cross was netted by Sutherland.
It was a timely strike as Rovers by then were calling the shots all over the park.
They should have reduced the leeway after 84 minutes when Asa Sinclair hauled down Reid as he ran through. The keeper escaped punishment and went on to use his feet to keep out Reid’s penalty.
Swifts’ erratic season continued with a classy display against United which deserved a three-point return.
The visitors drew first blood in an even first half thanks to a well-placed strike from Lee Sutherland.
Ex-United skipper Gavin Bremner popped up with a close-range equaliser. Swifts enjoyed a purple patch near the interval when Jamie MacKenzie struck the woodwork with a shot and a header.
The Thurso men went on to dominate the second period when they had a clutch of clear-cut chances.
Ten minutes after the break, Jamie MacKenzie’s close-in strike was beaten out by keeper Michael Gray into the path of Mark Nichol, who snatched his shot wide of the inviting target.
United’s defence was hard-pressed to absorb the pressure, with Graeme Reid inches away from scoring before Swifts went ahead after 61 minutes.
Nichol’s clipped low cross from the right flank was half-blocked by John Skinner before being poked into the inside of the far side-net by Jamie MacKenzie.
In a rare sortie by United, Grant Budge almost came up with the equaliser when his header came back off the underside of the bar.
Swifts’ Nigel MacKenzie was regularly causing problems down the right side and one inch-perfect cross after 73 minutes was wastefully volleyed wide by brother Jamie.
It proved a costly miss as a minute later Brian Gray coasted forward and, with no apparent threat looming, unleashed a booming 35-yard rocket which scorched high into the net past Lee Allan.
United were left short-handed for the closing 10 minutes when John Skinner was red-carded after picking up two bookings within a few minutes of each other.
The last chance of the evening came with eight minutes remaining after a deflected free kick left Stuart Campbell unattended 12 yards out. He was afflicted by the dreaded nose-bleed syndrome and blasted his shot high over the bar.
Castletown’s demanding run of matches had earlier seen them fully extended before posting a 2-0 win in Halkirk. Despite missing half a dozen regulars, the home side seriously threatened to put a spoke in their opponents’ title push.
Within the first minute, Stevie Campbell almost put Halkirk ahead with a 25-yard snap-shot. Michael Bremner then hit a post and Graham Swanson flashed a header from a corner a fraction wide.
Gary Calder and Chris Sutherland had gone close at the other end before Castletown took an ill-deserved lead a minute from the break. A shot deflected off Gavin Swanson’s shoulder to wrong-foot keeper Stuart MacCulloch.
The setback seemed to take the collective spring out of Neil Mackay’s men as Castletown went on close out the contest.
Sutherland had failed to convert a couple of clear openings before his side got the killer second on the hour mark. It stemmed from a Halkirk corner, with Farquhar leading the fast-track counter and setting up Stuart Florence for a simple finish.
Castletown were later denied a clear penalty when Ian Adamson downed Farquhar.
A familiar sight for opposing defences this season as Castletown find the net – on this occasion Alan Farquhar (right) is celebrating a goal against Swifts with team-mate Scott Manson.
In the closing stages Asa Sinclair tipped a rasping 30-yard volley from Bremner against the bar.
John O’Groats moved up to joint third after a gritty 2-0 victory over Acks at the Dammies.
The visitors were short-changed to be ahead by just one at the interval.
That they failed to add to Sean Henstridge’s close-range strike after 15 minutes was mainly due to the shot-stopping prowess of stand-in keeper Alec Clark. Henstridge and Calum Campbell were each thwarted several times.
The only decent chance for the home men fell to Murray Coghill, who was unable to find the target with a close-in header.
John O’Groats had to wait until 10 minutes from the end to make sure of victory. Ironically, Henstridge’s second was gifted to him by a blunder by Acks’ man of the match Clark when he was robbed as he tried to dribble out from his penalty box.
