Post by Brian Mackay on Jul 23, 2006 8:26:18 GMT
Rovers march on after coming back from the dead
By Iain Grant
Published: 21 July, 2006
THRILLS aplenty marked the launch of the David Allan Shield this week. The early ties produced a glut of goals and a mix of routs and nerve-tinglers, including two matches settled by penalty shoot-outs.
The pick of the action was in Castletown, where Rovers were the visitors in the only first-round match. Sanders Harper’s men came back from the dead to knock out the home outfit after the sides had shared 10 goals in open play.
Gary Calder’s first-minute headed opener for Castletown was cancelled out two minutes later when Stevie Reid latched on to Lee Lyall’s cute back-heel.
The home team’s lead was restored on 10 minutes when Steven Morris’s deep cross was tapped in by Scott Manson. Morris then set up Greg MacLeod, who volleyed home from the penalty spot to make it 3-1 on the half-hour mark.
Two minutes from the break, the leeway was reduced when the inrushing Colin Sinclair was upended by keeper Asa Sinclair just outside the penalty box. The keeper escaped with a booking but full justice was done when the flame-haired Rovers man buried the free kick.
Castletown started the second half the livelier and looked to be heading for a comfortable victory when they forged 5-2 in front.
Calder headed in from Chris Sutherland’s cross before Graham MacDonald broke upfield and released Sutherland, who cut inside and steered the ball past Kevin McGee.
Back came Rovers with Colin Sinclair sparking the revival when he wheeled in the penalty box before blasting home.
Alan Sinclair then scored the goal of the night with a fierce, angled volley which went in off the underside of the bar.
The equaliser after 80 minutes came when substitute Andrew Weir was put free and he ran in to slot the ball past Sinclair.
The home side regrouped to apply a sustained spell of pressure but got no joy from a late series of corners.
Extra time failed to break the deadlock and Rovers went on to prevail 5-4 on penalties, with MacLeod crucially failing to convert his side’s third kick.
Rovers on Wednesday had a tough job to get past Francis Street Club to set up a quarter-final tussle with Pentland United.
A jaded Rovers side lacked sharpness in front of goal and also found the FSC keeper Andrew Harper in top form.
Francis Street’s one good chance fell to Darren Sheppard, who had McGee desperately scrambling back to keep out a lob.
Reid hit a post for Rovers before his side took a 56th-minute lead after Lyall cut in from the left and netted from a tight angle.
FSC got right back into the contest on 61 minutes after Sheppard and McGee challenged for a through ball. Though the keeper got there first, his clearance came back off a defender and fell to Sheppard, who slotted the ball into the unguarded net.
Rovers grabbed the winner after 65 minutes when FSC’s Angus Mackay conceded a penalty and Reid converted the spot-kick.
United rested a clutch of players for tomorrow’s Highland Amateur Cup tie in their second-round clash with Mid County in Watten.
A whizz-bang start by the visitors had them three up in 17 minutes thanks to Ross Sutherland and a double from Lee Sutherland. They added another before the break to coast home 4-0.
Wick Groats came a cropper in their home tie versus John O’Groats. Grabbing a 10th-minute lead with a scrappy finish by Martin Sutherland was as good as it got for them as the villagers went on to win 6-1.
After Graham Tait levelled from the penalty spot, a Sean Henstridge double had them comfortably ahead by the interval. The game was effectively up for Groats within a couple of minutes of the turnaround when Kevin Swanson’s corner was bundled over the line by Greg Muir.
John O’Groats missed a couple of decent chances before Martin Sinclair ran through to round keeper Graham Miller to net. Sinclair then teed up Henstridge to complete his hat-trick.
The village men now face another trip to Wick to play Thistle, who scored a 6-1 win against Ashes.
Swifts were impressive 5-1 victors in their town derby versus Acks.
Shaun Moar’s side crashed to their third defeat on the bounce with this defeat effectively ending their season.
They took the lead after Anson Robertson handled in the box and Michael Bremner tucked away the penalty. Swifts levelled near the end of the first half when James Mill netted with a cross-cum-shot.
