Post by Brian Mackay on Sept 15, 2006 22:04:33 GMT
Champions held to a draw on opening night of sevens - from The John O'Groat Journal / Caithness Courier website
Published: 15 September, 2006
DEFENDING first division champions Pentland had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Swifts as the new season of Caithness Amateur Sevens Football League kicked off this week.
Swifts had the best of the first 10 minutes but it was Pentland who took the lead when Andrew Richardson was left unmarked at the back post to slide the ball into the net. The Pentland youngsters then took control and Richardson struck again after a good build-up.
Swifts rallied and pulled one back just before half-time when Ian Elder netted after Pentland keeper Lee Allan had done well to parry a fierce shot. The second half saw Swifts up the tempo and Danny Riddell made it 2-2 when he took a delightful 20-yard pass from Anson Robertson and unleashed a terrific shot into the net.
Swifts could have secured all three points late on but somehow Elder saw his shot go over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
It was a case of youth versus experience as Ashes faced last year’s runners-up, Shadwell. Andy Taylor opened the scoring for Shadwell in six minutes but the young Ashes team began to make a game of it with some neat moves.
Marc Keith threaded a good through ball into the path of Mark Hutcheon, who scored with a left-foot shot from 10 yards. Shadwell were awarded a penalty on the 20-minute mark, with Ashes’ keeper Mark Mackenzie doing well to turn it over the bar. Soon afterwards Alan Sutherland restored Shadwell’s lead and Johnny Mackay made it 3-1 just before the break.
Ashes began the second half playing some good football and their efforts were rewarded when Chris Wann netted from a tight angle with a strong right-foot finish. Shadwell’s experience showed, however, and Sid Potter scored with a well-placed drive to round off a 4-2 victory for his side.
Thurso Comm and Castletown fought out a 2-2 draw in a tense game. David McGill was the provider for Mark Morrison to open the scoring for Castletown after 10 minutes but they were caught out in a counter-attack that enabled Derek Manson to pull Comm level.
Just before half-time Castletown went ahead again, Derek Shearer sending the keeper the wrong way as he coolly slotted the ball home.
After the break Comm stepped up their efforts and Jocky Begg hit the post twice in as many minutes, while Willie Steven had a couple of net-bound shots saved by the Castletown keeper Darryl McAlpine. The game was starting to get physical as both teams fought for every ball.
Thurso Swifts and reigning champions Pentland line up together before the opening match of the new Caithness seven-a-side season. Darryn Mackay of Pentland (centre) represented the first division sponsors, Skinandi’s. Pic: John Baikie 07789 557586
With time running out, Comm had one final surge upfield and Begg secured a share of the points with a well-taken goal. In the dying seconds Castletown’s David McGill was red-carded for a second bookable offence.
Newly-promoted Strokes faced Halkirk in the last game of the evening. Halkirk ran out 5-0 winners and Strokes can thank their keeper Ian Begg for restricting the score to five as he pulled off some amazing saves.
Strokes did have chances in the early part of this contest but failed to convert them, and when Halkirk went ahead after 18 minutes the first division newcomers were always chasing the game,
Halkirk’s first was a spectacular effort by Graham Gunn. He took the ball from his own area, ran up the park and from fully 20 yards hit an unstoppable shot into the postage-stamp corner.
That was all that separated the sides at half-time but Halkirk shifted up a gear after the break and Liam Mackay doubled their advantage. Graham Swanson then ran the length of the field before hitting a fierce shot that saw the ball go through a ruck of players and into the net.
Mackay struck his second and Halkirk’s fourth after some great build-up play and Alex Banks completed the scoring late on, finishing off a move that he himself had started.
First division fixtures for match-day two (Monday, September 18): Swifts v Strokes (6.30); Young Guns v Shadwell (6.30); John O’Groats v Lybster (7.30); Ashes v Pentland (7.30); Halkirk v Thurso Comm (8.30); Castletown free week.
Published: 15 September, 2006
DEFENDING first division champions Pentland had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Swifts as the new season of Caithness Amateur Sevens Football League kicked off this week.
Swifts had the best of the first 10 minutes but it was Pentland who took the lead when Andrew Richardson was left unmarked at the back post to slide the ball into the net. The Pentland youngsters then took control and Richardson struck again after a good build-up.
Swifts rallied and pulled one back just before half-time when Ian Elder netted after Pentland keeper Lee Allan had done well to parry a fierce shot. The second half saw Swifts up the tempo and Danny Riddell made it 2-2 when he took a delightful 20-yard pass from Anson Robertson and unleashed a terrific shot into the net.
Swifts could have secured all three points late on but somehow Elder saw his shot go over the bar with the goal at his mercy.
It was a case of youth versus experience as Ashes faced last year’s runners-up, Shadwell. Andy Taylor opened the scoring for Shadwell in six minutes but the young Ashes team began to make a game of it with some neat moves.
Marc Keith threaded a good through ball into the path of Mark Hutcheon, who scored with a left-foot shot from 10 yards. Shadwell were awarded a penalty on the 20-minute mark, with Ashes’ keeper Mark Mackenzie doing well to turn it over the bar. Soon afterwards Alan Sutherland restored Shadwell’s lead and Johnny Mackay made it 3-1 just before the break.
Ashes began the second half playing some good football and their efforts were rewarded when Chris Wann netted from a tight angle with a strong right-foot finish. Shadwell’s experience showed, however, and Sid Potter scored with a well-placed drive to round off a 4-2 victory for his side.
Thurso Comm and Castletown fought out a 2-2 draw in a tense game. David McGill was the provider for Mark Morrison to open the scoring for Castletown after 10 minutes but they were caught out in a counter-attack that enabled Derek Manson to pull Comm level.
Just before half-time Castletown went ahead again, Derek Shearer sending the keeper the wrong way as he coolly slotted the ball home.
After the break Comm stepped up their efforts and Jocky Begg hit the post twice in as many minutes, while Willie Steven had a couple of net-bound shots saved by the Castletown keeper Darryl McAlpine. The game was starting to get physical as both teams fought for every ball.
Thurso Swifts and reigning champions Pentland line up together before the opening match of the new Caithness seven-a-side season. Darryn Mackay of Pentland (centre) represented the first division sponsors, Skinandi’s. Pic: John Baikie 07789 557586
With time running out, Comm had one final surge upfield and Begg secured a share of the points with a well-taken goal. In the dying seconds Castletown’s David McGill was red-carded for a second bookable offence.
Newly-promoted Strokes faced Halkirk in the last game of the evening. Halkirk ran out 5-0 winners and Strokes can thank their keeper Ian Begg for restricting the score to five as he pulled off some amazing saves.
Strokes did have chances in the early part of this contest but failed to convert them, and when Halkirk went ahead after 18 minutes the first division newcomers were always chasing the game,
Halkirk’s first was a spectacular effort by Graham Gunn. He took the ball from his own area, ran up the park and from fully 20 yards hit an unstoppable shot into the postage-stamp corner.
That was all that separated the sides at half-time but Halkirk shifted up a gear after the break and Liam Mackay doubled their advantage. Graham Swanson then ran the length of the field before hitting a fierce shot that saw the ball go through a ruck of players and into the net.
Mackay struck his second and Halkirk’s fourth after some great build-up play and Alex Banks completed the scoring late on, finishing off a move that he himself had started.
First division fixtures for match-day two (Monday, September 18): Swifts v Strokes (6.30); Young Guns v Shadwell (6.30); John O’Groats v Lybster (7.30); Ashes v Pentland (7.30); Halkirk v Thurso Comm (8.30); Castletown free week.