Thurso Swifts vs Avoch - Highland Amateur Cup

Thurso Swifts played Avoch in the 2nd round of the Highland Amateur Cup at the Dammies today. I missed the first 10 mins and by then Avoch had already scored. Steven Morris equalised with Swifts' only real attack of the first half when he lashed the ball home from the edge of the box mid way through the first half. Avoch had all the play and scorned plenty of chances in the first half, but had no composure in front of goal.

 I left at half-time to catch the Castletown vs Kirkwall Thorfinn match. Avoch won 3-1.

Castletown vs Kirkwall Thorfinn _ Highland Amateur Cup

Castletown celebrations after equalising in extra time

David McGill scores his penalty - just!

Lee Kirk nearly saves a penalty

Paul Bain saves Steven MacDonald's penalty

In the 2nd round of the Highland Amateur Cup Kirkwall Thorfinn beat Castletown 4-2 on penalties at Back Park, Castletown. It was 1-1 at full-time and 2-2 after extra time.

Castletown got the perfect start with a penalty after only 2mins. Kirkwall equalised after 15mins with a cracking free-kick. From then on it was one way traffic with Kirkwall well on top for the rest of the match. Only the brilliance of Castletown keeper Lee Kirk kept the score level. He had made plenty of saves, but two were top drawer. A 25 yard screamer was heading for the postage stamp corner until Kirk got his fingertips to it. A flashing header from 6 yards was turned round the post as Kirk made a full length dive to his far post. In extra time he made two more cracking diving saves.

Kirkwall striker Jerry McBeth scored in the first half of extra time with a cracking 30 yard drive that went in off the post. Castletown piled on the pressure in the 2nd half of extra time and scored with 5 mins left when the ball bounced loose in the box and was lashed home (not sure who scored.)

Kirkwall scored all their 4 penalties, but Martyn Campbell missed and Steven MacDonald missed the vital one that started the Kirkwall celebrations.

Insignia Elite CDTi

After washing and polishing my car, I decide to take some pics at sunset and managed to catch the reflection.

Sarah Henderson - Scottish Champion Shooter

Sarah Henderson of Watten Rifle Club has won the Scottish 50m Prone Championship with a British record score of 620.2/654. Sarah is in the Scottish High Performance Squad and is aiming to be a member of the Commonwealth Games Scottish Shooting team and then in September she hopes to be part of the British team in the World Championships.

Snapped a few pics while she was getting some practice by dry firing at home.

Pentland Utd vs Wick Groats (2-0)

Luckasz Geruzel's shot is blocked

Michael Petrie's shot is blocked

Luckasz Geruzel grabs Gavin Sinclair

John Skinner tackles Graham MacNab

Sandy Sutherland shoots past Garry MacLeod

Marc Begg is congratulated on scoring the 1st

Luckasz Geruzel scores

Luckasz Geruzel celebrates

Shane Kennedy shoots over

Stewart Ross fires in a cross

Pentland Utd hit top form by beating league champions Wick Groats 2-0 at Ham Park tonight in front of a large crowd. Marc Begg opened the scoring after 50mins with an angled shot that went in off the post. Luckasz Geruzel slotted past Graeme Williamson after 60mins.

Groats had good chances in the first half but Michael Gray made 3 good saves. Utd were on top in the 2nd half with the wind and the slope behind them. Tempers flared between the two dugouts midway through the 2nd half and one (maybe two) team official was sent to the dressing room. It was a tough match with plenty of bookings for bad tackles, but no red cards.

Trina Gulliver MBE - World Darts Champion

The Seaview Hotel in John O'Groats hosted a darts exhibition on 23rd May with the England Captain and 9 times Ladies World Champion, Trina "Golden Girl" Gulliver MBE. Internationalists Sue Gulliver and Zoe Jones also travelled to take part.

16 challenge matches took place, with a mixture of singles and doubles playing one game of 501 and 701 respectively. With an informal relaxed atmosphere, a few of the local darts players won their games, including young Scott Crowden. The last match saw Trina left with a 150 checkout and she scored bull, bull and 25 to just miss out on a sensational finish.

The evening ended with an impromptu highland dancing session for the trio of guests and a hilarious question and answer session which young Zoe Jones will not forget in a hurry!