Post by Brian Mackay on Feb 6, 2007 19:31:54 GMT
Ashes are on cloud nine after basement battle
Published: 02 February, 2007
ASHES powered past fellow strugglers John O'Groats to record a 9-3 victory this week in Caithness Amateur Sevens Football League's first division basement battle.
Alan Struthers gave Ashes an early lead after skipping round a couple of opponents, and James Macdonald got their second when he took a low-hit corner in his stride and directed the ball into the net. It is said in some quarters that the last time James scored Queen Victoria was on the throne, although this can't be substantiated.
Groats upped their game and excellent strikes by Sean Stewart and Nathan Mackay had them level by half-time.
Ashes turned up the pressure after the break with quick goals from Graeme Taylor and David Stockan to take the score to 4-2. Taylor got his second before Paul Mackay powered in from the wing to drive the ball home for Ashes' sixth.
Taylor then completed his hat-trick with a shot on the turn and Scott Maclean extended their lead further with a cracking effort from 15 yards. Stockan added Ashes' ninth before Stewart pulled another one back in the closing stages.
Swifts grabbed an important 2-1 win in their mid-table clash with Castletown.
Castletown's Gary Calder took advantage of some sloppy defending to open the scoring with 20 minutes gone. Swifts pulled level just before the interval when Anson Robertson set up James Mackay for a neat finish.
The second half was a tighter affair and it was looking like something extraordinary would be required to prevent the match finishing all square. With 10 minutes remaining, Freddie Trueman drove a spectacular left-foot volley high into the Castletown net.
Swifts keeper Peter Macdonald fell foul of the referee while debating the finer points of the beautiful game and was promptly dismissed. However, Castletown could not capitalise on the extra man.
Pentland defeated Shadwell 5-0 to maintain their grip on pole position. Despite the scoreline, both sides contributed to a cracking match with plenty of pace and skill.
The opener came when Pentland turned defence into attack with a fine passing move that saw the final ball deflect off Shadwell's Stevie Bain and nestle in the net. Darren Mackay got the second with a right-foot shot from just inside the box, then with half-time approaching Bain's bad luck continued when his shot scraped past the Pentland post.
Andrew Richardson powered home Pentland's third early in the second period and they wrapped up the points with further goals from Gordon Malcolm and Ian Scott.
Strokes got back on the winning trail with a 3-0 victory over a Lybster side who were missing a couple of key players. Paul MacDonald opened the scoring with a powerful left-foot drive after 10 minutes and moments later James Riddell doubled Strokes' lead, evading his marker to bullet the ball into the net.
Midway through the second half Martyn Cook fired the ball through a ruck of players to round off the scoring.
Young Guns were unlucky to come away with nothing in their encounter with Thurso Comm, eventually losing 4-3.
Willie Steven gave Comm an early lead but the Guns replied immediately through Terry Cannop. Steven restored Comm's advantage from a rather dubious penalty award and Andy Bain made it 3-1 with a typical poacher's effort. Steven completed his hat-trick before the interval after spinning his marker.
Young Guns threw on Tony Miller after the break and he set up their second goal with an inch-perfect pass to Chris Gunn, who blasted the ball into the net. Gunn got his second of the evening from the penalty spot and he was unlucky not to add to his tally, hitting the post on two occasions.
Table-toppers Pentland have now amassed 41 points from 16 matches and they are seven points clear of second-placed Strokes, who have a game in hand. Halkirk are third on the 29-point mark, having played 15.
First division fixtures for Monday, February 5: Ashes v Castletown (6.30); Strokes v Shadwell (6.30); Pentland v Thurso Comm (7.30); Halkirk v Lybster (7.30); Young Guns v John O'Groats (8.30). Free week – Swifts.
* Thurso Rangers and Top Joe's drew 0-0 in a rearranged second division fixture.
Published: 02 February, 2007
ASHES powered past fellow strugglers John O'Groats to record a 9-3 victory this week in Caithness Amateur Sevens Football League's first division basement battle.
Alan Struthers gave Ashes an early lead after skipping round a couple of opponents, and James Macdonald got their second when he took a low-hit corner in his stride and directed the ball into the net. It is said in some quarters that the last time James scored Queen Victoria was on the throne, although this can't be substantiated.
Groats upped their game and excellent strikes by Sean Stewart and Nathan Mackay had them level by half-time.
Ashes turned up the pressure after the break with quick goals from Graeme Taylor and David Stockan to take the score to 4-2. Taylor got his second before Paul Mackay powered in from the wing to drive the ball home for Ashes' sixth.
Taylor then completed his hat-trick with a shot on the turn and Scott Maclean extended their lead further with a cracking effort from 15 yards. Stockan added Ashes' ninth before Stewart pulled another one back in the closing stages.
Swifts grabbed an important 2-1 win in their mid-table clash with Castletown.
Castletown's Gary Calder took advantage of some sloppy defending to open the scoring with 20 minutes gone. Swifts pulled level just before the interval when Anson Robertson set up James Mackay for a neat finish.
The second half was a tighter affair and it was looking like something extraordinary would be required to prevent the match finishing all square. With 10 minutes remaining, Freddie Trueman drove a spectacular left-foot volley high into the Castletown net.
Swifts keeper Peter Macdonald fell foul of the referee while debating the finer points of the beautiful game and was promptly dismissed. However, Castletown could not capitalise on the extra man.
Pentland defeated Shadwell 5-0 to maintain their grip on pole position. Despite the scoreline, both sides contributed to a cracking match with plenty of pace and skill.
The opener came when Pentland turned defence into attack with a fine passing move that saw the final ball deflect off Shadwell's Stevie Bain and nestle in the net. Darren Mackay got the second with a right-foot shot from just inside the box, then with half-time approaching Bain's bad luck continued when his shot scraped past the Pentland post.
Andrew Richardson powered home Pentland's third early in the second period and they wrapped up the points with further goals from Gordon Malcolm and Ian Scott.
Strokes got back on the winning trail with a 3-0 victory over a Lybster side who were missing a couple of key players. Paul MacDonald opened the scoring with a powerful left-foot drive after 10 minutes and moments later James Riddell doubled Strokes' lead, evading his marker to bullet the ball into the net.
Midway through the second half Martyn Cook fired the ball through a ruck of players to round off the scoring.
Young Guns were unlucky to come away with nothing in their encounter with Thurso Comm, eventually losing 4-3.
Willie Steven gave Comm an early lead but the Guns replied immediately through Terry Cannop. Steven restored Comm's advantage from a rather dubious penalty award and Andy Bain made it 3-1 with a typical poacher's effort. Steven completed his hat-trick before the interval after spinning his marker.
Young Guns threw on Tony Miller after the break and he set up their second goal with an inch-perfect pass to Chris Gunn, who blasted the ball into the net. Gunn got his second of the evening from the penalty spot and he was unlucky not to add to his tally, hitting the post on two occasions.
Table-toppers Pentland have now amassed 41 points from 16 matches and they are seven points clear of second-placed Strokes, who have a game in hand. Halkirk are third on the 29-point mark, having played 15.
First division fixtures for Monday, February 5: Ashes v Castletown (6.30); Strokes v Shadwell (6.30); Pentland v Thurso Comm (7.30); Halkirk v Lybster (7.30); Young Guns v John O'Groats (8.30). Free week – Swifts.
* Thurso Rangers and Top Joe's drew 0-0 in a rearranged second division fixture.