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Castletown manager Tom McKenna was satisfied with a “workmanlike performance” by his team after they emerged with a point from their Caithness AFA Division One clash with Wick Thistle.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between as it ended goalless at the Upper Bignold Park on Monday night.
“It’s a good point for us,” McKenna said. “We’d have taken a point before we arrived here.
“They’re doing really well and they’ve been up there competing with the top teams
“We thought we’d be disciplined, have a nice shape about us, and try to get them on the counter. That was our thought process – if we can get anything from the game we’ll take it.
“The lads have really committed to what we’re trying to do. It was a workmanlike performance and they’ve all rallied round to see them through the game.”
He added: “I think our retention of the ball could be better. It’s a matter of confidence and composure – I’d like to see them keeping the ball a wee bit better. But we were quite dogged tonight.”
Thistle player/manager Owen Harrold said: “In the first half we just couldn’t get that break. What was happening was we were trying to create the perfect goal. Instead of taking shots when we should have been taking shots, we were just trying to walk the ball into the net.
“That kind of came back to bite us in the second half. In the second half the teams cancelled each other out.
“We had some chances at the end but it was one of those nights when I didn’t think anyone was going to score.
“Kyle [Henderson] has missed the last two games but we had more than enough boys there tonight to get a result.”
Harrold added: “Credit to Castletown – they’re always going to be a hard team to beat and Tom has got them playing good football as well.
“We always knew it was going to be a hard game.”
Keiss shattered Lybster’s unbeaten run in Division Two with an impressive 4-1 victory, with the leaders having two men sent off.
Watten hammered Thurso Pentland 8-1 at the Dammies. There were doubles for Kai Cameron, Steven Hughes and Shane Honeyman, with Brandon Macleod and Scott MacAlpine also on target for the village side.
Pentland’s goal came from Liam Johnston.
Thurso Swifts were 2-1 winners over Top Joe’s at Ormlie.
Pentland United returned to winning ways on Friday with a 2-1 victory over High Ormlie Hotspur.
The Stabbies had lost at home to Wick Groats in the Colin Macleod Memorial Cup semi-finals but they kept their Division One campaign on track as Sam Mackay grabbed the decisive goal at Morrison Park.
Sean Munro’s header had put United in front before Kuba Koziol nodded in the equaliser.
Steven Anderson got all four goals for Wick Groats – including a brilliant overhead kick – as they kept up their own title challenge with a 4-2 success at Castletown. Michael Smith and Connor Macleod scored for the Quarrymen.
Craig Kennedy was the hero for John O’Groats at Folke Park as his goal ended Wick Thistle’s unbeaten start. The 1-0 result gave John O’Groats their first points of the campaign.
Matthew Aitkenhead and Hasheem Bremner each hit a double for Staxigoe United as they came from two goals down to beat Acks 4-2 at the Upper Bignold.
Results – CAFA Division One: Castletown 2, Wick Groats 4; High Ormlie Hotspur 1, Pentland United 2; John O’Groats 1, Wick Thistle 0; Staxigoe United 4, Acks 2; Wick Thistle 0, Castletown 0.
Division Two: Keiss 4, Lybster 1; Top Joe’s 1, Swifts 2; Watten 8, Thurso Pentland 1.
Fixtures: Tuesday, May 30 – Division One: Acks v John O’Groats; Pentland United v Wick Groats; Staxigoe United v High Ormlie Hotspur (all 7.30pm).
Thursday, June 1 – Division Two: Watten v Lybster (7.30pm).
Saturday, June 3 – Highland Amateur Cup, round two, ties involving Caithness clubs: Castletown v Lerwick Celtic (2pm); Keiss v Carloway (at Ullapool, 1pm); Kirkwall Hotspurs v High Ormlie Hotspur (3pm); Wick Groats v Wick Thistle (3pm).
