Post by Brian Mackay on Jun 1, 2007 22:34:34 GMT
Castletown keep up the pressure
By Iain Grant - iain-grant@ukf.net
Published: 01 June, 2007
CASTLETOWN are shaping up well in their bid to land the County League title for the first time in 18 years. The first division's only unbeaten side moved up to join Pentland United at the top after an 8-0 thrashing of Thurso Pentland at the Dammies.
The evergreen Colin MacLeod grabbed two, as did Chris Sutherland. Scott Manson scored the pick of the bunch, with Gary Calder, Pher Nicolson and Stuart Florence also on target.
Halkirk's 4-2 home win against Wick Rovers helped them move up a place into fourth. They struck first after Michael Bremner's initial thrust paved the way for Ian Adamson's cross to be turned in by Lee Elder. In a free-flowing game, Rovers were soon level when Bryan McKiddie finished off a slick free-kick routine. But Halkirk went in at half-time 3-1 up thanks to an audacious 40-yard free kick netted by Bremner and a cracking 25-yard volley from Graham Swanson.
Good work by Colin Sinclair should have enabled Lee Lyall to reduce the deficit but he failed to do so.
On the hour mark, Halkirk made the game safe when Stevie Elder stepped up to find the top corner with a precision free kick. Stevie Reid got one back but it was too little, too late.
Groats and Keiss, who meet on Wednesday, are making the running in the second division.
Mark Sheppard struck twice as the Wick men cruised to a 6-1 home victory over Ashes. Andrew Cumming also helped himself to a double, with Kyle Ross and Gregg Shearer getting the others.
Keiss ran riot in the second half of their visit to Lybster. Keiss edged the first game 1-0 but they returned from their trip down the coast buoyed by a thumping 10-1 victory.
Another close contest looked in store in a competitive first half. Peter Niwa put Keiss in front at the interval after Lybster's Terry Elder had cancelled out Ben Taylor's opener for the visitors. However, Lybster's cause was hit by the early sending-off of central defender Dave Lewis-Saunders for a rash challenge.
Keiss had to wait until the 62nd minute for their third, but after that they scored with just about every attack. The goals were well spread about, with Niwa getting a second and Gordon Steven also netting twice, one from the penalty spot. The scoring was completed by Gordon Rosie, Greg Simpson, Grant MacNab, Graham MacNab and a Roddy Mackay own goal.
Halkirk later battled their way to their third win in a week when they progressed to the last four of the Eain Mackintosh Cup with a 2-1 success at home to John O'Groats.
Neil Mackay's men had to recover from an inauspicious start in which they had a man sent off after falling behind.
Home keeper Stuart McCulloch had already pulled off a fine save when his side conceded from a corner.
The delivery from Stuart Sinclair (the elder) was contested in the air by John O'Groats' Derek Munro and Halkirk's Michael Henderson. The latter's looping header ensured that the defender's first goal since joining his new club came at the wrong end.
Life got tougher for Halkirk midway through the half following Stevie Elder's dismissal for a petulant kick he aimed at Sinclair. But the 10 men dug in and struck twice in the closing minutes of the first half to take the lead.
Lee Elder and Ian Adamson did the spadework for Graham Swanson to level with an unconvincing strike past Shaun Henderson. Then the aftermath to a free kick ended with Lee Mackay and Stevie Campbell giving Lee Elder the opportunity to round the keeper and side-foot home.
John O'Groats failed to make their numerical advantage count in a highly-charged second half in which the best two chances fell late on to Halkirk substitute Russell Bain.
Ashes were well and truly put to the sword by Swifts. The gulf between the sides soon became apparent and any semblance of a contest at Ormlie was quickly dispelled.
Eight-one down at the interval, George MacKenzie's troops eventually lost 14-2.
Nigel MacKenzie (4), Mark Nichol (3), James Mill (2) and Willie Steven (2) were the principal goal-getters. Veterans Iain Elder and James Mackay added singles, together with an own goal from Dougie Gunn.
John McGill and Andrew McKie replied for Ashes.
Swifts now face a much more testing assignment in the last four, at home to Castletown.
Castletown completed a quick league-and-cup double against visitors Rovers in their quarter-final on Monday evening.
After a goalless first half, the villagers struck first through Alan Farquhar. Rovers levelled after Alan Sinclair – playing in an emergency striking role – was fouled in the box by Stuart Florence and he recovered to convert the spot-kick.
