Anglers hoping to bounce back in midweek clash with Bonar
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Halkirk United will be looking to bounce back from Saturday's disappointing home defeat when they take on Bonar Bridge on Wednesday night.
The Anglers, who are fifth in the North Caledonian League, went down 2-0 to Alness United at a sunny but very windy Morrison Park with both goals coming from Joel Burnett – a close-range finish after 35 minutes and a towering header with 20 minutes to go.
Halkirk United coach Liam Sutherland said: "In the first half we weren't ourselves at all.
"In the second half we started much better and were working to get back into it and then we conceded the second. There wasn't very long left and we couldn't get back into it after that."
Jonah Martens, Mark Munro, James Mackintosh and Luke Manson were among those who missed out for Halkirk.
Sutherland said: "We were missing a few but the squad was still good enough – we would have hoped to get the three points."
The midweek clash with second-bottom Bonar is scheduled for Dalmore Park in Alness.
"We'll hopefully have one or two back," Sutherland said. "We'll just pick ourselves up and go again.
"We can't win the league now but we've still got a North Caledonian Cup semi-final to come. We've got games coming up where the boys have got a chance to play for a place in that squad. We want to go on and win it."
Bobby Gunn was the four-goal hero for Thurso as the Vikings boosted their hopes of climbing off the bottom of the table with a 4-3 win against Bonar Bridge at Alness.
Gunn struck twice in each half, starting with a penalty, as the Vikings moved back to within three points of Bonar with a game in hand.
The Bonar goals came from Archie Ryder, an own goal and Alex McKenzie.
Loch Ness booked their place in the cup semi-finals with a 2-1 success at Golspie.
Allan MacPhee and Jake Lockett scored for Loch Ness either side of Robbie Murray's goal for the Sutherland side.
Fort William found the net three times in a 10-minute spell before half-time on their way to a 3-2 away victory over Inverness Athletic. Finlay MacDonald, Juan Cardona and Andrew Sneddon were the Fort scorers, with Dominic Macaulay and Luke Mackay on target for Athletic.
Orkney won 5-3 at home to St Duthus.
Results from Saturday – North Caledonian League: Bonar Bridge 3, Thurso 4; Halkirk United 0, Alness United 2; Inverness Athletic 2, Fort William 3; Orkney 5, St Duthus 3.
North Caledonian Cup, quarter-final: Golspie Sutherland 1, Loch Ness 2.
Fixtures – Wednesday, March 20 – North Caledonian League: Bonar Bridge v Halkirk United (Dalmore Park, Alness, 8pm); Clachnacuddin "A" v Invergordon.
Saturday, March 23 – North Caledonian League: Fort William v St Duthus; Golspie Sutherland v Orkney; Halkirk United v Clachnacuddin "A" (1pm); Inverness Athletic v Invergordon; Thurso v Loch Ness (1pm).
