Post by Brian Mackay on May 31, 2005 19:34:49 GMT
Big two are pulling clear in championship race - report from John O'Groat Journal website - www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk
THE John O'Groat Journal County League title race is in danger of regressing into another straight head-to-head between Pentland United and Acks.
After promising early signs of a challenge to their supremacy, wouldbe rivals have fallen off the pace as the county's New Firm tighten their grip at the top.
United showed their teeth on Wednesday when they made light of a potentially hazardous trip to John O'Groats.
Their shock openingnight loss to their neighbours on their home turf prompted speculation that the reigning champions' glory days might be behind them. But they underlined the progress they have made since in chalking up a comfortable 5-1 success.
John O'Groats' cause was not helped by the non-availability of keeper Sean Henderson but they could have no complaints with the outcome.
Two long-range strikes from Gavin Bremner separated the teams in the first half, with Mark Nichol adding a third from the penalty spot after he was floored in the box by David Mowat.
Midfielder Stuart Sinclair responded with a peach of a strike but United added further goals from Hamish Boyd and Martyn Cook.
Acks had a tougher time at Castletown, though they ended up 4-0 winners.
The first half was a nip-and-tuck affair with the home side giving as good as they got. Newcomer Gary Weir had a header cleared off the line before Alan Murray blazed over from close range and then was unlucky to see a drive come back off the inside of the post.
Gregg MacLeod and Fraser Welsh went close for Castletown before Murray broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the break with a low drive.
Midway through the half, former Rovers player Gavin Chessor doubled the lead with a cracking shot on the turn from just outside the box which went in off a post.
Any slim chance Castletown had vanished in a moment of madness from their keeper. Alex Thomson lost the rag as Martin Murray shadowed him as he prepared to clear the ball from hand.
Thomson's gratuitous kick at Murray's ribs attracted the double forfeit of a sending-off and a penalty.
Alan Murray beat stand-in keeper David MacGill from the spot and near the end got on the end of a cross from his brother Martin to seal his hat-trick.
Castletown will have to take something from their home tussle with United on Monday if they are to force their way back into title contention.
The Upper Bignold played host to an astonishing match on Monday between Wick Thistle and Lybster which produced 10 goals. It ended all square, though the visitors will wonder just how they did not return with all three points.
Phoenix went in at the break 4-1 ahead and seemingly coasting to a comfortable win.
They took the lead after 24 minutes when Chris Gunn scored direct from a free kick. Within two minutes, Gordie Reid had levelled with a longrange lob and Graham Sutherland restored the lead with a measured finish from Graham Fryer's assist.
The roof then caved in on Thistle as Danny Sutherland scored on 38 minutes followed by a solo effort by Jimmy Budge in the last action of the half.
A gutsy comeback saw Thistle reduce the deficit within two minutes of the restart when Reid set up Sandy Sutherland to net.
It stayed that way until 15 minutes from time when a good spell of pressure ended with Reid finding the target from 30 yards. Seven minutes later, an equaliser came from the unlikely source of Reid's head as the midfielder met Gordie Steven's corner to complete his hat-trick.
Lybster went in front again two minutes from time when a breakaway was finished off by Budge.
There was a final sting in the tail for the visitors when Colin McKiddie came off the bench to make it 5-5 with a rasping half-volley.
Relegation-threatened Wick Groats and Ashes shared four goals in a match both camps had targeted a victory.
Groats forged two in front through a cracking right-foot finish from Derek Shearer and a fine move finished off by Stewart Sutherland.
The Thurso visitors got one back before half-time from Peter MacGregor.
David Mowat, playing as a trialist for Ashes, was outstanding and showed how much he has improved since his spell with Cowdenbeath. The defender was a class apart and grabbed the equaliser when he netted direct from a free kick.
Groats got a muchneeded 2-1 victory in their Wick basement battle with Rovers on Wednesday.
Referee Willie Sinclair was fully stretched keeping the lid on a fullblooded encounter which saw plenty spills, if few thrills, in a goalless first half. Rovers took the lead against the run of play on the hour mark thanks to a marvellous strike from outside the box by young Bryan McKiddie.
The leveller came 20 minutes from the end when Brian Sinclair crossed for Kevin Miller to net with a header.
Darren Sheppard then missed a snip for Groats before his side grabbed a bizarre injury-time winner. There seemed no immediate danger as Martin Sutherland chased a long punt upfield but Rovers defender Stevie Muir, under pressure, horribly sliced his would-be clearance over keeper James More and into the net.
