Lybster players praised for digging deep in comeback win at Keiss
Lybster manager Cameron Mackenzie praised his players for the character they showed in coming from behind to beat newly promoted Keiss 4-2 at Bayview Park on Wednesday night.
It was a harsh lesson for the home side in their first Caithness AFA top-flight fixture for 17 years as their 2-0 interval lead was wiped out by four Lybster goals in the closing 20 minutes.
“It’s brilliant to win a game like that,” Mackenzie said. “I’d rather it was a bit easier in terms of being more straightforward, but they all count the same.
“It was quite an even game. We had our chances – we just weren’t taking them in the first half.
“The boys dug deep, they showed really good character to keep going right until that last kick of the game. I’m delighted with all of them.
“It should give the boys a lot of belief now going into the next few weeks that they’re capable of turning games round like that.
“We’ll just take it game by game. We’ve got High Ormlie Hotspur [at home] on Tuesday and they’re a really good side, but we’ll do what we can.”
Keiss opened the scoring on 26 minutes when Sean Campbell headed in from a corner.
It seemed all was going to plan for last year’s second division champions when William Mackay doubled their lead with a free kick after 37 minutes.
A thumping shot by Greg Mackay reduced the deficit with 72 minutes gone and substitute Bobby Gunn fired in an 86th-minute equaliser.
Lybster were not finished – far from it. Lewis Gill nipped in to score against his former club with one minute of the 90 remaining, then Gunn added his second of the night with a stoppage-time penalty.
Keiss manager Bradley Thomson said: “Obviously we’re down about that, being 2-0 up and then you just throw it away.
“There’s not much you can say about that apart from we’ve got to keep the ball better when we’re winning.
“At this level, if you don't keep the ball properly you're going to give away goals. We just tired and lost all composure.
“They’ve got a really good team there and a lot of depth on their bench. They’re going to do well.”
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).