Football side to tackle Golspie Sutherland in North Caledonian Cup quarter-final clash

While most of the country will be in the grip of Scottish Cup second round fever, the Shetland football team travel to Thurso again this weekend to face Golspie Sutherland in the North Caledonian Cup quarter-finals.

Shetland made their way through the preliminary round by way of a nail-biting win on penalties over hosts Thurso. Golspie Sutherland come in to the game this week on the back of a 2-1 victory over Thurso in the league last Saturday.

This will be Shetland’s first game as “home team” and manager Niall Bristow said he was pleased with the efforts of the supporters. A few travelled to the last game and others were already committing to this game with some coming from Shetland and as far afield as the Aberdeen area to watch.

Bristow said: “It gives the team a real lift to have some home support at these games and myself and the squad really appreciate the efforts and lengths they go to.”

Three new players have been added to the squad for tomorrow’s game with Scott Henderson and Duncan Fraser returning and Lewis Kay making his first appearance.

Henderson and Fraser featured in Shetland’s friendly against Halkirk United in April and both showed up well in a 1-0 victory over the hosts, who are leading this season league table at the moment.

Robert Smith, who has returned to university, and Steven Umphray, who has work commitments, are unable to travel with the squad this week. The rest of the squad who featured in the win over Thurso will travel to face Golspie Sutherland.

The club has also secured a match-day sponsor in the guise of Shetland Freezer Foods who have agreed to sponsor the game along with match ball sponsors InterSport who provided the club with a set of match balls for the fixture.