27/05/2005
Swifts are made to sweat by Keiss
COUNTY League second division leaders Swifts were made to sweat before retaining their comfortable lead at the top when they sneaked a 3-2 win at home to Keiss.
It looked like a doddle for Steven Reid's men when Des MacLeod fired them two in front with less than 20 minutes gone.
The pressure was unrelenting and they had the perfect chance to close out the game with a penalty. After Willie Steven sent the spot-kick against the bar, the visitors took heart and battled back.
Colin MacKenzie got a goal back and the home men were fortunate not to have emergency sweeper Jocky Begg sent off when he handled a through ball which would have sent James Ross clear.
MacKenzie levelled after the break but Swifts came back to take all three points when Anson Robertson headed home in the aftermath to a corner.
Workshops have stepped up their promotion bid with two big wins on the trot.
On Wednesday, they racked up a 6-1 victory at home to Mid County.
Graham Carle shot them in front before Darren Malcolm teed up Martin Rutherford for the second. Willie Miller clawed one back for MC but straight from the kick-off Rutherford notched his second to put 'Shops 3-1 up at the break.
Young John MacLeod kept up his hot streak with a double after the break, with Carle's second completing the scoring.
Earlier, Keith Blair had weighed in with a hat-trick in a 7-1 victory over town rivals Top Joe's at the Dammies.
A crafty chip was one of two he bagged before the interval, with Terry Shearer also netting before Stephen Johns got one back for TJs with a header.
It was one-way traffic after the break with Blair getting his third and MacLeod, Carle and George Groat also getting on the scoresheet.
Halkirk kept on Workshops' tails with a thumping 8-2 home win over Top Joe's.
TJs were in with a shout for the first 50 minutes with a double from trialist Stuart MacKenzie keeping them in the game.
They drew first blood through a Graham Swanson penalty before a header from Graham Gunn and a cracking shot by Steven Campbell.
Swanson went on to make it 4-2 before Halkirk took a firm grip with further goals from Lee Elder (2), Stevie Elder young sub Russell Bain with a penalty.
Mid County celebrated the biggest win in their three-year history when they beat Thurso Thistle 7-1 at Watten.
First-round Eain Mackintosh Cup ties saw Keiss and Mid County progress.
Keiss, strengthened by the inclusion of Wick Academy stalwart Gordon Robertson, proved too strong for Top Joe's. They dominated from the kick-off with James Cormack and Iain Nicolson scoring either side of the break before Benji Mackay headed in a third. TJs grabbed a consolation when Graham Lowe scored with the last kick of the ball.
Mid County completed a quick double over Thurso Thistle on Monday, though the rematch was a much tighter affair. MC prevailed 1-0 thanks to an own goal.
Fixtures: Tonight (Friday, 7.30) - Division Two: Keiss v Thurso Pentland.
Saturday (noon): MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, third round: Halkirk v Whalsay.
Monday - Division One (7.30): Acks v Ashes; Castletown v Pentland United;
Wick Groats v Wick Thistle. Division Two:
Halkirk v Mid County; Thurso Thistle v Top Joe's. Tuesday - Division Two (7.30):
Keiss v FSC.
Wednesday - Eain Mackintosh Cup, second round (7.15): Ashes v Mid County;
John O'Groats v Workshops; Lybster v Halkirk; Rovers v Swifts; Thurso Pentland v Wick Groats.
.Thurso Comm were beaten quarterfinalists in the annual Highland Masters played at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium on Sunday.
The veterans' seven-a-side competition was split into two leagues of five in what was the last competitive action of the season at the newly-upgraded SPL ground.
Thurso Comm got off to a winning start, edging out Inverness Council Rovers 2-1, before drawing 1-1 with last year's inaugural winners, Shetland. They then slumped to a 6-0 reverse against a very useful ICT side before drawing 3-3 with Elgin City.
Comm qualified as runners-up to play the Bankers of Inverness. It proved a close affair, with the Thurso side going down 4-2 after conceding a late penalty.
The late switch of the competition from the Saturday made it impossible for former Caley and Brora favourite Joe Mulholland to be joined by his colleagues from his adopted home in Denmark.
However, he attracted a band of former and present Highland League and North Caledonian players to play under the Copenhagen banner.
They included Kinlochbervie's David "Daisy" Ross, who had the distinction of being the most northerly-based professional when on the books of Ross County and Elgin City.
Now with Clach, he helped his adopted side score a barrowload of goals en route to the final where they defeated ICT 5-0.
The 12-strong Comm and the other visiting sides enjoyed the hospitality of their co-hosts, ICT and the Bankers, before heading home.
