Post by Brian Mackay on Jul 12, 2005 20:45:03 GMT
Sawyer sends Halkirk to top in promotion race - from www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk website
THE pressure is building on teams battling for a place in the first division of the John O'Groat Journal County League.
While a handful of sides bid to keep their place in the top flight, a real scrap is developing among four clubs vying to make the step up.
The promotion race has intensified after Halkirk's 1-0 win over Swifts at the Dammies on Wednesday evening.
Swifts had been short-priced favourites to win the second division title but their first reverse of the season has knocked them off the top.
Teenage striker Luke Sawyer's late counter has catapulted Halkirk into the lead, though their Thurso rivals do have two games in hand.
Workshops and Thurso Pentland remain in contention and, with four matches left involving the top four, the contest is set to go to the wire.
Halkirk were aggrieved early on when a "goal" from Ian Smith was controversially chalked off for offside.
The home side had several decent openings and Des MacLeod spurned a good chance immediately before the visitors struck with 10 minutes left.
Stevie Elder was the architect with a run down the right flank and a measured cross which was headed by Sawyer past the flailing left arm of keeper Murray Mackay.
James Mackay went close late on with an effort for Swifts but Halkirk held on for a vital victory.
Seemingly-doomed Ashes threw themselves a lifeline when they scored a 3-2 win versus Lybster at Ormlie on Wednesday.
They recovered from an early setback when Kevin Lightly finished off a sweeping move by side-footing into the roof of the net.
Davie Stockan levelled before Danny Jack profited from a cute backheeler by Terry Cannop to send his side into the lead by the interval.
The margin was increased soon after the restart with a 25-yard screamer from Stanley Ross.
Lybster battled back to grab a second soon afterwards when Grant Budge did the work for Danny Gunn to provide the final touch.
Cannop went on to hit the post but the striker could have put Ashes on easy street had he not wasted two other snips.
Rovers remain firmly in the relegation mix after losing out 4-0 to town rivals Thistle.
The Jags would have racked up an even more convincing scoreline had it not been for a top-notch display by opposing keeper James More. He executed a string of saves, though he was assisted on several other occasions when shots came off the woodwork.
Neil McColl grabbed two goals with Sandy Sutherland and Andrew Falconer getting one apiece.
McColl injured a wrist in the process of bagging his second, and his collision with More ended in a trip to Caithness General where the joint was found to be so swollen that it could not be X-rayed.
The victory allows Thistle to set their sights on contesting third place in the league.
That position continues to be filled by John O'Groats following their 2-1 home win over Castletown.
John O'Groats had the better of the first half, while the visitors came back strongly after the break.
All the goals came in the first period. A long throw-in from David Mowat was flicked on by Martin Sinclair to allow Sean Henstridge to head home.
It was 2-0 on the half-hour mark when Michael Steven nodded in a corner from Kevin Swanson. Five minutes later, Castletown respond with a 25yard rocket free kick from Murray Mackay.
Thurso Thistle continued their revival in the second division with a convincing 5-1 eclipse of Francis Street Club at Ormlie. After Victor Risbridger had fired the visitors in front, Thistle responded with a penalty from Eddie McGrory and a double by teenager James Murray.
Wheeler McIntyre completed the victory with two second-half strikes.
Results - Eain Mackintosh Cup final (at Halkirk): Pentland United 2, Acks 1 (AET). David Allan Shield, quarterfinals: Castletown 1, John O'Groats 1 (AET, John O'Groats won 4-2 on penalties); Pentland United 1, Halkirk 1 (AET, United won 4-2 on penalties);
Wick Rovers 4, Swifts 3; Workshops 3, Thur-so Pentland 3 (AET, Pentland won 5-3 on penalties).
County League, Division One: Ashes 3, Lybster 2; John O'Groats 2, Castletown 1; Wick Rovers 0, Wick Thistle 4.
Division Two: Swifts 0, Halkirk 1;
Thurso Thistle 5, FSC 1.
Fixtures - Tonight (Friday 7.30pm) - County League, Division Two:
Thurso Thistle v Workshops.
Saturday - MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, fourth-round replay (3.00): Dingwall Thistle v Acks. Dodo and Clair McLean Memorial Cup seven-a-side competition (Sir George's Park, Thurso 11am).
Monday - David Allan Shield, semifinal (7.15): Pentland United v Thurso Pentland. Tuesday - Division Two (7.30): FSC v Thurso Thistle; Top Joe's v Mid County.
Wednesday (7.30) - Division One:
Acks v John O'Groats; Ashes v Wick Groats; Lybster v Pentland United.
Division Two: Halkirk v Keiss.
