Caithness Amateur Sevens Football League - Week 16

Submitted by Ian Nicol

16th January 2002

Week 16 of the RMC sponsored 7 a side league and the headlines are:
Groats keep pressure on Ashes as title race goes to the wire.

John O'Groats made sure their was no celebrations for Ashes last night in rain swept Naver with a fine 4-1 victory over Pentlands. An early goal from Stuart Sinclair settled Groats nerves and they never looked back.
Sinclair made it 2 shortly before half time. Andy Webster then made it 3 before Andy Bain pulled one back for Pentlands. Mark Robertson secured the points late on for Groats. Groats are now the form team having won their last 4 games scoring 20 goals in the process.

Earlier on we saw Acks take on Crazy Gang in the 6 o'clock match. Acks scored after only 40 seconds when Malcolm Morris wasn't picked up and nodded home from a Mackay cross. Rick Cammish equalised for The Gang before half time. In the second half an Andrew Taylor double saw The Gang race into a 3-1 lead before goals by Jamie MacKay and Gary Moar drew Acks level. Charlie Elder then scored the goal of the night with a clever flick to regain the lead for Crazy Gang before Andrew Taylor completed his hat trick
with a fine drive to make it 5.

Castletown and Thistle both played a cagey game as conditions continued to play a part in proceedings. Donald Forbes gave Castletown the lead just before half time. Thistle searched for an equaliser in the second half and Ian Murray duly obliged. With second left it looked like a draw was on the cards but Castletown's Stuart MacKenzie had other ideas and netted from the tightest of angles after rounding the keeper

Top Joes and Co-op fought for the dubious honour of finishing bottom and it was Joes who where celebrating. An early goal from Kevin Byrne gave them the lead which they held until half time. The rainy conditions didn't help as both teams struggled against the
elements. When David Keith knocked in a second it was all over. Co-op as usual didn't
give up and were unlucky not to score. There was one booking, Co-ops Bobby McRobberts for deliberate handball .

Workshops knew only a victory over Ashes would keep them in the hunt and the duly took the game to the league leaders. Both sides came close in the early skirmishes but it was Jamie MacKay who gave Workshops the lead after only 10 minutes finishing of a sweeping move. There were chance aplenty for both sides but keepers Manson and Powell where both on their toes. In the second half Ashes with the wind took a stranglehold early on but couldn't make the breakthrough hitting both the bar and post twice. At the other end Workshops were dangerous and only the bravery of keeper
Manson kept Ashes in the match. The next goal was crucial and it fell to Ashes. Mike Macleod broke free and keeper Powell did well to parry his drive but the ball fell kindly to Terry MacKay who gleefully swept the ball home. In the end a draw was the fair result for both sides.

Acks and Pentlands have agreed to accept a 0-0 draw instead of replaying the match held over from November 20th which was abandoned after Ally Fraser broke his leg.

An item of jewellery was handed in to secretary Ian Nicol. Anyone wishing to claim it can contact him on 895957.

The draw for the next cup competition sponsored by Ormlie Motors was made last night (Thursday). Details will appear in next weeks Courier??

Tonights scores

Acks 3 Crazy Gang 5
Co-op 0 Top Joes 2
Castletown 2 Thistle 1
Pentland 1 John O'Groats 4
Ashes 1 Workshops 1

Top Scorers

Only 1 of the top 5 scored this week, Stuart MacKenzie who increases his lead with 2 games remaining.

Stuart MacKenzie (Castletown) 24
Chris Dunnett (Ashes) 21
Sean Henstridge (JOG) 17
Terry Cannop (Thistle) 16
Dougie MacKay (Workshops) 16
Andrew Taylor (Crazy Gang) 15

next weeks fixtures

6 o'clock kick off
Top Joes v Crazy Gang
7 o'clock kick off
Thistle v Acks
Workshops v John O'Groats
8 o'clock kick off
Castletown v Ashes
Co-op v Pentlands