Post by Brian Mackay on Apr 20, 2007 13:13:08 GMT
John O'Groats fightback comes to nothing
By Iain Grant - iain-grant@ukf.net
Published: 20 April, 2007
JOHN O'Groats experienced contrasting fortunes in the opening week of the first division in the County League.
The village outfit have recruited erstwhile county referee Willie Sinclair as assistant to manager Robbie Swanson in their bid to consolidate their recent status as serious title contenders.
Fourth in 2004, third in '05 and second last year, they have well and truly left behind their formative years as pub-league whipping boys.
After an opening-night 3-0 win at home to Wick Thistle, a remarkable comeback in Castletown on Wednesday night failed to prevent John O'Groats losing out by the odd goal in seven.
Ian MacDonald's men looked set to rack up a handsome win after going three up in 20 minutes.
The opener on four minutes was created by Scott Manson, whose cutback was thumped home by Graham MacDonald. The creator then turned scorer when Manson finished off a fine piece of wing play by Chris Sutherland. It got worse for the visitors when Stuart Florence galloped forward and played in Pher Nicolson for number three.
But John O'Groats battled away and within the space of seven minutes they were right back in the frame after two long-range wind-assisted screamers by Stuart Sinclair (the elder). Home keeper Asa Sinclair had no chance with the first, but perhaps could have kept the second out had he got a firmer hand to the ball.
John O'Groats levelled 10 minutes from the interval when a corner was nodded home by 17-year-old Calum Campbell.
The strengthening wind was not making it easy for either team and it contributed to a scrappy second period. Stevie Morris missed two decent openings for Castletown before they grabbed what proved to be the winner midway through the half. It came from the unlikely source of ex-Workshops stalwart Colin Munro, whose first-time connection from a clearance from a corner bulleted into the back of the net.
John O'Groats had earlier got their campaign off to the perfect start in their opener versus Thistle.
Stuart Sinclair (the elder) gave the village men an interval lead in the aftermath to a corner. A half-clearance came to Gavin Sinclair and his centre was seized upon by Sinclair, whose 15-yard finish blurred past Thistle keeper Graeme Williamson into the net.
The home side were celebrating soon after the turnaround when Campbell threaded a pass through to Martin Sinclair. After his first attempt on goal hit a post, he was first to react to drive in the rebound.
Campbell was also involved in the third goal when he was taken down in the box and Graham Tait converted the resultant spot-kick.
The only blackspot for John O'Groats was Stuart Sinclair's subsequent dismissal for a second booking for a foul on John Farquhar.
The Jags had very little joy up front, their only clear opening coming with 10 minutes to go when former Thurso Thistle and Lybster frontman Terry Cannop shot wide from prime position.
Halkirk and Acks both fired blanks in their opener at Recreation Park on Tuesday. The much-changed Thurso side might have just about secured parity of possession but they were heavily eclipsed in terms of chances created.
Ex-Ack Michael Bremner was first to threaten with a 25-yard free kick which visiting keeper Brian Mackay turned against a post. Before the break, Halkirk's Russell Bain was also denied by an upright shortly before missing a snip of a chance.
The opportunities in the second half also fell mainly to Halkirk, with Stevie Elder blazing narrowly wide after being set up by Lee Mackay. Brian Mackay pulled off a good save from another Bremner free kick, with a Graham Swanson header from the resultant corner coming back off the bar.
Champions Pentland United opened their title defence on Monday with a 4-1 win at Dunnet against Wick Rovers.
In the second division, a new-look Francis Street Club look well equipped to push for a promotion spot. They opened their campaign on Tuesday with a 4-1 home victory over Top Joe's.
Andrew Harper's men had to come from behind after one of their newcomers, Gary Davidson, headed a free kick behind the player/manager after just four minutes.
Graeme Scollay had FSC level after 10 minutes when he netted after a bit of head tennis in TJ's goalmouth. A headed goal by Darren Shepherd had the Wickers ahead by the break and they went on to close out the game.
Craig Henderson grabbed the third with a cracking shot on the turn. The icing on the cake came with 20 minutes left when Henderson fed 15-year-old Hasheem Ahmed, who executed an exquisite lob over TJ's keeper Andy Lannon from 20 yards.
The village clash between Keiss and Lybster proved a competitive tussle, being unstinting on grunt and shunt but somewhat lacking in style and guile.
The game was settled by the only goal midway through the second half. Grant MacNab latched on to a well-judged through ball by Andrew Banks and slotted it home.
After the goal, the game was marred by a double sending-off when Gordon Steven, of Keiss, retaliated after being levelled by a crude lunge from Graham Robertson.
Results – Division One: Castletown 4, John O'Groats 3; Halkirk 0 Acks 0; John O'Groats 3, Wick Thistle 0; Pentland United 4, Rovers 1. Division Two: FSC 4, Top Joe's 1; Keiss 1, Lybster 0.
Fixtures: Saturday (3.00) – MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup: Lairg Rovers v Keiss.
Monday (7.00) – County League, Division One: Acks v Swifts; Wick Thistle v Halkirk. Tuesday (7.00) – Division Two: Top Joe's v Ashes; Wick Groats v Keiss.
Wednesday (7.00) – Division One: John O'Groats v Thurso Pentland; Pentland United v Acks; Rovers v Wick Thistle; Swifts v Castletown.
