Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 6, 2006 17:23:38 GMT
Ross winner keeps Groats' chances alive - from JOG Journal website - www.johnogroat-journal.co.uk
Published: 04 August, 2006
A LAST-GASP winner by Kyle Ross in Castletown on Wednesday evening has kept alive Wick Groats’ chances of beating the drop.
The 4-3 victory in a tension-filled encounter could prove vital in their fight to stay in the top flight.
A fortnight ago, Derek Shearer’s troops were on death row. Still searching for their first win, their demotion from the John O’Groat Journal first division looked a formality.
But after taking seven from nine points, they have eighth-placed Swifts firmly in their sights.
A win tonight in Wick versus an already-doomed Workshops would mean everything depending on the outcome of the final round of matches on Wednesday when Groats play Acks and Swifts travel to John O’Groats.
Groats enjoyed a whirlwind start on Wednesday and could easily have been two or three up in the first five minutes.
Mark Sheppard was inches away with a close-in effort before Gary MacGregor saw a rasping shot come back off the junction of the cross bar and the left upright.
The roller-coaster game then saw the home side take charge after a blunder by Groats keeper Lee Sutherland let in Pher Nicolson for the opener on 13 minutes.
Groats were stunned to go 2-0 down on 24 minutes when Greg Macleod fed Chris Sutherland who finished with a cracking 20-yarder.
Nicolson hit the right post three minutes later before Groats opened their account with a well-struck angled free kick from Stewart Ross.
After 33 minutes, Gordie MacDonald levelled after a neat turn and a spanking, low shot which sped past keeper Asa Sinclair to lodge in the far corner. Sheppard was just off target with a half-chance in the last action of the half.
Groats, who travelled with a squad of 19, had the better of the second period with Christopher Taylor being foiled by a last-ditch save by Asa Sinclair after 55 minutes.
The Wickers went ahead from the unlikely source of MacDonald’s head after his back-post effort from Russell Bain’s cross arced over Sinclair.
That looked set to be decisive but there were to be late fireworks. With three minutes left, Steven Morris cut in from the left and buried a 25-yard rocket to net his first of the season.
That appeared to seal Groats’ fate but an 89th-minute raid came up trumps when Kyle Ross wriggled clear and ran on to plant the ball under Sinclair.
That sparked a bout of roisterous celebrations in the visiting camp.
There was, however, still time for a major scare for Groats when Lee Sutherland’s punched clearance at the edge of his box rebounded off Nicolson’s head and trickled inches wide of the unguarded net.
Earlier, Groats’ survival hopes looked dead and buried when they trailed 2-0 to town rivals Rovers.
But they bravely battled back to score two in the final 20 minutes to level and live to fight another day.
Rovers forged in front after 11 minutes when Bryan McKiddie did the spadework for Andrew Weir to net.
Groats almost levelled after 26 minutes when Martin Sutherland’s through ball found Brian Davidson who shot narrowly over. Groats’ desperate plight added bite to the traditionally well-contested derby fixture.
They were looking the better side when they were caught on the break after 33 minutes to fall two behind.
Colin Davidson’s searching pass was flicked on by Lee Lyall to McKiddie who gathered before netting from a tight angle.
Before the break, Weir almost made it 3-0 before Davidson went desperately close with a header.
Groats’ cause was looking increasingly bleak until they got one back with 20 minutes left. It came from Derek Shearer who nodded in Martin Sutherland’s pinpoint cross.
Within two minutes of the restart, Groats got on terms when Rovers’ defender Stevie Muir was caught in possession deep in his own half and Sutherland ran through to gleefully steer the ball past Kevin McGee.
Rovers were now on the back foot and their chances were further hit by the 73rd-minute dismissal of Colin Sinclair.
Already booked, he got his marching orders for an ill-advised piece of dissent.
Groats enjoyed the best of what was left though the best chance of a winner fell to Weir five minutes from time but his attempt produced a point-blank stop from keeper Sutherland.
The second division championship will not be decided until after the final match of fixtures on Monday evening.
Almost from the start of the season, it has been a two-horse race between Thurso Pentland and Halkirk.
The villagers ensured the contest would go to the bitter end after inflicting Pentland’s first reverse of the league campaign.
