Caithness Amateur Sevens Football League - Week 12

Submitted by Ian Nicol

5th December 2001

Week 12 of the RMC sponsored sevens and the headlines are:

Co-op's endeavour pays big dividends at last.

Co-op were sensationally only 1 minute from defeating last seasons champs Acks in last nights fixture. The first half ended goalless but when Kevin Cowie put Co-op in front the alarm bells started ringing. Ronnie Campbell in goals for Co-op was having a vintage display as Acks swamped the Co-op defence. He was only beaten in the last minute when Malcolm Maurice scored direct from a free kick. Co-op trialist Mark Esson was booked for a sliding tackle and Alex Macdonald of Acks was sent off for violent conduct in the same incident. MacDonald is suspended for the next 3 matches and misses the games against Workshops, Ashes and John O'Groats.

The first game this evening started brightly for high flying Workshops and Dougie MacKay put them in front against Top Joes. Bruce Cormack levelled things for Joes and Ian Smith put them in front at half time. Workshops with the wind soon levelled through Dougie Mackay and Graham Carle made it three shortly after, with a cracking volley. Further goals from Niall Murray (2) and MacKay for his hat trick made it 6. Ian Smith of Joes was yellow carded for a persistent fouling.

A mix up in the Pentland defence gifted Castletown the first goal last night when Stuart MacKenzie took advantage of the slip up. Pentland realising a win was a must bravely took the game to Castletown and Anson Robertson levelled things shortly after. Further goals by Robertson & Darren MacKay ensured the 3 points for Pentlands to keep them in the title race.

John O'Groats with the wind advantage attacked Ashes and Sean Hens ridge opened the scoring with a cracking shot from 15 yards. Groats then packed the defence to deny Ashes space relying on Henstridge's pace up front. Ashes pushed forward and Andrew Lannon nipped in to equalise after good lead up work from Terry MacKay just before half time. In the second half Chris Dunnett scored with a wonder strike to give Ashes the lead and when Dave Stockan made it 3 Groats wilted. Further goals from Stockan, Dunnett and Daniel Mackay made it 6 on the night for Ashes. Brian Cormack of Groats received a yellow card for dissent.

Thistle where involved in another ding dong battle against Crazy Gang in the last fixture this evening. Four times they took the lead through Terry Cannop (2) and Alan Tait (2) only for The Gang to level through Andrew Taylor, Rick Camish, and 2 by Rory Paterson. Taylor scored again for The Gang to give them the lead and Paterson completed his hat trick to make it 6. Thistle's Calum MacCalpine was booked for dissent.

Tonights results

Workshops 6 Top Joes 2
Acks 1 Co-op 1
Castletown 1 Pentland 3
Ashes 6 JOG 1
Thistle 4 Crazy Gang 6

Top Scorers

Dougie MacKay (Workshops) 18
Chris Dunnett (Ashes) 18
Stuart Mackenzie (Castletown) 15
Sean Henstridge (Groats) 13

Next weeks fixtures

6 o'clock kick off
Top Joes v Pentland

7 o'clock kick off
Acks v Workshops
Crazy Gang v John O'Groats

8 o'clock kick off
Castletown v Co-op
Thistle v Ashes

Update -

The match between Dounreay Workshops and Thurso Thistle played on 27th November will have to be replayed.

This is following a protest from Thistle that Workshops had eight players on the park.
The date of the replayed fixture will be decided this week.