Post by Brian Mackay on Jan 14, 2007 11:05:35 GMT
Pentland dig deep to keep their title bid on course
Published: 12 January, 2007
REIGNING champions Pentland remain on course for back-to-back first division titles after digging deep to overcome Castletown 6-4 this week as the Caithness Amateur Sevens Football League resumed following the festive break.
Castletown deservedly led 1-0 at half-time courtesy of Mark Morrison, and they would have been further ahead had it not been for the heroics of Lee Allan in the Pentland goal.
Within a minute of the restart Pentland drew level when Andrew Richardson collected a defence-splitting pass from Michael Petrie and turned the last defender before finding the net. Moments later Castletown were back in front when Chris Nicolson saw his shot squirm under the keeper.
Pentland's Ewan Scott made it 2-2 with a fine strike only for Castletown to regain the lead with a Steve Morris strike. Scott then netted his second and Pentland's third, and within a couple of minutes he had completed his hat-trick and put them ahead for the first time.
Castletown grabbed a fantastic equaliser when Morrison thundered the ball into the net from 20 yards, but Petrie scored twice in the last five minutes to make sure of the points.
Swifts easily saw off relegation-haunted Ashes by eight goals to two.
Stewart Campbell opened the scoring for Swifts and his younger brother Derek added a second before half-time. The second period saw an upping of the tempo, with John Holmes extending Swifts' lead before Willie Miller pulled one back.
Anson Robertson grabbed the fourth for Swifts, collecting the ball and running virtually the length of the park to finish easily. Derek Campbell struck twice in as many minutes to complete his hat-trick, with Freddie Trueman and Ian Elder adding a goal apiece to make it eight for Swifts.
Miller got his and Ashes' second of the night with a well-placed shot from 15 yards.
Halkirk's 3-2 win against the Young Guns keeps the village side within touching distance of the leaders.
It was the Young Guns who opened the scoring when youngster Shane McGinley showed good determination to get to a loose ball and strike it first-time into the Halkirk net. Russell Bain levelled with a fine finish after some good build-up play, then Kevin Sutherland put Halkirk 2-1 up just before the break.
The second half saw the Guns throw everyone forward and Terry Cannop equalised after receiving an unselfish pass from George McPhee.
The game was evenly balanced at this stage but Halkirk snatched the winner through Graham Gunn after a swift counter-attack.
Thurso Comm defeated Lybster 6-4, although the villagers made them work hard for the points.
Lybster took an early lead through Bobby Gunn but Comm produced a quick reply when Jocky Begg – returning from an injury lay-off – fired in a powerful drive.
Andy Bain put Comm 2-1 ahead with a deft chip over the advancing keeper, then Willie Steven scored a carbon copy of that goal. Peter MacGregor increased Comm's lead to 4-1 but on the stroke of half-time Lybster pulled a goal back when Hashim Ahmed finished off a cracking piece of passing football with an unstoppable shot.
After their half-time team talk Lybster battled for every ball and were rewarded when Jimmy Budge hit a low shot that eluded everyone to cross the line at the back post.
Moments later Lybster deservedly levelled the scores at 4-4 when Gunn got his second with a swerving shot from just outside the box.
In the closing stages Lybster tired and Comm took advantage with goals from Bain and Steven to round off the scoring.
The final match of the evening was a one-sided affair as title challengers Strokes won 7-1 against a John O'Groats side weakened by a number of call-offs.
Strokes' Paul MacDonald opened the scoring in five minutes when he burst into the box and passed the ball into the net. The same player doubled their lead on the 14-minute mark with a well-taken goal.
Goals by Martyn Cook and Steven Muir took the score to 4-0 with half-time approaching.
After the restart John O'Groats worked tirelessly to try and stay in the match and their efforts were rewarded when Lee Cooper came charging in behind the defensive line to drive home a powerful shot.
However, Strokes added to their tally with goals from Cook, Chris Foy and MacDonald to push the final score to 7-1.
First division fixtures for matchday 17 – Monday, January 15: Strokes v Castletown (6.30); Ashes v Thurso Comm (6.30); Lybster v Shadwell (7.30); Swifts v Young Guns (7.30); Halkirk v John O'Groats (8.30). Free week – Pentland.
