Post by Brian Mackay on Aug 16, 2006 9:37:15 GMT
Groats fail in last-ditch relegation battle - From JOG Journal website
By Iain Grant
Published: 11 August, 2006
WICK Groats fell at the death in their audacious bid to stave off demotion from the John O’Groat Journal first division.
They needed to win their final match, at home to Acks on Wednesday, and rely on Swifts losing at John O’Groats.
The Wickers did their bit, winning 3-2 against the defending champions, but were undone by the other match finishing 1-1.Swifts’ battling draw in conditions resembling a wind tunnel was enough to save their skins.
Wick Groats’ Jekyll and Hyde campaign saw them go 12 games without a win before racking up four on the trot.
On Wednesday, they got the perfect start when Gordie MacDonald set up Kyle Ross to fire them in front in the first minute.
Acks battled back and restored parity midway through the half with a free kick from Michael Bremner.
The home side recaptured the lead 15 minutes after the break when Martin Sutherland ran through to slip the ball past keeper Brian Mackay.
Ten minutes later, they got some much-needed breathing space thanks to a wonder solo goal from MacDonald who jinked his way past four defenders before netting.
The Groats’ faithful, however, were made to endure a tense finale after Bremner converted a penalty awarded when keeper Graham Miller floored Alan Murray after the latter had knocked the ball past him.
Swifts were meanwhile ensuring their trip to John O’Groats did not spell the end of the road for their first-division hopes.
A raging wind sweeping down the park made for conditions alien to any form of flowing, structured game.
The visitors had the elements behind them in the first half and were soon making life difficult for keeper Shaun Henderson.
Two early inswinging corners from Chris Foy almost did the trick. Willie Steven then went close with an effort from another corner and the same player had a stinging effort well saved by Henderson.
Swifts had to wait until eight minutes from the break for the opener.
A sparky run by Stuart Campbell saw his cross side-footed into the net from six yards by Steven.
It proved a lonely half for Swifts keeper Ian Begg who touched the ball just twice.
It was a different story after the break as JOG inevitably enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory.
After 64 minutes, Begg fumbled a shot from Graeme Tait but the keeper reacted smartly to turn away the follow-up from Martin Sinclair.
JOG got on level terms after 65 minutes when Dave Green’s free kick was volleyed in by Tait. There were no clear-cut chances for the remainder, with the final whistle bringing whoops of relief from the visiting camp.
The upshot left the Groats players and officials shell-shocked.
“We’re all absolutely devastated,” said player/manager Derek Shearer. “I couldn’t have asked for more from the boys – we’re gutted.”
Groats had earlier sustained their unlikely survival bid by coming from behind to defeat Workshops 2-1 at Upper Bignold.
The Thurso side converted the first chance of the game to once again put Shearer’s men on the relegation rack.
The home back three were caught square as Michael Smith raced through to fire ’Shops into a 20th minute lead.
Groats were enjoying plenty of the ball but their only close call of the first period came when Gary MacGregor drew an excellent save from Christopher Mackay on the half-hour mark.
It could have got worse for Groats when veteran Fred Trueman’s chip was headed off the line.
Groats made a lively start to the second half and Kyle Ross missed a snip when he blazed over from close in after Kevin Miller had headed on a free kick.
Fifteen minutes after the break, the home side were awarded a penalty when MacDonald was upended in the box.
Mackay performed heroics to beat out Ross’s strike and then save the follow-up.
After Martin Sutherland struck the inside of a post, it looked as if Groats’ luck had finally run out. They found a way back with 18 minutes left when MacDonald somehow threaded a 20-yard shot past a ruck of players into the net.
A minute later, Groats were ahead thanks to what seemed a harsh hand-ball ruling against Liam MacDonald in his own penalty box.
Gordon MacDonald nailed the spot-kick to secure the win.
Champions Pentland United completed their campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Rovers on Wednesday.
After a goalless first half, Colin Sinclair struck first for the visitors when he netted after a free kick.
Shortly afterwards, United got on terms when a long-ranger from Gavin Bremner veered past Kevin McGee.
Lee Lyall went close to restoring Rovers’ lead though United almost claimed all three points when Grant Budge came desperately close to scoring late on.
Earlier, United were relieved to secure a 2-1 win on their trip to Wick to play Thistle. The visitors got an early boost when Bremner’s free kick was headed in by Budge.