Fifteen minutes after the break, Stevie Reid’s men forged in front when John Holmes ran through unchallenged and slipped the ball past Brian Mackay. Thereafter it was one-way traffic as Swifts bossed proceedings.
Reid missed a snip and Holmes was inches away with a 25-yard pile-driver before they bagged three in the final 15 minutes.
Des MacLeod did the spadework for Chris Foy to notch the third before Holmes claimed his second of the evening after sub Colin MacDonald’s shot had come back off a post.
MacLeod then struck the post before Derek Campbell completed the scoring four minutes from time with a rasping shot from an oblique angle.
Swifts now entertain Halkirk, who got the better of second division title rivals Thurso Pentland.
Stevie Campbell got the only goal of the game at the Dammies when he burst through and scored with a lofted shot from just outside the box with 20 minutes left.
Campbell had twice come close in the first half, with Phil Makhouli being denied at the other end with a last-gasp tackle from David Blackwood.
An even contest saw Halkirk teenager Shane Sutherland go close to breaking the deadlock with a cracking free kick which crept past the right upright.
A marvellous run by Mark Makhouli then teed up Keith Foubister just inside the six-yard box but Stuart MacCulloch sprung to his left to make a block. The next action saw Halkirk break upfield and get what proved the winner.
Top Joe’s pulled off an upset when they scored a sudden-death win over Workshops at Ormlie.
An even opening saw TJs strike first through Ranald Mackay before Colin Munro set up Michael Smith to level. Brian Hossack restored the lead before the interval.
Smith had a goal disallowed before ’Shops equalised again when Graham Lowe’s attempted clearance from a cross bulleted into his own net.
TJs came closest to a winner in normal time with Mackay having a goal chalked off for offside. Mackay’s 85th-minute cross then produced a header from Steven Johns which ’Shops manager-cum-emergency keeper Gus Mackay somehow managed to turn over the bar.
With extra time failing to separate the sides, the shoot-out resulted in Kevin Treasurer converting the decisive spot-kick.
The Thurso side now travel to face Keiss, who defeated Lybster 3-2.
Keiss looked sharper early on and by midway through the first half were two goals to the good. Willie Little’s opener was followed by a sparkling move which climaxed with a routine tap-in for Grant MacNab.
The visitors battled back and comeback man Jimmy Budge got a goal back after Keiss gave the ball away.
The game swung Lybster’s way in the third quarter and it was no surprise when they drew level on the hour mark.
A corner was not properly cleared and Roy Weir netted with a rocket-shot from the edge of the box which went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Keiss veteran defender Grant Nicolson was a star as Lybster launched a series of dangerous raids.
The game was settled by two penalty claims – one given and one not.
Keiss were given a handball verdict in their favour with 15 minutes left and Ben Taylor duly stuck it away. Lybster then had what looked like a stronger appeal rejected.
Results – John O’Groat Journal County League, Division One: Wick Groats 4, Swifts 1; Workshops 1, Rovers 4. Division two: Keiss 1, Thurso Pentland 5.
David Allan Shield, first round: Castletown 5, Rovers 5 (AET, Rovers won 5-4 on penalties). Second round: FSC 1, Rovers 2; Lybster 2, Keiss 3; Mid County 0, Pentland United 4; Swifts 5, Acks 1; Thurso Pentland 0, Halkirk 1; Top Joe’s 2, Workshops 2 (AET, Top Joe’s won 3-2 on penalties); Wick Groats 1, John O’Groats 6; Wick Thistle 6, Ashes 1.
Fixtures – Tonight (7.30) – Division Two: Halkirk v Top Joe’s. Saturday – MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, quarter-finals: Castletown v Fortrose (3.00); Lochs v Pentland United (at Ullapool, 1.00)
Monday (7.15): David Allan Shield, quarter-finals: Keiss v Top Joe’s; Pentland United v Rovers; Swifts v Halkirk; Wick Thistle v John O’Groats.
Tuesday (7.30) – Division Two: Top Joe’s v FSC.
Wednesday (7.30) – Division One: Swifts v Pentland United; Wick Thistle v Acks. Division Two: Lybster v Mid County.