Within a couple of minutes, Castletown were back in front when Farquhar was on hand to rifle home after visiting keeper Ryan Robertson had parried a shot from a corner.
Rovers were killed off when an injury-time strike by Murray Mackay made it 3-1.
The other quarter-final between Pentland United and Top Joe's, as well as two division one matches scheduled for Wednesday night, were cancelled because of lying water on pitches.
*Caithness will do well if half its eight-strong representation survive into the third round of the MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup.
Tomorrow's action involves one county derby where Castletown will start as favourites to get the better of Wick Thistle. It is one of three games going on in Wick, with Groats and Rovers facing Ross-shire and Orkney opposition respectively.
Swifts face a tricky tie away to Golspie Stafford, while Pentland United travel for their first encounter with Mid Lairg United.
John O'Groats entertain Kirkwall Rovers, while Ashes are sure to enjoy their away day on the west coast where they face Gairloch.
Fixtures: Tomorrow (Saturday) – MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, second round (3.00 unless otherwise stated): Gairloch Aultbea United v Ashes; Golspie Stafford v Thurso Swifts; John O'Groats v Kirkwall Rovers (2.00); Mid Lairg United v Pentland United; Wick Groats v Contin (Upper Bignold); Wick Rovers v St Andrews (Upper Bignold 12.00); Wick Thistle v Castletown (Harmsworth Park).
Monday (7.30) – Division One: Castletown v Thurso Pentland; Pentland United v Wick Thistle.
Wednesday (7.30) – Division One: Castletown v Acks; Thurso Pentland v Halkirk. Division Two: Keiss v Wick Groats; Ashes v Top Joe's.
Thursday (7.30) – Division One: Rovers v Pentland United; Wick Thistle v John O'Groats.
Results – County League, Division One: Halkirk 4, Wick Rovers 2; Thurso Pentland 0, Castletown 8. Division Two: Lybster 1, Keiss 10; Wick Groats 6, Ashes 1.
Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-finals: Ashes 2, Swifts 14; Castletown 3, Wick Rovers 1; Halkirk 2, John O'Groats 1.
By Iain Grant - iain-grant@ukf.net
Published: 01 June, 2007
CASTLETOWN are shaping up well in their bid to land the County League title for the first time in 18 years. The first division's only unbeaten side moved up to join Pentland United at the top after an 8-0 thrashing of Thurso Pentland at the Dammies.
The evergreen Colin MacLeod grabbed two, as did Chris Sutherland. Scott Manson scored the pick of the bunch, with Gary Calder, Pher Nicolson and Stuart Florence also on target.
Halkirk's 4-2 home win against Wick Rovers helped them move up a place into fourth. They struck first after Michael Bremner's initial thrust paved the way for Ian Adamson's cross to be turned in by Lee Elder. In a free-flowing game, Rovers were soon level when Bryan McKiddie finished off a slick free-kick routine. But Halkirk went in at half-time 3-1 up thanks to an audacious 40-yard free kick netted by Bremner and a cracking 25-yard volley from Graham Swanson.
Good work by Colin Sinclair should have enabled Lee Lyall to reduce the deficit but he failed to do so.
On the hour mark, Halkirk made the game safe when Stevie Elder stepped up to find the top corner with a precision free kick. Stevie Reid got one back but it was too little, too late.
Groats and Keiss, who meet on Wednesday, are making the running in the second division.
Mark Sheppard struck twice as the Wick men cruised to a 6-1 home victory over Ashes. Andrew Cumming also helped himself to a double, with Kyle Ross and Gregg Shearer getting the others.
Keiss ran riot in the second half of their visit to Lybster. Keiss edged the first game 1-0 but they returned from their trip down the coast buoyed by a thumping 10-1 victory.
Another close contest looked in store in a competitive first half. Peter Niwa put Keiss in front at the interval after Lybster's Terry Elder had cancelled out Ben Taylor's opener for the visitors. However, Lybster's cause was hit by the early sending-off of central defender Dave Lewis-Saunders for a rash challenge.
Keiss had to wait until the 62nd minute for their third, but after that they scored with just about every attack. The goals were well spread about, with Niwa getting a second and Gordon Steven also netting twice, one from the penalty spot. The scoring was completed by Gordon Rosie, Greg Simpson, Grant MacNab, Graham MacNab and a Roddy Mackay own goal.
