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Pentland United co-manager Michael Gray applauded John O’Groats’ team spirit and work ethic after the Stabbies came from behind to win 2-1 at Folke Park on Tuesday night.
Kevin Swanson’s goal had the home side in front at half-time but Andy Mackay hit a double for the champions to keep them in a strong position in the Caithness AFA Division One title race.
Gray felt it had been a “flat performance” by United but he praised their opponents’ attitude.
“When you go to John O’Groats, the one thing you know you’ll get is a team full of effort and full of desire,” he said.
“They’re well organised, they work really hard, they’ve got a good team spirit and they made it really difficult for us.
“We didn’t play particularly well. I didn’t think that we used the ball as well as we have done in recent games.
“I felt we were a bit pedestrian and we lacked that energy around the park.
“But credit to John O’Groats. They’ve maybe not had the greatest start to the season, but with the endeavour and work ethic they showed they’ll certainly give any team a game.
“It was quite a flat performance by our group – we lacked a bit of spark.
“But sometimes you get nights like that and you’ve got to grind out the victories. You’ve got to give them a little bit of credit for that too.”
John O’Groats co-manager Mark Robertson said: “Our performance was exactly what we have been asking of our lads. We kept our shape and made it difficult for them to break us down, and we played good counter-attacking football.
“Based on our performance a draw would have been a fair result, but we’ll dust ourselves down and regroup for the next game now.”
Elsewhere in Division One, there was a repeat of Saturday’s Highland Amateur Cup scoreline at Morrison Park as High Ormlie Hotspur picked up another 3-1 victory over Thurso Acks.
Stuart Campbell’s opener for Spurs was cancelled out by David Hale. Mark Munro then struck twice to give High Ormlie all three points.
Results – Highland Amateur Cup, first round (north section): Castletown 2, Lairg Rovers 2 (Castletown won 3-2 on penalties); Golspie Stafford 7, Invergordon 3; Inver 3, Lochinver 2; Helmsdale United 1, Staxigoe United 2; High Ormlie Hotspur 3, Thurso Acks 1; Lochbroom 0, Wick Groats 5; Thurso Pentland 2, Keiss 8; Wick Thistle 3, Top Joe’s 0.
CAFA Division One: High Ormlie Hotspur 3, Acks 1; John O’Groats 1, Pentland United 2. Division Two: Keiss 3, Swifts 3; Lybster 2, Watten 0.
Fixtures: Wednesday, May 17 – Division One: Castletown v Staxigoe United; Wick Groats v Wick Thistle. Division Two: Thurso Pentland v Top Joe’s (all 7.15pm).
Saturday, May 20 – Alan Farquhar Testimonial: Wick Academy v SPL Legends (2pm).
Monday, May 22 – CAFA Division One: Keiss v Thurso Pentland; Swifts v Lybster; Watten v Top Joe’s (all 7.15pm).
Tuesday, May 23 – Colin Macleod Memorial Cup, semi-finals: Pentland United v Wick Groats; Wick Thistle v John O’Groats (both 7pm).
Highland Amateur Cup second-round draw: Ardersier v Avoch; Barra v Stromness Athletic; Black Rock Rovers v Back; Castletown v Lerwick Celtic; Clachnacuddin U20 v Stornoway Athletic; Dounby Athletic v Harris; Ferrybache v Inver; Fortrose and Rosemarkie Union v Conon Bridge; Golspie Stafford v Ness United; Keiss v Carloway; Kirkwall Hotspurs v High Ormlie Hotspur; Lerwick Spurs v Gellions; Loch Ness Amateurs v Iochdar Saints; Mallaig v North West Skye; Staxigoe United v Inverness Athletic Amateurs; Wick Groats v Wick Thistle (ties to be played on Saturday, June 3).