Thursday (7.30) – Division Two: Thurso Pentland v Halkirk.
By Iain Grant
Published: 21 July, 2006
THRILLS aplenty marked the launch of the David Allan Shield this week. The early ties produced a glut of goals and a mix of routs and nerve-tinglers, including two matches settled by penalty shoot-outs.
The pick of the action was in Castletown, where Rovers were the visitors in the only first-round match. Sanders Harper’s men came back from the dead to knock out the home outfit after the sides had shared 10 goals in open play.
Gary Calder’s first-minute headed opener for Castletown was cancelled out two minutes later when Stevie Reid latched on to Lee Lyall’s cute back-heel.
The home team’s lead was restored on 10 minutes when Steven Morris’s deep cross was tapped in by Scott Manson. Morris then set up Greg MacLeod, who volleyed home from the penalty spot to make it 3-1 on the half-hour mark.
Two minutes from the break, the leeway was reduced when the inrushing Colin Sinclair was upended by keeper Asa Sinclair just outside the penalty box. The keeper escaped with a booking but full justice was done when the flame-haired Rovers man buried the free kick.
Castletown started the second half the livelier and looked to be heading for a comfortable victory when they forged 5-2 in front.
Calder headed in from Chris Sutherland’s cross before Graham MacDonald broke upfield and released Sutherland, who cut inside and steered the ball past Kevin McGee.
Back came Rovers with Colin Sinclair sparking the revival when he wheeled in the penalty box before blasting home.
Alan Sinclair then scored the goal of the night with a fierce, angled volley which went in off the underside of the bar.
The equaliser after 80 minutes came when substitute Andrew Weir was put free and he ran in to slot the ball past Sinclair.
The home side regrouped to apply a sustained spell of pressure but got no joy from a late series of corners.
Extra time failed to break the deadlock and Rovers went on to prevail 5-4 on penalties, with MacLeod crucially failing to convert his side’s third kick.
Rovers on Wednesday had a tough job to get past Francis Street Club to set up a quarter-final tussle with Pentland United.
A jaded Rovers side lacked sharpness in front of goal and also found the FSC keeper Andrew Harper in top form.
Francis Street’s one good chance fell to Darren Sheppard, who had McGee desperately scrambling back to keep out a lob.
Reid hit a post for Rovers before his side took a 56th-minute lead after Lyall cut in from the left and netted from a tight angle.
FSC got right back into the contest on 61 minutes after Sheppard and McGee challenged for a through ball. Though the keeper got there first, his clearance came back off a defender and fell to Sheppard, who slotted the ball into the unguarded net.
Rovers grabbed the winner after 65 minutes when FSC’s Angus Mackay conceded a penalty and Reid converted the spot-kick.
United rested a clutch of players for tomorrow’s Highland Amateur Cup tie in their second-round clash with Mid County in Watten.
A whizz-bang start by the visitors had them three up in 17 minutes thanks to Ross Sutherland and a double from Lee Sutherland. They added another before the break to coast home 4-0.
Wick Groats came a cropper in their home tie versus John O’Groats. Grabbing a 10th-minute lead with a scrappy finish by Martin Sutherland was as good as it got for them as the villagers went on to win 6-1.
After Graham Tait levelled from the penalty spot, a Sean Henstridge double had them comfortably ahead by the interval. The game was effectively up for Groats within a couple of minutes of the turnaround when Kevin Swanson’s corner was bundled over the line by Greg Muir.
John O’Groats missed a couple of decent chances before Martin Sinclair ran through to round keeper Graham Miller to net. Sinclair then teed up Henstridge to complete his hat-trick.
The village men now face another trip to Wick to play Thistle, who scored a 6-1 win against Ashes.
Swifts were impressive 5-1 victors in their town derby versus Acks.
Shaun Moar’s side crashed to their third defeat on the bounce with this defeat effectively ending their season.
They took the lead after Anson Robertson handled in the box and Michael Bremner tucked away the penalty. Swifts levelled near the end of the first half when James Mill netted with a cross-cum-shot.
Fifteen minutes after the break, Stevie Reid’s men forged in front when John Holmes ran through unchallenged and slipped the ball past Brian Mackay. Thereafter it was one-way traffic as Swifts bossed proceedings.