Thursday (7.30) - Division One: FSC v Thurso Pentland.
08/07/2005
THE pressure is building on teams battling for a place in the first division of the John O'Groat Journal County League.
While a handful of sides bid to keep their place in the top flight, a real scrap is developing among four clubs vying to make the step up.
The promotion race has intensified after Halkirk's 1-0 win over Swifts at the Dammies on Wednesday evening.
Swifts had been short-priced favourites to win the second division title but their first reverse of the season has knocked them off the top.
Teenage striker Luke Sawyer's late counter has catapulted Halkirk into the lead, though their Thurso rivals do have two games in hand.
Workshops and Thurso Pentland remain in contention and, with four matches left involving the top four, the contest is set to go to the wire.
Halkirk were aggrieved early on when a "goal" from Ian Smith was controversially chalked off for offside.
The home side had several decent openings and Des MacLeod spurned a good chance immediately before the visitors struck with 10 minutes left.
Stevie Elder was the architect with a run down the right flank and a measured cross which was headed by Sawyer past the flailing left arm of keeper Murray Mackay.
James Mackay went close late on with an effort for Swifts but Halkirk held on for a vital victory.
Seemingly-doomed Ashes threw themselves a lifeline when they scored a 3-2 win versus Lybster at Ormlie on Wednesday.
They recovered from an early setback when Kevin Lightly finished off a sweeping move by side-footing into the roof of the net.
Davie Stockan levelled before Danny Jack profited from a cute backheeler by Terry Cannop to send his side into the lead by the interval.
The margin was increased soon after the restart with a 25-yard screamer from Stanley Ross.
Lybster battled back to grab a second soon afterwards when Grant Budge did the work for Danny Gunn to provide the final touch.
Cannop went on to hit the post but the striker could have put Ashes on easy street had he not wasted two other snips.
Rovers remain firmly in the relegation mix after losing out 4-0 to town rivals Thistle.
The Jags would have racked up an even more convincing scoreline had it not been for a top-notch display by opposing keeper James More. He executed a string of saves, though he was assisted on several other occasions when shots came off the woodwork.
Neil McColl grabbed two goals with Sandy Sutherland and Andrew Falconer getting one apiece.
McColl injured a wrist in the process of bagging his second, and his collision with More ended in a trip to Caithness General where the joint was found to be so swollen that it could not be X-rayed.
The victory allows Thistle to set their sights on contesting third place in the league.
That position continues to be filled by John O'Groats following their 2-1 home win over Castletown.
John O'Groats had the better of the first half, while the visitors came back strongly after the break.
All the goals came in the first period. A long throw-in from David Mowat was flicked on by Martin Sinclair to allow Sean Henstridge to head home.
It was 2-0 on the half-hour mark when Michael Steven nodded in a corner from Kevin Swanson. Five minutes later, Castletown respond with a 25yard rocket free kick from Murray Mackay.
Thurso Thistle continued their revival in the second division with a convincing 5-1 eclipse of Francis Street Club at Ormlie. After Victor Risbridger had fired the visitors in front, Thistle responded with a penalty from Eddie McGrory and a double by teenager James Murray.
Wheeler McIntyre completed the victory with two second-half strikes.
Results - Eain Mackintosh Cup final (at Halkirk): Pentland United 2, Acks 1 (AET). David Allan Shield, quarterfinals: Castletown 1, John O'Groats 1 (AET, John O'Groats won 4-2 on penalties); Pentland United 1, Halkirk 1 (AET, United won 4-2 on penalties);
Wick Rovers 4, Swifts 3; Workshops 3, Thur-so Pentland 3 (AET, Pentland won 5-3 on penalties).
County League, Division One: Ashes 3, Lybster 2; John O'Groats 2, Castletown 1; Wick Rovers 0, Wick Thistle 4.
Division Two: Swifts 0, Halkirk 1;
Thurso Thistle 5, FSC 1.
Fixtures - Tonight (Friday 7.30pm) - County League, Division Two:
Thurso Thistle v Workshops.
Saturday - MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, fourth-round replay (3.00): Dingwall Thistle v Acks. Dodo and Clair McLean Memorial Cup seven-a-side competition (Sir George's Park, Thurso 11am).
Monday - David Allan Shield, semifinal (7.15): Pentland United v Thurso Pentland. Tuesday - Division Two (7.30): FSC v Thurso Thistle; Top Joe's v Mid County.
Wednesday (7.30) - Division One:
Acks v John O'Groats; Ashes v Wick Groats; Lybster v Pentland United.
Division Two: Halkirk v Keiss.
Thursday (7.30) - Division One: FSC v Thurso Pentland.
08/07/2005