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Caithness United U16s can take heart from narrow loss to league leaders





The Caithness United squad who lost 2-1 to Ross County in SHFL Under 16 Highland.
The Caithness United squad who lost 2-1 to Ross County in SHFL Under 16 Highland.

Caithness United players have been told that they can take heart from their keenly contested tussle with Ross County, the runaway leaders of SHFL Under 16 Highland.

County edged a 2-1 victory in Sunday’s match at the Wick campus.

The visitors went ahead against the run of play, scoring from the spot after a highly contentious penalty award.

United responded well, perhaps feeling aggrieved by the spot-kick decision. For the rest of the first half they were on top in midfield but poor distribution meant they were restricted to either shots from range or half-chances.

Early in the second half a high press by United put County’s back line under pressure, and a bad touch by their keeper allowed Cory Miller to capitalise and level the scores.

The home side’s tails were up and they had a chance to go ahead after Tyler Gordon was set free on the right and he outpaced the County defence. He unselfishly elected to square the ball to Miller, who couldn’t quite get it out of his feet quickly enough.

The winner came in the last minute. The ball broke loose into the United box and fell perfectly for Jack Ross, who slotted it home.

Caithness United coach Alan Kennedy said: “We knew this would be a big test for us given that Ross County had won every game this league season. We stressed to the boys to remain focused.

“The big cheer by their players and supporters at full-time told me that they knew that they had been in a tough contest. I’m just disappointed we left the game with nothing, as that wasn’t deserved.

“However, football can be cruel at times. Our boys need to remember the pain they felt at full-time and use it as motivation to try and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

“We definitely take heart from a few of the lads’ performances, and the fact that we gave the runaway leaders of the league a really good game.

“We do need to work on producing better quality in the final third, though, to provide us with the goals that our performances are deserving of.”

Kennedy was adamant that the alleged foul that led to Ross County’s penalty had happened well outside the box.

“Our centre-back Conlley Fairweather tangled with a Ross County forward,” he said. “Both players ended up on the deck and got back up to play on, only for the referee to blow for an infringement.

“I was surprised by the whistle, and even more so when it was given against us, but astounded that it was deemed to also be in the box.”


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