Post by Brian Mackay on Jan 24, 2007 14:57:27 GMT
Gers' finishing decisive in Caithness 'Old Firm' clash
Published: 24 January, 2007
SECOND division pacesetters Wick Celtic suffered a setback in their title bid when they were beaten 3-2 by Thurso Rangers in Caithness Amateur Sevens Football League's latest "Old Firm" encounter.
More than once this season, Wick Celtic have adopted a tactic of trying to walk the ball into the net and this time they paid the price.
The Gers led 1-0 at half-time courtesy of a goal by Steven Johns after 10 minutes. Celtic certainly had their chances but at times their passing was woefully delayed and they were punished by the Gers' more clinical approach.
The hard-working Adam Sutherland added a second for Rangers after 35 minutes when he nipped behind the defence to pick up a precision pass from Johns and coolly slotted the ball into the net.
Moments later Stevie Gray made it 3-0 with a sweet left-foot volley.
The Celts saw an opportunity to haul themselves back into the game when Johns was red-carded for a cynical and unnecessary tackle with 10 minutes remaining. Celtic quickly took advantage of the extra man as Terry MacLeod thundered the ball into the net to make it 3-1, and with two minutes to go defender Michael King ran the length of the park to fire home their second, but the Gers deservedly took the honours.
Sharks recorded their sixth win of the campaign, overpowering Top Joe's 4-2 with all the goals coming in the second half.
Top Joe's opened the scoring when Steven Macdonald got on the end of a well-placed cross to side-foot the ball home at the back post. Joe's extended their lead shortly after with a close-range effort from Callum Mackay.
Sharks then burst into life with Adrian Forbes grabbing a quick-fire double to level the scores with 12 minutes remaining. Kenny Mac-Alpine put them ahead with a shot across the keeper that crept in at the far post, and Craig Hollywood made sure of the points late on.
RG's, who have suffered a few setbacks this season, got back on track in the promotion battle with a decisive 5-1 victory over a shot-shy JGC side.
RG's in-form striker Dougie Mackay got the opener and he soon added a second, turning the JGC rearguard inside out before unleashing an unstoppable shot from just inside the box. Graham Scollay increased their lead with a fine strike from an acute angle.
JGC pulled one back just before half-time when Liam Bremner was left unmarked and he made no mistake, blasting it in from close range.
After the break RG's surged forward at every opportunity and Ricky Flowerday made it 4-1 after being set up by Dean Salim. A couple of minutes later Scollay capped a fine performance when he grabbed his second and RG's fifth.
Junior Swifts and Seaview both played extremely well in their match but it was Swifts who took the points with a 3-1 win.
Toby Watts put Seaview in front after 10 minutes and they were unlucky not to increase their lead on two occasions – first Gavin Shearer saw his shot come back off the crossbar and a minute later his brother Jordan hit a ferocious shot that also cannoned off the bar.
Swifts got back on level terms when Stevie Reid pounced on a loose ball in the Seaview box and side-footed it home.
Midway through the second half Swifts' Gavin Cunningham chased what appeared to be a lost cause – but his determination was rewarded when he managed to keep the ball in play, turn a defender and fire a shot into the Seaview net from the tightest of angles.
Moments later the issue was settled as Liam Wann collected a quick free kick from Reid.
Wann characteristically kept his composure and slid the ball past the oncoming keeper into the bottom corner of the net.
Staxigoe and Antarctic, who are both well placed in the battle for promotion, served up a thrilling encounter with Antarctic just edging it 3-2.
Grant MacNab opened the scoring for Staxigoe early on with a well-struck shot but this was quickly cancelled out by a terrific effort from Antarctic's Graham Carle. Carle then got his second of the evening with a shot from the edge of the box that went in off the far post.
Staxigoe equalised when the free-scoring Peter Niwa latched onto an inswinging cross and netted with a first-time shot.
It looked like this end-to-end encounter was destined to finish all square, but in the closing stages Antarctic mounted a swift counter-attack and Colin McKiddie let fly from the right-hand edge of the box with a great shot that gave the keeper no chance.
A rearranged first division fixture saw Ashes record their first victory of the season, beating Thurso Comm 4-3.
Mark Hutcheon got a double for Ashes, with Paul Mackay and Davy Stockan also on the scoresheet, while Comm's goals came from Peter MacGregor, Jocky Begg and Donnie Falconer – the latter with an amazing looping header.
Second division fixtures for matchday 19 – Thursday, January 25: Thurso Rangers v JGC (6.30); Sharks v Antarctic Thistle (6.30); Junior Swifts v Naver United (7.30); Staxigoe United v RG's (7.30); Seaview v Wick Celtic (8.30). Free week – Top Joe's.
