Halkirk vs Wick Groats (2-3)

Alan Hughes fires in a cross

Sandy Sutherland and Gavin Swanson

Paul MacKay tackles Martin Sutherland

James MacKay fires in a cross as Ian MacKay closes in

Graeme Gunn whips the ball away from Sandy Sutherland

Ian MacKay fires a shot just over the bar

Alan Hughes outstrips Matthew MacKay on his way to scoring the 2nd

Alan Hughes scores the 2nd goal

Groats' striker Stewart Ross unleashes a shot as Stevie Blackwood closes in

The first round of the Colin MacLeod memorial cup was played this week. Wick Groats travelled to Halkirk tonight and came away with a tight 3-2 victory. I caught the first half and Groats led 2-1.

The Wick team was filled with players from the North Caledonian winter League, but Halkirk more than matched them with a mixture of youngsters and old hands. David Blackwood (well past his 40th birthday) was playing at left back and his son Stevie was at right back.

Groats scored after 10 mins when Sandy Sutherland volleyed a low cross into the roof of the net from only 6 yards out. Paul Mackay equalised after 40mins with a cracking left foot shot from the edge of the box. Groats replied immediately and Alan Hughes received a defence splitting pass and cooly slotted the ball past Iain Miller.

Halkirk Team:
Iain Miller
Stevie Blackwood
David Blackwood
Gavin Swanson
Graeme Gunn
Paul Mackay
Michael Bremner
Ian Mackay
Ruari McCartney
Lee Elder
Matthew Mackay

Wick Groats team:

Graeme Miller
Jordan Howden
Sean Stewart
Alan Sinclair
Gavin Sinclair
Martin Sutherland
James MacKay
Grant MacNab
Stewart Ross
Alan Hughes
Sandy Sutherland

Other scores

John O'Groats 10-0 Keiss
Top Joes 0-8 Pentland Utd
FS Club 6-3 Watten
Thurso Pentland 0-3 Lybster
Staxigoe 3-0 Swifts
Castletown 7-0 Wick Thistle
High Ormlie Hotspur 0-3 Acks