27/05/2005
THE John O'Groat Journal County League title race is in danger of regressing into another straight head-to-head between Pentland United and Acks.
After promising early signs of a challenge to their supremacy, wouldbe rivals have fallen off the pace as the county's New Firm tighten their grip at the top.
United showed their teeth on Wednesday when they made light of a potentially hazardous trip to John O'Groats.
Their shock openingnight loss to their neighbours on their home turf prompted speculation that the reigning champions' glory days might be behind them. But they underlined the progress they have made since in chalking up a comfortable 5-1 success.
John O'Groats' cause was not helped by the non-availability of keeper Sean Henderson but they could have no complaints with the outcome.
Two long-range strikes from Gavin Bremner separated the teams in the first half, with Mark Nichol adding a third from the penalty spot after he was floored in the box by David Mowat.
Midfielder Stuart Sinclair responded with a peach of a strike but United added further goals from Hamish Boyd and Martyn Cook.
Acks had a tougher time at Castletown, though they ended up 4-0 winners.
The first half was a nip-and-tuck affair with the home side giving as good as they got. Newcomer Gary Weir had a header cleared off the line before Alan Murray blazed over from close range and then was unlucky to see a drive come back off the inside of the post.
Gregg MacLeod and Fraser Welsh went close for Castletown before Murray broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the break with a low drive.
Midway through the half, former Rovers player Gavin Chessor doubled the lead with a cracking shot on the turn from just outside the box which went in off a post.
Any slim chance Castletown had vanished in a moment of madness from their keeper. Alex Thomson lost the rag as Martin Murray shadowed him as he prepared to clear the ball from hand.
Thomson's gratuitous kick at Murray's ribs attracted the double forfeit of a sending-off and a penalty.
Alan Murray beat stand-in keeper David MacGill from the spot and near the end got on the end of a cross from his brother Martin to seal his hat-trick.
Castletown will have to take something from their home tussle with United on Monday if they are to force their way back into title contention.
The Upper Bignold played host to an astonishing match on Monday between Wick Thistle and Lybster which produced 10 goals. It ended all square, though the visitors will wonder just how they did not return with all three points.
Phoenix went in at the break 4-1 ahead and seemingly coasting to a comfortable win.
They took the lead after 24 minutes when Chris Gunn scored direct from a free kick. Within two minutes, Gordie Reid had levelled with a longrange lob and Graham Sutherland restored the lead with a measured finish from Graham Fryer's assist.
The roof then caved in on Thistle as Danny Sutherland scored on 38 minutes followed by a solo effort by Jimmy Budge in the last action of the half.
A gutsy comeback saw Thistle reduce the deficit within two minutes of the restart when Reid set up Sandy Sutherland to net.
It stayed that way until 15 minutes from time when a good spell of pressure ended with Reid finding the target from 30 yards. Seven minutes later, an equaliser came from the unlikely source of Reid's head as the midfielder met Gordie Steven's corner to complete his hat-trick.
Lybster went in front again two minutes from time when a breakaway was finished off by Budge.
There was a final sting in the tail for the visitors when Colin McKiddie came off the bench to make it 5-5 with a rasping half-volley.
Relegation-threatened Wick Groats and Ashes shared four goals in a match both camps had targeted a victory.
Groats forged two in front through a cracking right-foot finish from Derek Shearer and a fine move finished off by Stewart Sutherland.
The Thurso visitors got one back before half-time from Peter MacGregor.
David Mowat, playing as a trialist for Ashes, was outstanding and showed how much he has improved since his spell with Cowdenbeath. The defender was a class apart and grabbed the equaliser when he netted direct from a free kick.
Groats got a muchneeded 2-1 victory in their Wick basement battle with Rovers on Wednesday.
Referee Willie Sinclair was fully stretched keeping the lid on a fullblooded encounter which saw plenty spills, if few thrills, in a goalless first half. Rovers took the lead against the run of play on the hour mark thanks to a marvellous strike from outside the box by young Bryan McKiddie.
The leveller came 20 minutes from the end when Brian Sinclair crossed for Kevin Miller to net with a header.
Darren Sheppard then missed a snip for Groats before his side grabbed a bizarre injury-time winner. There seemed no immediate danger as Martin Sutherland chased a long punt upfield but Rovers defender Stevie Muir, under pressure, horribly sliced his would-be clearance over keeper James More and into the net.
27/05/2005
Swifts are made to sweat by Keiss
COUNTY League second division leaders Swifts were made to sweat before retaining their comfortable lead at the top when they sneaked a 3-2 win at home to Keiss.
