Post by Brian Mackay on May 20, 2005 20:53:35 GMT
Acks' firepower keeps them on top - but champions are putting up a fight - from John O'Groat Journal website - www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk
ACKS are piling on the goals in their bid to land the John O'Groat Journal County League first division title.
Colin Chessor's men struck 14 this week to boost their tally to 38 in eight games and keep in pole position as the championship race approaches the halfway point.
Lybster were their latest victims on Wednesday when Phoenix were on the receiving end of a 7-1 hiding in front of their own supporters.
After a Gareth Miller chip had cancelled out Martin Murray's opener for Acks, they may have entertained hopes of a close contest.
These soon evaporated as Murray Coghill and Jamie MacKenzie struck before the interval to put the visitors firmly in the driving seat.
It was then a case of how many, with MacKenzie and Martin Murray adding further goals before a late double from the county's top scorer, Alan Murray.
Acks had earlier made short work of accounting for Wick Groats at the Dammies.
Groats' recent mini-revival has been set back by injuries. Defender Kevin Miller became the latest victim when he limped off after 20 minutes with a groin strain.
Acks capitalised with goals from MacKenzie, Martin Murray and Coghill putting them on easy street by the interval.
MacKenzie, Lee MacDougall (2) and Michael Bremner added further goals as the Thurso side ended up 7-0 winners.
Pentland United have recovered after a sticky start to underline that they will not give up their hold on the title without a major fight.
Two back-to-back victories this week allowed them to leapfrog Castletown into second spot.
Lybster made United fight hard for victory in Monday's tussle at Ham Park. The defending champions won by the odd goal in seven, though the final scoreline perhaps flattered the visitors.
The rematch of Saturday's Highland Amateur Cup tie started disastrously for Phoenix as they fell two behind within the first five minutes. Russel Beattie fired them in front before Brian Gray converted a penalty awarded for handball in the box.
Martin Baker then hit the crossbar and Beattie went close again for United.
Hopes of an easy ride were dispelled when Lybster conjured up goals either side of the break, both falling to Grant Budge. United duly hit back with Willie Inrig setting up Mark Nichol to restore the lead.
Baker made it 4-2 before Budge weighed in three minutes from time with a close-in effort for his third of the night which had more than a whiff of offside about it.
United had to work hard to pull off a 2-0 victory against Rovers in Wick on Wednesday.
Rovers were boosted by the inclusion of Wick Academy duo Colin Davidson and Alan Sinclair. The latter, who has been battling an arthritic condition, played the last 20 minutes.
Sanders Harper's outfit competed well and enjoyed decent spells but suffered from a lack of penetration at the business end.
United took a 15th-minute lead when a quickly-taken free kick caught out Rovers' defence and Ross Sutherland netted with a well-taken volley.
The second came 10 minutes later when Beattie struck with a snap shot from just outside the box.
A hectic end to the half saw Colin Sinclair require treatment off the field after he collided with a post in clearing a shot off the line.
During his absence, United won a penalty after a push on Nichol, only for the usually reliable Gray to blast the spot-kick against a post.
A smartly-taken double by Fraser Welsh helped Castletown to return with all three points from their trip to Wick to play Thistle.
The visitors were ahead within a minute when the teenage striker netted from Niall Murray's quick free kick.
It was 2-0 after 25 minutes. David MacGill released Murray down the right and his centre was rammed home by Welsh from eight yards.
Try as they might, Thistle failed to capitalise on good spells of possession and the visiting stand-in keeper, former Thistle favourite Alex Thomson, had a relatively undemanding evening.
Promotion-chasing Halkirk came a cropper on Tuesday when they lost out 4-0 on their second visit to Wick in three days.
After the high of their cracking Highland Amateur Cup win over Groats, they came back down to earth with a hefty thud in a 4-0 reverse to Francis Street Club.
Halkirk paid the price for passing up a hatful of chances as FSC converted theirs to chalk up their first league success of the campaign.
Dave Hendry grabbed the first after a defence-splitting pass from Grant Campbell.
Adam Duffy then got his first of the evening just before half-time. He finished off a fine move to notch his second midway through the second period before completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Thurso Thistle overcame Keiss to register their first victory of the season.