Halkirk later battled their way to their third win in a week when they progressed to the last four of the Eain Mackintosh Cup with a 2-1 success at home to John O'Groats.
Neil Mackay's men had to recover from an inauspicious start in which they had a man sent off after falling behind.
Home keeper Stuart McCulloch had already pulled off a fine save when his side conceded from a corner.
The delivery from Stuart Sinclair (the elder) was contested in the air by John O'Groats' Derek Munro and Halkirk's Michael Henderson. The latter's looping header ensured that the defender's first goal since joining his new club came at the wrong end.
Life got tougher for Halkirk midway through the half following Stevie Elder's dismissal for a petulant kick he aimed at Sinclair. But the 10 men dug in and struck twice in the closing minutes of the first half to take the lead.
Lee Elder and Ian Adamson did the spadework for Graham Swanson to level with an unconvincing strike past Shaun Henderson. Then the aftermath to a free kick ended with Lee Mackay and Stevie Campbell giving Lee Elder the opportunity to round the keeper and side-foot home.
John O'Groats failed to make their numerical advantage count in a highly-charged second half in which the best two chances fell late on to Halkirk substitute Russell Bain.
Ashes were well and truly put to the sword by Swifts. The gulf between the sides soon became apparent and any semblance of a contest at Ormlie was quickly dispelled.
Eight-one down at the interval, George MacKenzie's troops eventually lost 14-2.
Nigel MacKenzie (4), Mark Nichol (3), James Mill (2) and Willie Steven (2) were the principal goal-getters. Veterans Iain Elder and James Mackay added singles, together with an own goal from Dougie Gunn.
John McGill and Andrew McKie replied for Ashes.
Swifts now face a much more testing assignment in the last four, at home to Castletown.
Castletown completed a quick league-and-cup double against visitors Rovers in their quarter-final on Monday evening.
After a goalless first half, the villagers struck first through Alan Farquhar. Rovers levelled after Alan Sinclair – playing in an emergency striking role – was fouled in the box by Stuart Florence and he recovered to convert the spot-kick.
Within a couple of minutes, Castletown were back in front when Farquhar was on hand to rifle home after visiting keeper Ryan Robertson had parried a shot from a corner.
Rovers were killed off when an injury-time strike by Murray Mackay made it 3-1.
The other quarter-final between Pentland United and Top Joe's, as well as two division one matches scheduled for Wednesday night, were cancelled because of lying water on pitches.
*Caithness will do well if half its eight-strong representation survive into the third round of the MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup.
Tomorrow's action involves one county derby where Castletown will start as favourites to get the better of Wick Thistle. It is one of three games going on in Wick, with Groats and Rovers facing Ross-shire and Orkney opposition respectively.
Swifts face a tricky tie away to Golspie Stafford, while Pentland United travel for their first encounter with Mid Lairg United.
John O'Groats entertain Kirkwall Rovers, while Ashes are sure to enjoy their away day on the west coast where they face Gairloch.
Fixtures: Tomorrow (Saturday) – MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup, second round (3.00 unless otherwise stated): Gairloch Aultbea United v Ashes; Golspie Stafford v Thurso Swifts; John O'Groats v Kirkwall Rovers (2.00); Mid Lairg United v Pentland United; Wick Groats v Contin (Upper Bignold); Wick Rovers v St Andrews (Upper Bignold 12.00); Wick Thistle v Castletown (Harmsworth Park).
Monday (7.30) – Division One: Castletown v Thurso Pentland; Pentland United v Wick Thistle.
Wednesday (7.30) – Division One: Castletown v Acks; Thurso Pentland v Halkirk. Division Two: Keiss v Wick Groats; Ashes v Top Joe's.
Thursday (7.30) – Division One: Rovers v Pentland United; Wick Thistle v John O'Groats.
Results – County League, Division One: Halkirk 4, Wick Rovers 2; Thurso Pentland 0, Castletown 8. Division Two: Lybster 1, Keiss 10; Wick Groats 6, Ashes 1.
Eain Mackintosh Cup, quarter-finals: Ashes 2, Swifts 14; Castletown 3, Wick Rovers 1; Halkirk 2, John O'Groats 1.