Wick Thistle’s tenure in the top division looks like coming to a sticky end. On Monday, they went down tamely 4-0 at home to bottom side Thurso Pentland.
Mark Makhouli grabbed a double as the visitors celebrated their first win of the campaign. The others came from Darren Mackay and Adam Sutherland.
Wick Groats opened their Steven Cup campaign with a runaway 6-1 victory over Ashes at Ormlie.
The highlight was a 30-yard angled strike from Graham Miller, the defender’s first of the season. That made it 3-1 after home striker Ricky Flowerday had replied to early goals from Stewart Ross and Martin Bremner.
Kyle Ross netted before the break and rammed home a penalty midway through the second period.
Ashes’ keeper Mark Mackenzie pulled off a series of reaction stops to keep the score respectable but could do nothing when Greg Shearer’s shot flew past him off the knee of central defender Davie Stockan to complete the scoring.
Ashes had earlier lost out 3-0 to Francis Street Club, who played Groats last night.
Nathan Mackay put FSC ahead with an opportunist strike before doubling the advantage when he turned in a cross from Derek Whaley. Mackay missed a snip to complete his hat-trick soon after the break.
The win was wrapped up when centre-back George McPhee surged forward and netted with an 18-yard strike which was deflected past Mackenzie.
Lybster had earlier claimed all three points in their opening sectional tie with a 5-2 victory away to Top Joe’s.
TJ’s looked in danger of suffering another major whipping after they went 3-0 down in 20 minutes, by when they had been reduced to 10 men following Andrew Cameron’s red card for dissent.
But the Thurso outfit saw out the rest of the first half without further loss and after 65 minutes contrived to pull a goal back through Mark Hutcheon.
Stephan Sutherland restored the three-goal margin for Lybster, whose early goals came from Michael Gow (2) and Alan Henderson.
Nathan Lightley then made it 5-1 before TJ’s stuffy resistance was rewarded by a late effort from Mark Mackay.
Lybster’s scheduled tussle in Keiss on Monday was scrubbed because of the lack of a referee.
* The tie of the quarter-finals in the Macleod IFA Highland Amateur Cup tomorrow is at Dunnet, where Pentland United entertain holders Avoch.
At the same stage of the tournament two years ago, the Black Isle side prevailed 4-3 at Ham Park despite having their keeper sent off early on.
Avoch have had a tough defence of their trophy, requiring replays before beating Kirkwall Thorfinn and Swifts in the last two rounds. United should be near full strength for tomorrow’s tussle.
John O’Groats, meanwhile, will be seeking to claim their first semi-final spot in the tournament when they entertain Culbokie. The other ties see Point play host to Dingwall Thistle tonight and Lochs play Gairloch Aultbea United in Stornoway tomorrow morning.
* Fixtures: Saturday – Macleod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, quarter-finals: John O’Groats v Culbokie (2.00); Pentland United v Avoch (3.00).
Monday (7.15) – David Allan Shield, first round: Acks v Top Joe’s; Halkirk v Thurso Pentland; Wick Rovers v Pentland United.
Tuesday (7.15) – David Allan Shield, first round: FSC v Swifts; Lybster v John O’Groats.
Wednesday – David Allan Shield, first round (7.15): Ashes v Wick Thistle; Wick Groats v Keiss. County League, Division One (7.30): Castletown v Halkirk.
Thursday (7.30) – Division One: Pentland United v John O’Groats; Thurso Pentland v Rovers.
* Results – Eain Mackintosh Cup final: Castletown 0, Pentland United 2.
County League, Division One: Acks 0, John O’Groats 2; Halkirk 0, Castletown 2; Wick Rovers 1, Castletown 3; Swifts 2, Pentland United 2; Wick Thistle 0, Thurso Pentland 4.
Steven Cup: Ashes 1, Wick Groats 6; FSC 3, Ashes 0; Top Joe’s 2, Lybster 5.