Published: 24 January, 2007
SECOND division pacesetters Wick Celtic suffered a setback in their title bid when they were beaten 3-2 by Thurso Rangers in Caithness Amateur Sevens Football League's latest "Old Firm" encounter.
More than once this season, Wick Celtic have adopted a tactic of trying to walk the ball into the net and this time they paid the price.
The Gers led 1-0 at half-time courtesy of a goal by Steven Johns after 10 minutes. Celtic certainly had their chances but at times their passing was woefully delayed and they were punished by the Gers' more clinical approach.
The hard-working Adam Sutherland added a second for Rangers after 35 minutes when he nipped behind the defence to pick up a precision pass from Johns and coolly slotted the ball into the net.
Moments later Stevie Gray made it 3-0 with a sweet left-foot volley.
The Celts saw an opportunity to haul themselves back into the game when Johns was red-carded for a cynical and unnecessary tackle with 10 minutes remaining. Celtic quickly took advantage of the extra man as Terry MacLeod thundered the ball into the net to make it 3-1, and with two minutes to go defender Michael King ran the length of the park to fire home their second, but the Gers deservedly took the honours.
Sharks recorded their sixth win of the campaign, overpowering Top Joe's 4-2 with all the goals coming in the second half.
Top Joe's opened the scoring when Steven Macdonald got on the end of a well-placed cross to side-foot the ball home at the back post. Joe's extended their lead shortly after with a close-range effort from Callum Mackay.
Sharks then burst into life with Adrian Forbes grabbing a quick-fire double to level the scores with 12 minutes remaining. Kenny Mac-Alpine put them ahead with a shot across the keeper that crept in at the far post, and Craig Hollywood made sure of the points late on.
RG's, who have suffered a few setbacks this season, got back on track in the promotion battle with a decisive 5-1 victory over a shot-shy JGC side.
RG's in-form striker Dougie Mackay got the opener and he soon added a second, turning the JGC rearguard inside out before unleashing an unstoppable shot from just inside the box. Graham Scollay increased their lead with a fine strike from an acute angle.
JGC pulled one back just before half-time when Liam Bremner was left unmarked and he made no mistake, blasting it in from close range.
After the break RG's surged forward at every opportunity and Ricky Flowerday made it 4-1 after being set up by Dean Salim. A couple of minutes later Scollay capped a fine performance when he grabbed his second and RG's fifth.
Junior Swifts and Seaview both played extremely well in their match but it was Swifts who took the points with a 3-1 win.
Toby Watts put Seaview in front after 10 minutes and they were unlucky not to increase their lead on two occasions – first Gavin Shearer saw his shot come back off the crossbar and a minute later his brother Jordan hit a ferocious shot that also cannoned off the bar.
Swifts got back on level terms when Stevie Reid pounced on a loose ball in the Seaview box and side-footed it home.
Midway through the second half Swifts' Gavin Cunningham chased what appeared to be a lost cause – but his determination was rewarded when he managed to keep the ball in play, turn a defender and fire a shot into the Seaview net from the tightest of angles.
Moments later the issue was settled as Liam Wann collected a quick free kick from Reid.
Wann characteristically kept his composure and slid the ball past the oncoming keeper into the bottom corner of the net.
Staxigoe and Antarctic, who are both well placed in the battle for promotion, served up a thrilling encounter with Antarctic just edging it 3-2.
Grant MacNab opened the scoring for Staxigoe early on with a well-struck shot but this was quickly cancelled out by a terrific effort from Antarctic's Graham Carle. Carle then got his second of the evening with a shot from the edge of the box that went in off the far post.
Staxigoe equalised when the free-scoring Peter Niwa latched onto an inswinging cross and netted with a first-time shot.
It looked like this end-to-end encounter was destined to finish all square, but in the closing stages Antarctic mounted a swift counter-attack and Colin McKiddie let fly from the right-hand edge of the box with a great shot that gave the keeper no chance.
A rearranged first division fixture saw Ashes record their first victory of the season, beating Thurso Comm 4-3.
Mark Hutcheon got a double for Ashes, with Paul Mackay and Davy Stockan also on the scoresheet, while Comm's goals came from Peter MacGregor, Jocky Begg and Donnie Falconer – the latter with an amazing looping header.
Second division fixtures for matchday 19 – Thursday, January 25: Thurso Rangers v JGC (6.30); Sharks v Antarctic Thistle (6.30); Junior Swifts v Naver United (7.30); Staxigoe United v RG's (7.30); Seaview v Wick Celtic (8.30). Free week – Top Joe's.