It looked like a doddle for Steven Reid's men when Des MacLeod fired them two in front with less than 20 minutes gone.
The pressure was unrelenting and they had the perfect chance to close out the game with a penalty. After Willie Steven sent the spot-kick against the bar, the visitors took heart and battled back.
Colin MacKenzie got a goal back and the home men were fortunate not to have emergency sweeper Jocky Begg sent off when he handled a through ball which would have sent James Ross clear.
MacKenzie levelled after the break but Swifts came back to take all three points when Anson Robertson headed home in the aftermath to a corner.
Workshops have stepped up their promotion bid with two big wins on the trot.
On Wednesday, they racked up a 6-1 victory at home to Mid County.
Graham Carle shot them in front before Darren Malcolm teed up Martin Rutherford for the second. Willie Miller clawed one back for MC but straight from the kick-off Rutherford notched his second to put 'Shops 3-1 up at the break.
Young John MacLeod kept up his hot streak with a double after the break, with Carle's second completing the scoring.
Earlier, Keith Blair had weighed in with a hat-trick in a 7-1 victory over town rivals Top Joe's at the Dammies.
A crafty chip was one of two he bagged before the interval, with Terry Shearer also netting before Stephen Johns got one back for TJs with a header.
It was one-way traffic after the break with Blair getting his third and MacLeod, Carle and George Groat also getting on the scoresheet.
Halkirk kept on Workshops' tails with a thumping 8-2 home win over Top Joe's.
TJs were in with a shout for the first 50 minutes with a double from trialist Stuart MacKenzie keeping them in the game.
They drew first blood through a Graham Swanson penalty before a header from Graham Gunn and a cracking shot by Steven Campbell.
Swanson went on to make it 4-2 before Halkirk took a firm grip with further goals from Lee Elder (2), Stevie Elder young sub Russell Bain with a penalty.
Mid County celebrated the biggest win in their three-year history when they beat Thurso Thistle 7-1 at Watten.
First-round Eain Mackintosh Cup ties saw Keiss and Mid County progress.
Keiss, strengthened by the inclusion of Wick Academy stalwart Gordon Robertson, proved too strong for Top Joe's. They dominated from the kick-off with James Cormack and Iain Nicolson scoring either side of the break before Benji Mackay headed in a third. TJs grabbed a consolation when Graham Lowe scored with the last kick of the ball.
Mid County completed a quick double over Thurso Thistle on Monday, though the rematch was a much tighter affair. MC prevailed 1-0 thanks to an own goal.
Fixtures: Tonight (Friday, 7.30) - Division Two: Keiss v Thurso Pentland.
Saturday (noon): MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, third round: Halkirk v Whalsay.
Monday - Division One (7.30): Acks v Ashes; Castletown v Pentland United;
Wick Groats v Wick Thistle. Division Two:
Halkirk v Mid County; Thurso Thistle v Top Joe's. Tuesday - Division Two (7.30):
Keiss v FSC.
Wednesday - Eain Mackintosh Cup, second round (7.15): Ashes v Mid County;
John O'Groats v Workshops; Lybster v Halkirk; Rovers v Swifts; Thurso Pentland v Wick Groats.
.Thurso Comm were beaten quarterfinalists in the annual Highland Masters played at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium on Sunday.
The veterans' seven-a-side competition was split into two leagues of five in what was the last competitive action of the season at the newly-upgraded SPL ground.
Thurso Comm got off to a winning start, edging out Inverness Council Rovers 2-1, before drawing 1-1 with last year's inaugural winners, Shetland. They then slumped to a 6-0 reverse against a very useful ICT side before drawing 3-3 with Elgin City.
Comm qualified as runners-up to play the Bankers of Inverness. It proved a close affair, with the Thurso side going down 4-2 after conceding a late penalty.
The late switch of the competition from the Saturday made it impossible for former Caley and Brora favourite Joe Mulholland to be joined by his colleagues from his adopted home in Denmark.
However, he attracted a band of former and present Highland League and North Caledonian players to play under the Copenhagen banner.
They included Kinlochbervie's David "Daisy" Ross, who had the distinction of being the most northerly-based professional when on the books of Ross County and Elgin City.
Now with Clach, he helped his adopted side score a barrowload of goals en route to the final where they defeated ICT 5-0.
The 12-strong Comm and the other visiting sides enjoyed the hospitality of their co-hosts, ICT and the Bankers, before heading home.
27/05/2005