Their spirited 1-0 victory extended their winning streak to eight and denied their opponents the point they needed to clinch the title.
A well-contested first half of few chances finished goalless. The crucial strike was created by Steven Campbell whose hanging cross was met by a header from Johnnie Mackay which looped over keeper Lee Allan into the net.
Halkirk were hit by what looked a nasty injury sustained by Paul Lockhart.
Pentland piled on the pressure at the end in a spell during which they looked vulnerable to being hit on the counter.
Their best chance fell to Phil Makhouli whose effort produced an excellent save from Stuart MacCulloch.
Anything less than a win for Pentland in their final match at Lybster would open the way for Halkirk to snatch the championship.
Mid County look set to finish third after rounding off their campaign with a 4-0 home win against Top Joe’s. All the goals came in the first half when the Thurso side were not at the races.
After a few near-things, Craig Hollywood struck the opener after turning in the box and netting with a crisp left-footer.
The same player then bagged his second with a solo effort before Willie Miller did the spadework to give a tap-in for Aidie Forbes.
The fourth arrived when Miller’s well-struck free kick came back off the bar and Michael King headed in the rebound.
Results – MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup quarter-final replay: Fortrose 3 Castletown 0.
David Allan Shield semi-final: John O’Groats 3 Halkirk 0; Keiss 1 Rovers 2.
Division One: Castletown 3 Wick Groats 4; Rovers 2 Wick Groats 2.
Division Two: Mid County 4 Top Joe’s 0; Thurso Pentland 0 Halkirk 1.
Fixtures – tonight (7.15pm) – Division One: Wick Groats v Workshops.
Tomorrow: David Allan Shield final (Harmsworth Park, Wick, 3pm), John O’Groats v Rovers.
Monday (7pm) – Division One: Wick Thistle v Pentland United. Division Two: Ashes v Top Joe’s; Halkirk v FSC; Lybster v Thurso Pentland.
Wednesday (7pm) – Division One: Castletown v Wick Thistle; John O’Groats v Swifts; Pentland United v Rovers; Wick Groats v Acks. Division Two: – Halkirk v Lybster.
Published: 04 August, 2006
A LAST-GASP winner by Kyle Ross in Castletown on Wednesday evening has kept alive Wick Groats’ chances of beating the drop.
The 4-3 victory in a tension-filled encounter could prove vital in their fight to stay in the top flight.
A fortnight ago, Derek Shearer’s troops were on death row. Still searching for their first win, their demotion from the John O’Groat Journal first division looked a formality.
But after taking seven from nine points, they have eighth-placed Swifts firmly in their sights.
A win tonight in Wick versus an already-doomed Workshops would mean everything depending on the outcome of the final round of matches on Wednesday when Groats play Acks and Swifts travel to John O’Groats.
Groats enjoyed a whirlwind start on Wednesday and could easily have been two or three up in the first five minutes.
Mark Sheppard was inches away with a close-in effort before Gary MacGregor saw a rasping shot come back off the junction of the cross bar and the left upright.
The roller-coaster game then saw the home side take charge after a blunder by Groats keeper Lee Sutherland let in Pher Nicolson for the opener on 13 minutes.
Groats were stunned to go 2-0 down on 24 minutes when Greg Macleod fed Chris Sutherland who finished with a cracking 20-yarder.
Nicolson hit the right post three minutes later before Groats opened their account with a well-struck angled free kick from Stewart Ross.
After 33 minutes, Gordie MacDonald levelled after a neat turn and a spanking, low shot which sped past keeper Asa Sinclair to lodge in the far corner. Sheppard was just off target with a half-chance in the last action of the half.
Groats, who travelled with a squad of 19, had the better of the second period with Christopher Taylor being foiled by a last-ditch save by Asa Sinclair after 55 minutes.
The Wickers went ahead from the unlikely source of MacDonald’s head after his back-post effort from Russell Bain’s cross arced over Sinclair.
That looked set to be decisive but there were to be late fireworks. With three minutes left, Steven Morris cut in from the left and buried a 25-yard rocket to net his first of the season.