After a goalless first period, the deadlock at Ormlie was broken by Alec Clark. The Jags' regular keeper, fielded in a striking role, headed his side into the lead.
Terry Cannop doubled the advantage with a left-foot strike and then netted with a lob before the visitors got one back late on to make the final score 3-1 for Thistle.
Ormlie is proving a happy hunting ground for Thurso Pentland. They ran up their seconddouble digit scoreline of the season in their match against Top Joe's on Monday.
Phil Makhouli and Adam Sutherland both scored hat-tricks in their 11-3 victory. The others fell to Keith Foubister (2), Ian Adamson, Gary Bell and Andrew Richardson, with Stuart Robertson, Dougie Mackay and Chris Foy (penalty) on target for TJs.
Results - Macleod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, second round, North zone:
Acks 9, Brora Wanderers 0; Ashes 1, Wick Thistle 2; Embo 4, Top Joe's 1; FSC 6, Lairg Rovers 4; Golspie Stafford 6, Swifts 3; Lybster 1, Pentland United 3; Melvich 0, John O'Groats 1; Castletown 4, Wick Rovers 1; Wick Groats 0, Halkirk 1;
Workshops 7, Thurso Thistle 0.
John O'Groat Journal County League, Division One: Acks 7, Wick Groats 0;
Lybster 1, Acks 7; Pentland United 4, Lybster 3; Wick Rovers 0, Pentland United 2; Wick Thistle 0, Castletown 2.
Division Two: FSC 4, Halkirk 0; Thurso Thistle 3, Keiss 1; Top Joe's 3, Pentland 11.
Fixtures: Tonight (Friday, 7.15) - Division One: Wick Groats v Ashes. Division Two: Mid County v Thurso Thistle; Swifts v Keiss.
Monday - Division One (7.30): Castletown v Acks; Wick Thistle v Lybster. Eain MacKintosh Cup, first round (7.15): Keiss v Top Joe's; Mid County v Thurso Thistle.
Wednesday (7.30) - Division One: John O'Groats v Pentland United; Wick Groats v Wick Rovers. Division Two: Halkirk v Top Joe's; Keiss v Thurso Pentland; Workshops v Mid County.
Thursday (7.30) - Division One: Ashes v Castletown.
20/05/2005
ACKS are piling on the goals in their bid to land the John O'Groat Journal County League first division title.
Colin Chessor's men struck 14 this week to boost their tally to 38 in eight games and keep in pole position as the championship race approaches the halfway point.
Lybster were their latest victims on Wednesday when Phoenix were on the receiving end of a 7-1 hiding in front of their own supporters.
After a Gareth Miller chip had cancelled out Martin Murray's opener for Acks, they may have entertained hopes of a close contest.
These soon evaporated as Murray Coghill and Jamie MacKenzie struck before the interval to put the visitors firmly in the driving seat.
It was then a case of how many, with MacKenzie and Martin Murray adding further goals before a late double from the county's top scorer, Alan Murray.
Acks had earlier made short work of accounting for Wick Groats at the Dammies.
Groats' recent mini-revival has been set back by injuries. Defender Kevin Miller became the latest victim when he limped off after 20 minutes with a groin strain.
Acks capitalised with goals from MacKenzie, Martin Murray and Coghill putting them on easy street by the interval.
MacKenzie, Lee MacDougall (2) and Michael Bremner added further goals as the Thurso side ended up 7-0 winners.
Pentland United have recovered after a sticky start to underline that they will not give up their hold on the title without a major fight.
Two back-to-back victories this week allowed them to leapfrog Castletown into second spot.
Lybster made United fight hard for victory in Monday's tussle at Ham Park. The defending champions won by the odd goal in seven, though the final scoreline perhaps flattered the visitors.
The rematch of Saturday's Highland Amateur Cup tie started disastrously for Phoenix as they fell two behind within the first five minutes. Russel Beattie fired them in front before Brian Gray converted a penalty awarded for handball in the box.
Martin Baker then hit the crossbar and Beattie went close again for United.
Hopes of an easy ride were dispelled when Lybster conjured up goals either side of the break, both falling to Grant Budge. United duly hit back with Willie Inrig setting up Mark Nichol to restore the lead.
Baker made it 4-2 before Budge weighed in three minutes from time with a close-in effort for his third of the night which had more than a whiff of offside about it.
