Anglers recover from league setback to reach North Caledonian Cup semi-finals
Manager Ewan McElroy got the reaction he was looking for as Halkirk United booked their place in the last four of the North Caledonian Cup.
An early strike by Jonah Martens and a second-half double from Cameron Montgomery gave the Anglers a 3-0 quarter-final victory over Alness United at Morrison Park.
It came a week after the 2-0 defeat to Inverness Athletic at Ferry Brae Park that effectively ended Halkirk United’s league challenge.
McElroy said: “We were looking for a reaction – it’s always important to move on quickly from any defeat and the squad certainly did that.
“We dominated possession. I thought we looked after the ball well and looked assured at the back.
“It was another clean sheet for the back four and Kieran Macleod. I thought the two centre-backs, Aidan Reid and Sean Munro, worked really well as a pairing and we limited Alness to very few chances throughout the game.
“There was much more energy about the boys. You could tell that the group were keen to put the previous weekend behind them.
“Alness travelled up with a strong squad and it was not an easy match but I thought we controlled the bulk of it and looked comfortable once Jonah reacted quickest and got us off the mark with the first goal.
“The fitness levels are good within the group and we always looked likely to score the next goal. I thought Cameron Montgomery took both his goals well and the boys that came on early in the second half did really well to shore things up.”
Halkirk United welcomed back Kieran MacGregor after a month out with a shin injury. Ryan Sutherland also returned to the squad after being out injured since the start of the season.
McElroy said: “It was great to see them both back.”
The Anglers are away to Invergordon in the semi-finals on March 29, with Golspie taking on Inverness Athletic in the other tie.
Invergordon moved three points clear at the top of the table with a 3-1 win at home to Clachnacuddin “A”.
A point for the Easter Ross side at home to second-bottom Thurso this Saturday will be enough to confirm back-to-back titles.
They have one more league game after that, away to St Duthus on April 5, and have a much better goal difference than Halkirk United. The Anglers’ last league fixture is that same day, at home to Orkney.
Thurso’s scheduled match against Bunillidh Thistle at the Dammies was postponed on Saturday and has been rearranged for March 29.
Results from Saturday – North Caledonian League: Bonar Bridge 3, Orkney 2; Invergordon 3, Clachnacuddin “A” 1.
North Caledonian Cup, quarter-finals: Halkirk United 3, Alness United 0; Inverness Athletic 2, Fort William 1.
Fixtures – Saturday, March 22 – North Caledonian League: Fort William v Clachnacuddin “A”; Invergordon v Thurso; Inverness Athletic v St Duthus; Orkney v Bunillidh Thistle.
Saturday, March 29 – North Caledonian Cup, semi-finals: Golspie Sutherland v Inverness Athletic; Invergordon v Halkirk United (2pm).
North Caledonian League: Thurso v Bunillidh Thistle.
Saturday, April 5 – North Caledonian League: Bunillidh Thistle v Inverness Athletic; Halkirk United v Orkney (12.45); St Duthus v Invergordon.
North Caledonian Cup final date to be confirmed.
