Post by Brian Mackay on May 21, 2009 10:20:06 GMT
Villagers victors in penalty battle - From John O'Groat Journal
By Iain Grant - iain-grant@ukf.net - Published: 20 May, 2009
CASTLETOWN battled their way through to the second round of the MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup after a marathon joust versus Swifts.
In a rerun of last year's semi-final, the villagers prevailed 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out after the teams again could not be separated in Saturday's replay on the village pitch.
Castletown recovered from going a goal down to lead 3-1 and establish a seemingly unshakable grip on the tie after the first period of extra time.
But the rain-marred contest was turned on its head by two goals from Swifts who came desperately close to grabbing a winner in the last minute of normal time.
The early stages witnessed some meaty challenges with Mark Nichol the first to provide a goal threat with a free kick which flashed just wide.
Alan Farquhar saw a close-range drive come back off the bar before Lee MacDougall fired past Castletown keeper Lee Kirk, only to have the effort cancelled out by an offside flag.
Swifts keeper Asa Sinclair then had to pull off an acrobatic save to prevent Martin MacGregor's deflection of a shot turning into an own goal.
Swifts took the lead on 53 minutes thanks to a switcher of a 25 yarder from Jamie MacKenzie that beat Kirk all ends up.
The home side struck the bar again on 74 minutes through Gavin Henderson's follow-up shot after his original free kick was blocked.
Five minutes later, Castletown were level when Scott Mackay Steven drove in from the left and dispatched a firm shot wide of Sinclair.
Castletown now had all the momentum and it was no surprise they were first to strike in extra time when Farquhar got on the end of a quick-fire counter to squeeze the ball between Sinclair and his left-hand post.
A minute before the second turnaround, a cute back-heel from Henderson sent in Chris Sutherland to make it 3-1.
Castletown should have been home and dry on 107 minutes after Sutherland's tantalising cross removed Sinclair from the equation.
But it was somehow missed by Gary Calder in front of an unguarded net.
Swifts exacted the full penalty when they broke upfield and sub John Holmes played in Willie Steven to reduce the leeway.
Within five minutes the tie was all-square again when Derek Munro and Michael Petrie opened up the defence and Nichol applied the finish.
Both teams came close at the end with Calder unable to convert following a marvellous run from Farquhar and Petrie heading Steven's free kick just past.
The only kick in the subsequent shoot-out that failed to register was the first, taken by Steven and beaten away by Kirk.
There was, however, controversy when Scott Manson's second for Castletown was stopped by Sinclair only for the save to be annulled after the keeper was adjudged to have moved off his line before the kick was taken.
Manson converted the retake to join the successful efforts from Henderson, David MacGill, Greg MacLeod and Sutherland.
On target for Swifts were: Petrie, Nichol, Holmes and Munro.
In the south mainland section of the competition, Avoch progressed after just getting the better of fellow former winners Maryburgh, winning the replay 1-0.
Periods of extra time were required before St Andrews defeated Holm 4-2, in Orkney, and Point defeated Harris 4-3 in the Western Isles section.
Others to progress in Saturday's replays were Kyle, Plockton and North Uist United.
The next round takes place on May 30.
By Iain Grant - iain-grant@ukf.net - Published: 20 May, 2009
CASTLETOWN battled their way through to the second round of the MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup after a marathon joust versus Swifts.
In a rerun of last year's semi-final, the villagers prevailed 5-4 in the penalty shoot-out after the teams again could not be separated in Saturday's replay on the village pitch.
Castletown recovered from going a goal down to lead 3-1 and establish a seemingly unshakable grip on the tie after the first period of extra time.
But the rain-marred contest was turned on its head by two goals from Swifts who came desperately close to grabbing a winner in the last minute of normal time.
The early stages witnessed some meaty challenges with Mark Nichol the first to provide a goal threat with a free kick which flashed just wide.
Alan Farquhar saw a close-range drive come back off the bar before Lee MacDougall fired past Castletown keeper Lee Kirk, only to have the effort cancelled out by an offside flag.
Swifts keeper Asa Sinclair then had to pull off an acrobatic save to prevent Martin MacGregor's deflection of a shot turning into an own goal.
Swifts took the lead on 53 minutes thanks to a switcher of a 25 yarder from Jamie MacKenzie that beat Kirk all ends up.
The home side struck the bar again on 74 minutes through Gavin Henderson's follow-up shot after his original free kick was blocked.
Five minutes later, Castletown were level when Scott Mackay Steven drove in from the left and dispatched a firm shot wide of Sinclair.
Castletown now had all the momentum and it was no surprise they were first to strike in extra time when Farquhar got on the end of a quick-fire counter to squeeze the ball between Sinclair and his left-hand post.
A minute before the second turnaround, a cute back-heel from Henderson sent in Chris Sutherland to make it 3-1.
Castletown should have been home and dry on 107 minutes after Sutherland's tantalising cross removed Sinclair from the equation.
But it was somehow missed by Gary Calder in front of an unguarded net.
Swifts exacted the full penalty when they broke upfield and sub John Holmes played in Willie Steven to reduce the leeway.
Within five minutes the tie was all-square again when Derek Munro and Michael Petrie opened up the defence and Nichol applied the finish.
Both teams came close at the end with Calder unable to convert following a marvellous run from Farquhar and Petrie heading Steven's free kick just past.
The only kick in the subsequent shoot-out that failed to register was the first, taken by Steven and beaten away by Kirk.
There was, however, controversy when Scott Manson's second for Castletown was stopped by Sinclair only for the save to be annulled after the keeper was adjudged to have moved off his line before the kick was taken.
Manson converted the retake to join the successful efforts from Henderson, David MacGill, Greg MacLeod and Sutherland.
On target for Swifts were: Petrie, Nichol, Holmes and Munro.
In the south mainland section of the competition, Avoch progressed after just getting the better of fellow former winners Maryburgh, winning the replay 1-0.
Periods of extra time were required before St Andrews defeated Holm 4-2, in Orkney, and Point defeated Harris 4-3 in the Western Isles section.
Others to progress in Saturday's replays were Kyle, Plockton and North Uist United.
The next round takes place on May 30.