Thurso Acks vs John O'Groats (3-2)

Jack Halliday battles his way through

Acks striker Murray Mackintosh tries to outpace James Harris

An unmarked Paul Wares heads his side into a 2-1 lead

Jimmy Budge fires a shot over the bar

Jimmy Budge with a spectacular volley

Stuart W Sinclair shields the ball from Scott Bell and Steven Sinclair

Marc MacGregor squeezes the ball into the net past two defenders

Acks goalie Neal Clark saves a shot from Marc MacGregor

Murray Mackintosh watches his freekick just go wide

Thurso Acks beat John O'Groats 3-2 at the Dammies last night in a cracking match. It was a good advert for Caithness summer football with sunny weather, good competitive action, great goals and no aggro.

JOG opened the scoring early in the first half, against the run of play, with a blistering shot by Jimmy Budge from 20 yards. Acks equalised with a short corner played to Steven Sinclair. Everyone was expecting a  cross, including me, but Steven blasted a low shot into the corner for a cracking goal.

Acks took the lead late in the first half. Some good play to the line resulted in a chip over the goalie and defenders to the head of Paul Wares at the back post. He had a simple job of nodding the ball in the unguarded net.

Half-time 2-1 to Acks. JOG equalised early in the 2nd half when the ball bounced around the six yard box and it hit Marc MacGregor last of all and somehow the ball squeezed past two defenders on the line.  Acks came roaring back and mid-way through the half, Paul Wares broke free to smash a cracking volley in off the bar.

The last 20 mins was end-to-end stuff, but no more goals. JOG remain league leaders, but if Wick Groats beat Thurso Pentland tonight, they will be in top spot by a point.

Other scores:

Pentland Utd 5-0 Halkirk
Staxigoe Utd 3-0 Swifts

The league table can be seen on the CAFA website:

http://www.caithnessafa.co.uk/