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Champions leave it late with Steven’s stoppage-time winner





Michael Steven, in action here against Staxigoe United last season, got the winner for Pentland United on Wednesday night. Picture: James Gunn
Michael Steven, in action here against Staxigoe United last season, got the winner for Pentland United on Wednesday night. Picture: James Gunn

Pentland United co-manager Michael Gray acknowledged there was “a degree of getting out of jail” after the reigning champions had to rely on a last-gasp goal to take all three points in their opening fixture of the 2025 county league season.

After a goalless first half in Wednesday’s Caithness AFA Division One clash at Ham Park, Sean Campbell put the Stabbies in front but Connor Macleod’s equaliser looked to have earned a point for Castletown. However, Michael “Joe” Steven made it 2-1 deep in stoppage time with a header in the aftermath of a corner.

“There were were a lot of people in and around him but he rose highest and thankfully for us he managed to find the net,” Gray said.

“He’s happy to put his head in where most people wouldn’t put their feet in. He’s a big, strong lad and he managed to get himself in front of everybody.

“He’s very powerful, and he’s also an effective motivator on the park.”

Gray reckons Tom McKenna’s Castletown side could do well this season.

“At the start the objective was to get three points but it wasn’t our best performance,” Gray said. “Maybe there was a degree of getting out of jail a little bit, but Castletown are a decent side.

“They’ve got good experience at the back and they’ve added a couple of Inverness guys who are up here working – good players as well.

“Tom has been around the game long enough now to know how to set his teams up.”

Wick Thistle, aiming for a quick return to the top flight, also left it late as they began with a 3-0 away victory over Swifts. All the goals came in the last five minutes, from Jamie Steven (2) and Jayden Bremner.

Elsewhere in Division Two, Thurso Pentland – who picked up a solitary point last summer – began the 2025 campaign with a morale-boosting 1-0 win at Halkirk. Jay Foubister got the goal.

Ian Smith is sharing co-manager duties at Pentland with Liam Forbes.

“It was a great start,” Smith said. “We’re delighted with the effort the boys have put in pre-season, and getting a couple of more experienced bodies in has helped too.

“I’m buzzing for the boys as they have stuck together through harder times. But it’s only one game and we have to keep up that type of performance in every game and get the focus on to the next match now.”

Pentland will come up against Halkirk again in the first round of the Stannergill Cup at the end of this month.

Acks got their promotion quest under way with a 2-0 win at Watten on Tuesday. New signing Ebi Ambakederemo was on target along with Olaf Taylor.

High Ormlie had a thumping 5-1 victory over Staxigoe United in Wick in Division One.

Six sides from Caithness are involved in Highland Amateur Cup preliminary round ties on Saturday.

Results – Tuesday – Division One: John O’Groats 0, Wick Groats 6; Staxigoe United 1, High Ormlie Hotspur 5. Division Two: Watten 0, Acks 2.

Wednesday – Division One: Keiss 2, Lybster 4; Pentland United 2, Castletown 1. Division Two: Halkirk 0, Thurso Pentland 1; Swifts 0, Wick Thistle 3.

Fixtures – Saturday, April 19 – Highland Amateur Cup, north section, preliminary round (ties involving Caithness clubs): Golspie Stafford v John O’Groats; High Ormlie Hotspur v Castletown; Staxigoe United v Keiss; Thurso Swifts v Inver (3pm).

Tuesday, April 22 – Division One: Castletown v Keiss; Lybster v High Ormlie Hotspur; Wick Groats v Staxigoe United (6.45pm). Division Two: Acks v Swifts (6.45pm).

Wednesday, April 23 – Division One: John O’Groats v Pentland United (6.45pm). Division Two: Top Joe’s v Watten; Wick Thistle v Halkirk (6.45pm).

Friday, April 25 – Division One: Staxigoe United v Lybster (6.45pm).


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