Post by Brian Mackay on Jan 28, 2007 22:48:01 GMT
Cannop hat-trick eases Young Guns' relegation fears
Published: 26 January, 2007
YOUNG Guns eased their relegation worries with a 4-1 victory over Ashes in the first division of Caithness Amateur Sevens Football League.
It's a different story for Ashes, though, as they remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the table. In wintry conditions, Ashes looked a shadow of the team that recorded their first victory last week and they did not perform to their capabilities.
Terry Cannop, playing in an uncharacteristic defensive role, opened the scoring for Young Guns with a shot on the turn. Ashes drew level midway through the first half courtesy of an own goal by Kevin Alexander, who attempted to head the ball clear from a wind-assisted in swinging corner.
After the break Young Guns reorganised with Cannop moving to his customary striking role and it soon paid off as he struck twice to complete his hat-trick.
With a few minutes remaining, talented youngster Scott MacKenzie played a quick one-two with Shane McGinley before releasing the ball into the path of Chris Gunn, who hammered it home to take the score to 4-1.
Thurso Comm bounced back from last week's defeat to snatch all three points against Shadwell.
A well-taken goal by Sid Potter gave Shadwell a 1-0 lead at half-time. Just after the restart Donnie Falconer sent an inch-perfect looping header over the Shadwell keeper for the equaliser, and Andy Bain sealed a 2-1 win for Comm with a precision strike.
Halkirk netted three without reply against Castletown in a fairly one-sided affair. David Blackwood got the opener early on, and second-half goals by Liam Mackay and Graham Swanson put the outcome beyond any doubt.
John O'Groats remain on the fringes of the drop zone after losing 5-1 to a very attack-minded Swifts. Derek Chadwick opened the scoring for Swifts and John Holmes added two more in a five-minute spell.
Roddy Harper added a fourth before David Green pulled one back for Groats, but Holmes had the final say as he completed his hat-trick.
Pentland's Lee Sutherland helped himself to four goals as his team defeated Lybster 8-4 – a result that stretches their lead at the top of the table, with Strokes having had a free week.
Sutherland scored twice in the opening five minutes with the help of some great pass-and-go movements involving almost the entire Pentland team. Lybster, who were more workmanlike, were always a threat going forward and they pulled a goal back through Grant Budge.
Golden boot leader Andrew Richardson made it 3-1 with a poacher's goal, and further strikes from Gary Mackay, Ewan Scott and Sutherland again took the score to 6-1 at half-time.
Jimmy Budge reduced the deficit and Grant Budge added two more for Lybster. They were very unlucky not to make it 6-5 when Grant saw his swerving shot saved by the outstretched arm of Lee Allan.
With time running out Lybster pushed everyone forward and were hit with two sucker punches. First Darren Mackay surged up the park to score, then Sutherland wrapped up the scoring with a peach of a half-volley.
In a rearranged fixture, Antarctic Thistle defeated RG's 4-1 to move joint top of the second division.
The game was level at half-time, RG's Dougie Mackay cancelling out Antarctic's opener from Jimmy Risbridger. Antarctic added three more in the closing 10 minutes through Colin Macleod (2) and Andrew Cumming.
First division fixtures for matchday 19 – Monday, January 29: Swifts v Castletown (6.30); Shadwell v Pentland (6.30); Ashes v John O'Groats (7.30); Strokes v Lybster (7.30); Young Guns v Thurso Comm (8.30). Free week – Halkirk.
Published: 26 January, 2007
YOUNG Guns eased their relegation worries with a 4-1 victory over Ashes in the first division of Caithness Amateur Sevens Football League.
It's a different story for Ashes, though, as they remain firmly rooted to the bottom of the table. In wintry conditions, Ashes looked a shadow of the team that recorded their first victory last week and they did not perform to their capabilities.
Terry Cannop, playing in an uncharacteristic defensive role, opened the scoring for Young Guns with a shot on the turn. Ashes drew level midway through the first half courtesy of an own goal by Kevin Alexander, who attempted to head the ball clear from a wind-assisted in swinging corner.
After the break Young Guns reorganised with Cannop moving to his customary striking role and it soon paid off as he struck twice to complete his hat-trick.
With a few minutes remaining, talented youngster Scott MacKenzie played a quick one-two with Shane McGinley before releasing the ball into the path of Chris Gunn, who hammered it home to take the score to 4-1.
Thurso Comm bounced back from last week's defeat to snatch all three points against Shadwell.
A well-taken goal by Sid Potter gave Shadwell a 1-0 lead at half-time. Just after the restart Donnie Falconer sent an inch-perfect looping header over the Shadwell keeper for the equaliser, and Andy Bain sealed a 2-1 win for Comm with a precision strike.
Halkirk netted three without reply against Castletown in a fairly one-sided affair. David Blackwood got the opener early on, and second-half goals by Liam Mackay and Graham Swanson put the outcome beyond any doubt.
John O'Groats remain on the fringes of the drop zone after losing 5-1 to a very attack-minded Swifts. Derek Chadwick opened the scoring for Swifts and John Holmes added two more in a five-minute spell.
Roddy Harper added a fourth before David Green pulled one back for Groats, but Holmes had the final say as he completed his hat-trick.
Pentland's Lee Sutherland helped himself to four goals as his team defeated Lybster 8-4 – a result that stretches their lead at the top of the table, with Strokes having had a free week.
Sutherland scored twice in the opening five minutes with the help of some great pass-and-go movements involving almost the entire Pentland team. Lybster, who were more workmanlike, were always a threat going forward and they pulled a goal back through Grant Budge.
Golden boot leader Andrew Richardson made it 3-1 with a poacher's goal, and further strikes from Gary Mackay, Ewan Scott and Sutherland again took the score to 6-1 at half-time.
Jimmy Budge reduced the deficit and Grant Budge added two more for Lybster. They were very unlucky not to make it 6-5 when Grant saw his swerving shot saved by the outstretched arm of Lee Allan.
With time running out Lybster pushed everyone forward and were hit with two sucker punches. First Darren Mackay surged up the park to score, then Sutherland wrapped up the scoring with a peach of a half-volley.
In a rearranged fixture, Antarctic Thistle defeated RG's 4-1 to move joint top of the second division.
The game was level at half-time, RG's Dougie Mackay cancelling out Antarctic's opener from Jimmy Risbridger. Antarctic added three more in the closing 10 minutes through Colin Macleod (2) and Andrew Cumming.
First division fixtures for matchday 19 – Monday, January 29: Swifts v Castletown (6.30); Shadwell v Pentland (6.30); Ashes v John O'Groats (7.30); Strokes v Lybster (7.30); Young Guns v Thurso Comm (8.30). Free week – Halkirk.