Golspie Stafford are looking to become the first Sutherland club to win Highland Amateur Cup
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GOLSPIE Stafford are looking to do something no football team from Sutherland has done before and win the Highland Amateur Cup.
They are the last remaining North West Sutherland League team in the competition as they prepare to face Caithness First Division club High Ormlie Hotspur in the quarter-finals at Stafford Park tomorrow.
The club caused a huge shock in the previous round after thrashing Evanton outfit Black Rock Rovers, who were top of the Inverness and District Premier League at the time, 5-2 in the previous round.
Black Rock Rovers were considered among the frontrunners to win the tournament at the start of the competition, leaving people stunned by the scoreline.
Now many people are considering Stafford have the quality required to win the competition.
Manager Ewen Campbell says his team will be missing key players for the clash.
He hopes the match will draw a big crowd to cheer them on to keep the club and the county’s hopes alive of a team from Sutherland winning the competition for the first time.
“We go into the game without three experienced players – Blair Duncan, Adam Sutherland and James Macrae [are] all unavailable due to a wedding and injuries – which makes the game even more difficult,” he said.
“Stafford will have Sam Mackay and Mark Mackenzie back in the squad.
“We are expecting a good crowd along to Stafford Park to cheer on the boys in a huge game.”
Golspie Stafford are the only Sutherland team to have reached the final of the Highland Amateur Cup.
In 2010, they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Dunnet club Pentland United, who hold the record for most wins in the competition with eight titles.
Campbell was manager of the team when they got to the semi finals in 2002, 2008 and 2013 as well as reaching the final in 2010. They lost each of those matches by one goal.
Golspie Stafford’s route to the quarter-finals started in the preliminary round when they defeated Caithness Second Division outfit Castletown 3-2.
They then recorded an impressive 3-2 win over Caithness First Division outfit Thurso Acks before thrashing Inverness and District Second Division club Fortrose and Rosemarkie Union 6-0.
Last month, Stafford came from a goal down to thrash Black Rock Rovers 5-2.
If Golspie Stafford beat High Ormlie Hotspur tomorrow, they will face Caithness First Division outfit and Highland Amateur Cup holders Wick Groats or Inverness Premier Division outfit IRN Security in the semi-final.
In the other quarter-finals tomorrow, Ness face Avoch in Lewis, with Stromness Athletic scheduled to take on Pentland United in Orkney.
The match between Golspie Stafford and High Ormlie takes place at Stafford Park tomorrow at 3pm.