They stretched their lead thanks to a route one play with Michael Gray’s thumping clearance falling nicely for Mark Nichol who made no mistake from close range.
The Jags reduced the leeway when neat interplay by Niall Traill and John Farquhar down the left flank cut out a clear opening for Andy Falconer. Gray got a hand to Falconer’s shot but could not prevent it going in off a post.
Thistle felt they should have got a penalty when Sandy Sutherland went down after a challenge in the box. It was not given and their last decent chance to get a share of the spoils disappeared when Traill shot hurriedly over when put clear through on goal after the break.
Thistle bounced back to leapfrog Rovers into third spot with a last gasp 2-1 win at Castletown.
A tight first half saw Thistle go closest to scoring when a Farquhar shot came back off a post. Playing with the strong wind behind them after the break, the home side looked the more likely to break the deadlock.
But it was the visitors who struck first when Stuart Florence’s would-be clearance ended up as a spectacular own goal.
Castletown levelled five minutes from time when Greg Macleod headed home from a corner.
The home side’s losing streak, however, was extended in the final play of the game.
Sandy Sutherland bore in on goal with his shot being parried by keeper Asa Sinclair, only for young sub Calum Beveridge to bury the rebound.
Rovers now must beat Castletown in their final game on Monday if they are to reclaim third and finish the highest-placed Wick team.
Results – David Allan Shield final: John O’Groats 0 Rovers 2.
Division One: Castletown 1 Wick Thistle 2; John O’Groats 1 Swifts 1; Pentland United 1 Rovers 1; Wick Groats 3 Acks 2; Wick Groats 2 Workshops 1; Wick Thistle 1 Pentland United 2.
Division Two: Ashes 2 Top Joe’s 5; Halkirk 3 FSC 1; Halkirk 8 Lybster 3; Keiss 1 Ashes 1; Lybster 1 Thurso Pentland 2.
Fixtures – Tonight: Steven Cup first round (6.45pm): Lybster v Ashes.
Monday: Steven Cup quarter-final: Keiss v FSC; Mid County v Lybster or Ashes; Thurso Pentland v Halkirk. Division One (7pm): Rovers v Castletown.
Wednesday: Steven Cup semi-final (6.45pm): Pentland or Halkirk v Mid County, Lybster or Ashes; Top Joe’s v Keiss or FSC.
By Iain Grant
Published: 11 August, 2006
WICK Groats fell at the death in their audacious bid to stave off demotion from the John O’Groat Journal first division.
They needed to win their final match, at home to Acks on Wednesday, and rely on Swifts losing at John O’Groats.
The Wickers did their bit, winning 3-2 against the defending champions, but were undone by the other match finishing 1-1.Swifts’ battling draw in conditions resembling a wind tunnel was enough to save their skins.
Wick Groats’ Jekyll and Hyde campaign saw them go 12 games without a win before racking up four on the trot.
On Wednesday, they got the perfect start when Gordie MacDonald set up Kyle Ross to fire them in front in the first minute.
Acks battled back and restored parity midway through the half with a free kick from Michael Bremner.
The home side recaptured the lead 15 minutes after the break when Martin Sutherland ran through to slip the ball past keeper Brian Mackay.
Ten minutes later, they got some much-needed breathing space thanks to a wonder solo goal from MacDonald who jinked his way past four defenders before netting.
The Groats’ faithful, however, were made to endure a tense finale after Bremner converted a penalty awarded when keeper Graham Miller floored Alan Murray after the latter had knocked the ball past him.
Swifts were meanwhile ensuring their trip to John O’Groats did not spell the end of the road for their first-division hopes.
A raging wind sweeping down the park made for conditions alien to any form of flowing, structured game.
The visitors had the elements behind them in the first half and were soon making life difficult for keeper Shaun Henderson.
Two early inswinging corners from Chris Foy almost did the trick. Willie Steven then went close with an effort from another corner and the same player had a stinging effort well saved by Henderson.
Swifts had to wait until eight minutes from the break for the opener.
A sparky run by Stuart Campbell saw his cross side-footed into the net from six yards by Steven.
It proved a lonely half for Swifts keeper Ian Begg who touched the ball just twice.
It was a different story after the break as JOG inevitably enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and territory.
After 64 minutes, Begg fumbled a shot from Graeme Tait but the keeper reacted smartly to turn away the follow-up from Martin Sinclair.