That appeared to seal Groats’ fate but an 89th-minute raid came up trumps when Kyle Ross wriggled clear and ran on to plant the ball under Sinclair.
That sparked a bout of roisterous celebrations in the visiting camp.
There was, however, still time for a major scare for Groats when Lee Sutherland’s punched clearance at the edge of his box rebounded off Nicolson’s head and trickled inches wide of the unguarded net.
Earlier, Groats’ survival hopes looked dead and buried when they trailed 2-0 to town rivals Rovers.
But they bravely battled back to score two in the final 20 minutes to level and live to fight another day.
Rovers forged in front after 11 minutes when Bryan McKiddie did the spadework for Andrew Weir to net.
Groats almost levelled after 26 minutes when Martin Sutherland’s through ball found Brian Davidson who shot narrowly over. Groats’ desperate plight added bite to the traditionally well-contested derby fixture.
They were looking the better side when they were caught on the break after 33 minutes to fall two behind.
Colin Davidson’s searching pass was flicked on by Lee Lyall to McKiddie who gathered before netting from a tight angle.
Before the break, Weir almost made it 3-0 before Davidson went desperately close with a header.
Groats’ cause was looking increasingly bleak until they got one back with 20 minutes left. It came from Derek Shearer who nodded in Martin Sutherland’s pinpoint cross.
Within two minutes of the restart, Groats got on terms when Rovers’ defender Stevie Muir was caught in possession deep in his own half and Sutherland ran through to gleefully steer the ball past Kevin McGee.
Rovers were now on the back foot and their chances were further hit by the 73rd-minute dismissal of Colin Sinclair.
Already booked, he got his marching orders for an ill-advised piece of dissent.
Groats enjoyed the best of what was left though the best chance of a winner fell to Weir five minutes from time but his attempt produced a point-blank stop from keeper Sutherland.
The second division championship will not be decided until after the final match of fixtures on Monday evening.
Almost from the start of the season, it has been a two-horse race between Thurso Pentland and Halkirk.
The villagers ensured the contest would go to the bitter end after inflicting Pentland’s first reverse of the league campaign.
Their spirited 1-0 victory extended their winning streak to eight and denied their opponents the point they needed to clinch the title.
A well-contested first half of few chances finished goalless. The crucial strike was created by Steven Campbell whose hanging cross was met by a header from Johnnie Mackay which looped over keeper Lee Allan into the net.
Halkirk were hit by what looked a nasty injury sustained by Paul Lockhart.
Pentland piled on the pressure at the end in a spell during which they looked vulnerable to being hit on the counter.
Their best chance fell to Phil Makhouli whose effort produced an excellent save from Stuart MacCulloch.
Anything less than a win for Pentland in their final match at Lybster would open the way for Halkirk to snatch the championship.
Mid County look set to finish third after rounding off their campaign with a 4-0 home win against Top Joe’s. All the goals came in the first half when the Thurso side were not at the races.
After a few near-things, Craig Hollywood struck the opener after turning in the box and netting with a crisp left-footer.
The same player then bagged his second with a solo effort before Willie Miller did the spadework to give a tap-in for Aidie Forbes.
The fourth arrived when Miller’s well-struck free kick came back off the bar and Michael King headed in the rebound.
Results – MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup quarter-final replay: Fortrose 3 Castletown 0.
David Allan Shield semi-final: John O’Groats 3 Halkirk 0; Keiss 1 Rovers 2.
Division One: Castletown 3 Wick Groats 4; Rovers 2 Wick Groats 2.
Division Two: Mid County 4 Top Joe’s 0; Thurso Pentland 0 Halkirk 1.
Fixtures – tonight (7.15pm) – Division One: Wick Groats v Workshops.
Tomorrow: David Allan Shield final (Harmsworth Park, Wick, 3pm), John O’Groats v Rovers.
Monday (7pm) – Division One: Wick Thistle v Pentland United. Division Two: Ashes v Top Joe’s; Halkirk v FSC; Lybster v Thurso Pentland.
Wednesday (7pm) – Division One: Castletown v Wick Thistle; John O’Groats v Swifts; Pentland United v Rovers; Wick Groats v Acks. Division Two: – Halkirk v Lybster.