Thursday (7.00) – Division Two: Lybster v FSC.
By Iain Grant - iain-grant@ukf.net
Published: 20 April, 2007
JOHN O'Groats experienced contrasting fortunes in the opening week of the first division in the County League.
The village outfit have recruited erstwhile county referee Willie Sinclair as assistant to manager Robbie Swanson in their bid to consolidate their recent status as serious title contenders.
Fourth in 2004, third in '05 and second last year, they have well and truly left behind their formative years as pub-league whipping boys.
After an opening-night 3-0 win at home to Wick Thistle, a remarkable comeback in Castletown on Wednesday night failed to prevent John O'Groats losing out by the odd goal in seven.
Ian MacDonald's men looked set to rack up a handsome win after going three up in 20 minutes.
The opener on four minutes was created by Scott Manson, whose cutback was thumped home by Graham MacDonald. The creator then turned scorer when Manson finished off a fine piece of wing play by Chris Sutherland. It got worse for the visitors when Stuart Florence galloped forward and played in Pher Nicolson for number three.
But John O'Groats battled away and within the space of seven minutes they were right back in the frame after two long-range wind-assisted screamers by Stuart Sinclair (the elder). Home keeper Asa Sinclair had no chance with the first, but perhaps could have kept the second out had he got a firmer hand to the ball.
John O'Groats levelled 10 minutes from the interval when a corner was nodded home by 17-year-old Calum Campbell.
The strengthening wind was not making it easy for either team and it contributed to a scrappy second period. Stevie Morris missed two decent openings for Castletown before they grabbed what proved to be the winner midway through the half. It came from the unlikely source of ex-Workshops stalwart Colin Munro, whose first-time connection from a clearance from a corner bulleted into the back of the net.
John O'Groats had earlier got their campaign off to the perfect start in their opener versus Thistle.
Stuart Sinclair (the elder) gave the village men an interval lead in the aftermath to a corner. A half-clearance came to Gavin Sinclair and his centre was seized upon by Sinclair, whose 15-yard finish blurred past Thistle keeper Graeme Williamson into the net.
The home side were celebrating soon after the turnaround when Campbell threaded a pass through to Martin Sinclair. After his first attempt on goal hit a post, he was first to react to drive in the rebound.
Campbell was also involved in the third goal when he was taken down in the box and Graham Tait converted the resultant spot-kick.
The only blackspot for John O'Groats was Stuart Sinclair's subsequent dismissal for a second booking for a foul on John Farquhar.
The Jags had very little joy up front, their only clear opening coming with 10 minutes to go when former Thurso Thistle and Lybster frontman Terry Cannop shot wide from prime position.
Halkirk and Acks both fired blanks in their opener at Recreation Park on Tuesday. The much-changed Thurso side might have just about secured parity of possession but they were heavily eclipsed in terms of chances created.
Ex-Ack Michael Bremner was first to threaten with a 25-yard free kick which visiting keeper Brian Mackay turned against a post. Before the break, Halkirk's Russell Bain was also denied by an upright shortly before missing a snip of a chance.
The opportunities in the second half also fell mainly to Halkirk, with Stevie Elder blazing narrowly wide after being set up by Lee Mackay. Brian Mackay pulled off a good save from another Bremner free kick, with a Graham Swanson header from the resultant corner coming back off the bar.
Champions Pentland United opened their title defence on Monday with a 4-1 win at Dunnet against Wick Rovers.
In the second division, a new-look Francis Street Club look well equipped to push for a promotion spot. They opened their campaign on Tuesday with a 4-1 home victory over Top Joe's.
Andrew Harper's men had to come from behind after one of their newcomers, Gary Davidson, headed a free kick behind the player/manager after just four minutes.
Graeme Scollay had FSC level after 10 minutes when he netted after a bit of head tennis in TJ's goalmouth. A headed goal by Darren Shepherd had the Wickers ahead by the break and they went on to close out the game.
Craig Henderson grabbed the third with a cracking shot on the turn. The icing on the cake came with 20 minutes left when Henderson fed 15-year-old Hasheem Ahmed, who executed an exquisite lob over TJ's keeper Andy Lannon from 20 yards.
The village clash between Keiss and Lybster proved a competitive tussle, being unstinting on grunt and shunt but somewhat lacking in style and guile.
The game was settled by the only goal midway through the second half. Grant MacNab latched on to a well-judged through ball by Andrew Banks and slotted it home.
After the goal, the game was marred by a double sending-off when Gordon Steven, of Keiss, retaliated after being levelled by a crude lunge from Graham Robertson.
Results – Division One: Castletown 4, John O'Groats 3; Halkirk 0 Acks 0; John O'Groats 3, Wick Thistle 0; Pentland United 4, Rovers 1. Division Two: FSC 4, Top Joe's 1; Keiss 1, Lybster 0.
Fixtures: Saturday (3.00) – MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup: Lairg Rovers v Keiss.
Monday (7.00) – County League, Division One: Acks v Swifts; Wick Thistle v Halkirk. Tuesday (7.00) – Division Two: Top Joe's v Ashes; Wick Groats v Keiss.
Wednesday (7.00) – Division One: John O'Groats v Thurso Pentland; Pentland United v Acks; Rovers v Wick Thistle; Swifts v Castletown.
Thursday (7.00) – Division Two: Lybster v FSC.