Published: 12 January, 2007
REIGNING champions Pentland remain on course for back-to-back first division titles after digging deep to overcome Castletown 6-4 this week as the Caithness Amateur Sevens Football League resumed following the festive break.
Castletown deservedly led 1-0 at half-time courtesy of Mark Morrison, and they would have been further ahead had it not been for the heroics of Lee Allan in the Pentland goal.
Within a minute of the restart Pentland drew level when Andrew Richardson collected a defence-splitting pass from Michael Petrie and turned the last defender before finding the net. Moments later Castletown were back in front when Chris Nicolson saw his shot squirm under the keeper.
Pentland's Ewan Scott made it 2-2 with a fine strike only for Castletown to regain the lead with a Steve Morris strike. Scott then netted his second and Pentland's third, and within a couple of minutes he had completed his hat-trick and put them ahead for the first time.
Castletown grabbed a fantastic equaliser when Morrison thundered the ball into the net from 20 yards, but Petrie scored twice in the last five minutes to make sure of the points.
Swifts easily saw off relegation-haunted Ashes by eight goals to two.
Stewart Campbell opened the scoring for Swifts and his younger brother Derek added a second before half-time. The second period saw an upping of the tempo, with John Holmes extending Swifts' lead before Willie Miller pulled one back.
Anson Robertson grabbed the fourth for Swifts, collecting the ball and running virtually the length of the park to finish easily. Derek Campbell struck twice in as many minutes to complete his hat-trick, with Freddie Trueman and Ian Elder adding a goal apiece to make it eight for Swifts.
Miller got his and Ashes' second of the night with a well-placed shot from 15 yards.
Halkirk's 3-2 win against the Young Guns keeps the village side within touching distance of the leaders.
It was the Young Guns who opened the scoring when youngster Shane McGinley showed good determination to get to a loose ball and strike it first-time into the Halkirk net. Russell Bain levelled with a fine finish after some good build-up play, then Kevin Sutherland put Halkirk 2-1 up just before the break.
The second half saw the Guns throw everyone forward and Terry Cannop equalised after receiving an unselfish pass from George McPhee.
The game was evenly balanced at this stage but Halkirk snatched the winner through Graham Gunn after a swift counter-attack.
Thurso Comm defeated Lybster 6-4, although the villagers made them work hard for the points.
Lybster took an early lead through Bobby Gunn but Comm produced a quick reply when Jocky Begg – returning from an injury lay-off – fired in a powerful drive.
Andy Bain put Comm 2-1 ahead with a deft chip over the advancing keeper, then Willie Steven scored a carbon copy of that goal. Peter MacGregor increased Comm's lead to 4-1 but on the stroke of half-time Lybster pulled a goal back when Hashim Ahmed finished off a cracking piece of passing football with an unstoppable shot.
After their half-time team talk Lybster battled for every ball and were rewarded when Jimmy Budge hit a low shot that eluded everyone to cross the line at the back post.
Moments later Lybster deservedly levelled the scores at 4-4 when Gunn got his second with a swerving shot from just outside the box.
In the closing stages Lybster tired and Comm took advantage with goals from Bain and Steven to round off the scoring.
The final match of the evening was a one-sided affair as title challengers Strokes won 7-1 against a John O'Groats side weakened by a number of call-offs.
Strokes' Paul MacDonald opened the scoring in five minutes when he burst into the box and passed the ball into the net. The same player doubled their lead on the 14-minute mark with a well-taken goal.
Goals by Martyn Cook and Steven Muir took the score to 4-0 with half-time approaching.
After the restart John O'Groats worked tirelessly to try and stay in the match and their efforts were rewarded when Lee Cooper came charging in behind the defensive line to drive home a powerful shot.
However, Strokes added to their tally with goals from Cook, Chris Foy and MacDonald to push the final score to 7-1.
First division fixtures for matchday 17 – Monday, January 15: Strokes v Castletown (6.30); Ashes v Thurso Comm (6.30); Lybster v Shadwell (7.30); Swifts v Young Guns (7.30); Halkirk v John O'Groats (8.30). Free week – Pentland.