JOG got on level terms after 65 minutes when Dave Green’s free kick was volleyed in by Tait. There were no clear-cut chances for the remainder, with the final whistle bringing whoops of relief from the visiting camp.
The upshot left the Groats players and officials shell-shocked.
“We’re all absolutely devastated,” said player/manager Derek Shearer. “I couldn’t have asked for more from the boys – we’re gutted.”
Groats had earlier sustained their unlikely survival bid by coming from behind to defeat Workshops 2-1 at Upper Bignold.
The Thurso side converted the first chance of the game to once again put Shearer’s men on the relegation rack.
The home back three were caught square as Michael Smith raced through to fire ’Shops into a 20th minute lead.
Groats were enjoying plenty of the ball but their only close call of the first period came when Gary MacGregor drew an excellent save from Christopher Mackay on the half-hour mark.
It could have got worse for Groats when veteran Fred Trueman’s chip was headed off the line.
Groats made a lively start to the second half and Kyle Ross missed a snip when he blazed over from close in after Kevin Miller had headed on a free kick.
Fifteen minutes after the break, the home side were awarded a penalty when MacDonald was upended in the box.
Mackay performed heroics to beat out Ross’s strike and then save the follow-up.
After Martin Sutherland struck the inside of a post, it looked as if Groats’ luck had finally run out. They found a way back with 18 minutes left when MacDonald somehow threaded a 20-yard shot past a ruck of players into the net.
A minute later, Groats were ahead thanks to what seemed a harsh hand-ball ruling against Liam MacDonald in his own penalty box.
Gordon MacDonald nailed the spot-kick to secure the win.
Champions Pentland United completed their campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Rovers on Wednesday.
After a goalless first half, Colin Sinclair struck first for the visitors when he netted after a free kick.
Shortly afterwards, United got on terms when a long-ranger from Gavin Bremner veered past Kevin McGee.
Lee Lyall went close to restoring Rovers’ lead though United almost claimed all three points when Grant Budge came desperately close to scoring late on.
Earlier, United were relieved to secure a 2-1 win on their trip to Wick to play Thistle. The visitors got an early boost when Bremner’s free kick was headed in by Budge.
They stretched their lead thanks to a route one play with Michael Gray’s thumping clearance falling nicely for Mark Nichol who made no mistake from close range.
The Jags reduced the leeway when neat interplay by Niall Traill and John Farquhar down the left flank cut out a clear opening for Andy Falconer. Gray got a hand to Falconer’s shot but could not prevent it going in off a post.
Thistle felt they should have got a penalty when Sandy Sutherland went down after a challenge in the box. It was not given and their last decent chance to get a share of the spoils disappeared when Traill shot hurriedly over when put clear through on goal after the break.
Thistle bounced back to leapfrog Rovers into third spot with a last gasp 2-1 win at Castletown.
A tight first half saw Thistle go closest to scoring when a Farquhar shot came back off a post. Playing with the strong wind behind them after the break, the home side looked the more likely to break the deadlock.
But it was the visitors who struck first when Stuart Florence’s would-be clearance ended up as a spectacular own goal.
Castletown levelled five minutes from time when Greg Macleod headed home from a corner.
The home side’s losing streak, however, was extended in the final play of the game.
Sandy Sutherland bore in on goal with his shot being parried by keeper Asa Sinclair, only for young sub Calum Beveridge to bury the rebound.
Rovers now must beat Castletown in their final game on Monday if they are to reclaim third and finish the highest-placed Wick team.
Results – David Allan Shield final: John O’Groats 0 Rovers 2.
Division One: Castletown 1 Wick Thistle 2; John O’Groats 1 Swifts 1; Pentland United 1 Rovers 1; Wick Groats 3 Acks 2; Wick Groats 2 Workshops 1; Wick Thistle 1 Pentland United 2.
Division Two: Ashes 2 Top Joe’s 5; Halkirk 3 FSC 1; Halkirk 8 Lybster 3; Keiss 1 Ashes 1; Lybster 1 Thurso Pentland 2.
Fixtures – Tonight: Steven Cup first round (6.45pm): Lybster v Ashes.
Monday: Steven Cup quarter-final: Keiss v FSC; Mid County v Lybster or Ashes; Thurso Pentland v Halkirk. Division One (7pm): Rovers v Castletown.
Wednesday: Steven Cup semi-final (6.45pm): Pentland or Halkirk v Mid County, Lybster or Ashes; Top Joe’s v Keiss or FSC.