Lybster hit six but will take it ‘game by game’ on return to top flight
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Manager Cameron Mackenzie insists Lybster will be taking it “game by game” as they readjust to life in the top flight of Caithness summer football.
The village side turned on the style in a 6-3 victory over Wick Thistle at Cow Park on Wednesday, picking up their first points since securing promotion last summer.
Robbie Murray hit a hat-trick as Lybster recovered from the loss of the opening goal from the penalty spot and they were convincing winners.
Mackenzie is not getting carried away, though.
“We’re just looking at it game by game,” he said. “We were quite on the youthful side in the second division last year and it was good enough to carry us through, but we’ve added a few more experienced heads into it and that has definitely helped.
“We wanted to win and that’s exactly what we’ve done, so I was pretty happy with the boys. Grant Kennedy, the sub keeper, stepped up brilliantly after giving away the penalty – he reacted well. A lot of people’s heads would go down from that.
“The whole team did well to react from losing that goal because quite often that can happen and you fall out of the game. It was good resilience to come back from that.
“I’m not looking at where we finish in the league or anything. It’s game to game, our next opponents, are we going to beat them? It’s as simple as that.”
Colin Henstridge’s spot-kick after 17 minutes was cancelled out eight minutes later when Scott MacDonald fired in a low shot following a corner, with Lewis Mackillop possibly getting the last touch.
Gary Weir put Lybster in front on 32 minutes with a powerful header and Murray made it 3-1 eight minutes later with a great shot from the edge of the box.
The Jags pulled one back in first-half stoppage time through Scott Durrand, who was first to react after a shot had been blocked by the keeper.
Murray struck again five minutes into the second half with a composed finish after a superb through ball by Weir.
Bobby Gunn slammed in the fifth around the hour mark after Thistle failed to clear their lines, then Murray hooked the ball in from close range to complete his treble after 73 minutes.
Thistle’s Marc Gunn reduced the deficit with 10 minutes to go, side-footing the ball in from a corner.
There was a question mark over whether the game would go ahead following heavy rain but the pitch was deemed playable.
Wick Thistle chairman Andrew Henderson and assistant manager Martin Gunn were in charge of the Jags as manager Owen Harrold was on duty with Wick Academy.
“People can talk about the pitch but the pitch was heavy for both teams,” Henderson said. “We just weren’t at the races tonight, plain and simple – collectively and individually.
“But it’s only our first game of the season. There’s a long way to go, there will be a lot of twists and turns.
“We can’t take anything away from Lybster. I thought Chuckie [Gary Weir] showed his experience, that he has played at a high level up here, and he’s still doing it in summer football.
“Robbie Murray played for us last season and obviously he has gone to Lybster this season. Robbie is probably another one that could play at a higher level.
“He’s got the physique, he’s got the pace, he’s direct. I would say he’s got the attributes to be a good Highland League player.
“Bobby Gunn put in a shift as well. The three of them complemented each other quite well and it all came off.
“They were obviously hurt having a heavy defeat last week [5-1 to Wick Groats] but we’ll just dust ourselves down and go again in our next game.”
Thistle take on Thurso Pentland under the Harmsworth Park floodlights on Saturday evening in a Highland Amateur Cup preliminary round tie.
Sean Campbell grabbed a late winner for Pentland United as they beat Castletown 2-1 at Back Park on Wednesday.
James Murray had put the Stabbies ahead from the penalty spot before Dylan Alexander equalised for Castletown.
The teams meet again at the same venue this Saturday in a Highland Amateur Cup preliminary round match.
Goals from Aaron Wilson and Kuba Koziol gave High Ormlie Hotspur a 2-0 win at a wet and windy John O’Groats on Tuesday night.
Halkirk made it two wins out of two with another five-star display on their return to the summer football scene. Having beaten Swifts 5-2 in their opening match in Division Two, the village outfit won 5-3 against Top Joe’s at Ormlie on Wednesday.
Alan Larnach hit a hat-trick for Halkirk and Owen Lockhart got the other two. Joe’s scorers were Martin Murray and Jack MacGregor with a double, including a penalty.
Swifts picked up their first three points on Tuesday with a 3-0 win against Watten at the Dammies. Darryn Mackay, Darren Malcolm and Kian Mackay were on target.
CAFA results – Thursday – Division One: Wick Groats 5, Lybster 1. Division Two: Halkirk 5, Swifts 2.
Friday – Division Two: Acks 0, Top Joe’s 0.
Tuesday – Division One: John O’Groats 0, High Ormlie Hotspur 2; Staxigoe United 1, Wick Groats 2. Division Two: Swifts 3, Watten 0.
Wednesday – Division One: Castletown 1, Pentland United 2; Lybster 6, Wick Thistle 3. Division Two: Top Joe’s 3, Halkirk 5.
Fixtures – Saturday – Highland Amateur Cup, preliminary round, north section: Acks v Wick Groats (4pm); Castletown v Pentland United (3pm); John O’Groats v High Ormlie Hotspur (3pm); Thurso Swifts v Helmsdale United (noon); Wick Thistle v Thurso Pentland (7.30pm, Harmsworth Park).
Tuesday, April 23 – CAFA Division One: Castletown v John O'Groats; Pentland United v Lybster; Wick Groats v High Ormlie Hotspur. Division Two: Thurso Pentland v Swifts.
Wednesday, April 24 – Division Two: Halkirk v Keiss; Watten v Top Joe's.
Friday, April 26 – Division One: John O'Groats v Pentland United; Lybster v High Ormlie Hotspur; Wick Thistle v Wick Groats. Division Two: Acks v Swifts (all 6.45pm).