United had to work hard to pull off a 2-0 victory against Rovers in Wick on Wednesday.
Rovers were boosted by the inclusion of Wick Academy duo Colin Davidson and Alan Sinclair. The latter, who has been battling an arthritic condition, played the last 20 minutes.
Sanders Harper's outfit competed well and enjoyed decent spells but suffered from a lack of penetration at the business end.
United took a 15th-minute lead when a quickly-taken free kick caught out Rovers' defence and Ross Sutherland netted with a well-taken volley.
The second came 10 minutes later when Beattie struck with a snap shot from just outside the box.
A hectic end to the half saw Colin Sinclair require treatment off the field after he collided with a post in clearing a shot off the line.
During his absence, United won a penalty after a push on Nichol, only for the usually reliable Gray to blast the spot-kick against a post.
A smartly-taken double by Fraser Welsh helped Castletown to return with all three points from their trip to Wick to play Thistle.
The visitors were ahead within a minute when the teenage striker netted from Niall Murray's quick free kick.
It was 2-0 after 25 minutes. David MacGill released Murray down the right and his centre was rammed home by Welsh from eight yards.
Try as they might, Thistle failed to capitalise on good spells of possession and the visiting stand-in keeper, former Thistle favourite Alex Thomson, had a relatively undemanding evening.
Promotion-chasing Halkirk came a cropper on Tuesday when they lost out 4-0 on their second visit to Wick in three days.
After the high of their cracking Highland Amateur Cup win over Groats, they came back down to earth with a hefty thud in a 4-0 reverse to Francis Street Club.
Halkirk paid the price for passing up a hatful of chances as FSC converted theirs to chalk up their first league success of the campaign.
Dave Hendry grabbed the first after a defence-splitting pass from Grant Campbell.
Adam Duffy then got his first of the evening just before half-time. He finished off a fine move to notch his second midway through the second period before completing his hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Thurso Thistle overcame Keiss to register their first victory of the season.
After a goalless first period, the deadlock at Ormlie was broken by Alec Clark. The Jags' regular keeper, fielded in a striking role, headed his side into the lead.
Terry Cannop doubled the advantage with a left-foot strike and then netted with a lob before the visitors got one back late on to make the final score 3-1 for Thistle.
Ormlie is proving a happy hunting ground for Thurso Pentland. They ran up their seconddouble digit scoreline of the season in their match against Top Joe's on Monday.
Phil Makhouli and Adam Sutherland both scored hat-tricks in their 11-3 victory. The others fell to Keith Foubister (2), Ian Adamson, Gary Bell and Andrew Richardson, with Stuart Robertson, Dougie Mackay and Chris Foy (penalty) on target for TJs.
Results - Macleod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, second round, North zone:
Acks 9, Brora Wanderers 0; Ashes 1, Wick Thistle 2; Embo 4, Top Joe's 1; FSC 6, Lairg Rovers 4; Golspie Stafford 6, Swifts 3; Lybster 1, Pentland United 3; Melvich 0, John O'Groats 1; Castletown 4, Wick Rovers 1; Wick Groats 0, Halkirk 1;
Workshops 7, Thurso Thistle 0.
John O'Groat Journal County League, Division One: Acks 7, Wick Groats 0;
Lybster 1, Acks 7; Pentland United 4, Lybster 3; Wick Rovers 0, Pentland United 2; Wick Thistle 0, Castletown 2.
Division Two: FSC 4, Halkirk 0; Thurso Thistle 3, Keiss 1; Top Joe's 3, Pentland 11.
Fixtures: Tonight (Friday, 7.15) - Division One: Wick Groats v Ashes. Division Two: Mid County v Thurso Thistle; Swifts v Keiss.
Monday - Division One (7.30): Castletown v Acks; Wick Thistle v Lybster. Eain MacKintosh Cup, first round (7.15): Keiss v Top Joe's; Mid County v Thurso Thistle.
Wednesday (7.30) - Division One: John O'Groats v Pentland United; Wick Groats v Wick Rovers. Division Two: Halkirk v Top Joe's; Keiss v Thurso Pentland; Workshops v Mid County.
Thursday (7.30) - Division One: Ashes v Castletown.
20/05/2005