Reid missed a snip and Holmes was inches away with a 25-yard pile-driver before they bagged three in the final 15 minutes.
Des MacLeod did the spadework for Chris Foy to notch the third before Holmes claimed his second of the evening after sub Colin MacDonald’s shot had come back off a post.
MacLeod then struck the post before Derek Campbell completed the scoring four minutes from time with a rasping shot from an oblique angle.
Swifts now entertain Halkirk, who got the better of second division title rivals Thurso Pentland.
Stevie Campbell got the only goal of the game at the Dammies when he burst through and scored with a lofted shot from just outside the box with 20 minutes left.
Campbell had twice come close in the first half, with Phil Makhouli being denied at the other end with a last-gasp tackle from David Blackwood.
An even contest saw Halkirk teenager Shane Sutherland go close to breaking the deadlock with a cracking free kick which crept past the right upright.
A marvellous run by Mark Makhouli then teed up Keith Foubister just inside the six-yard box but Stuart MacCulloch sprung to his left to make a block. The next action saw Halkirk break upfield and get what proved the winner.
Top Joe’s pulled off an upset when they scored a sudden-death win over Workshops at Ormlie.
An even opening saw TJs strike first through Ranald Mackay before Colin Munro set up Michael Smith to level. Brian Hossack restored the lead before the interval.
Smith had a goal disallowed before ’Shops equalised again when Graham Lowe’s attempted clearance from a cross bulleted into his own net.
TJs came closest to a winner in normal time with Mackay having a goal chalked off for offside. Mackay’s 85th-minute cross then produced a header from Steven Johns which ’Shops manager-cum-emergency keeper Gus Mackay somehow managed to turn over the bar.
With extra time failing to separate the sides, the shoot-out resulted in Kevin Treasurer converting the decisive spot-kick.
The Thurso side now travel to face Keiss, who defeated Lybster 3-2.
Keiss looked sharper early on and by midway through the first half were two goals to the good. Willie Little’s opener was followed by a sparkling move which climaxed with a routine tap-in for Grant MacNab.
The visitors battled back and comeback man Jimmy Budge got a goal back after Keiss gave the ball away.
The game swung Lybster’s way in the third quarter and it was no surprise when they drew level on the hour mark.
A corner was not properly cleared and Roy Weir netted with a rocket-shot from the edge of the box which went in off the underside of the crossbar.
Keiss veteran defender Grant Nicolson was a star as Lybster launched a series of dangerous raids.
The game was settled by two penalty claims – one given and one not.
Keiss were given a handball verdict in their favour with 15 minutes left and Ben Taylor duly stuck it away. Lybster then had what looked like a stronger appeal rejected.
Results – John O’Groat Journal County League, Division One: Wick Groats 4, Swifts 1; Workshops 1, Rovers 4. Division two: Keiss 1, Thurso Pentland 5.
David Allan Shield, first round: Castletown 5, Rovers 5 (AET, Rovers won 5-4 on penalties). Second round: FSC 1, Rovers 2; Lybster 2, Keiss 3; Mid County 0, Pentland United 4; Swifts 5, Acks 1; Thurso Pentland 0, Halkirk 1; Top Joe’s 2, Workshops 2 (AET, Top Joe’s won 3-2 on penalties); Wick Groats 1, John O’Groats 6; Wick Thistle 6, Ashes 1.
Fixtures – Tonight (7.30) – Division Two: Halkirk v Top Joe’s. Saturday – MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, quarter-finals: Castletown v Fortrose (3.00); Lochs v Pentland United (at Ullapool, 1.00)
Monday (7.15): David Allan Shield, quarter-finals: Keiss v Top Joe’s; Pentland United v Rovers; Swifts v Halkirk; Wick Thistle v John O’Groats.
Tuesday (7.30) – Division Two: Top Joe’s v FSC.
Wednesday (7.30) – Division One: Swifts v Pentland United; Wick Thistle v Acks. Division Two: Lybster v Mid County.
Thursday (7.30) – Division Two: Thurso Pentland v Halkirk.