Anglers want to get back on track after Loch Ness setback
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Halkirk United will be looking to "dust themselves down" after their 3-0 defeat to Loch Ness when they welcome Inverness Athletic to Morrison Park on Saturday.
The Anglers had a depleted squad for last weekend's clash at King George V Park in Fortrose, where a hat-trick by Sam Urquhart kept the North Caledonian League leaders in pole position.
However, Halkirk manager Ewan McElroy praised his players for their "commendable" attitude.
It was only the second league defeat of the season for the third-placed Anglers – both against Loch Ness.
"Despite the scoreline I was really proud of the travelling squad's effort and attitude," McElroy said. "The couple of days leading up to the game were a bit of a nightmare, to be honest, primarily due to illness – I think half the county were unwell and obviously it can't be helped.
"I think we had 12 or 13 players in total that were unavailable and it's really difficult to legislate for that, especially when it happens late in the week.
"Playing top-of-the-table Loch Ness is always going to be a difficult game and take nothing away from them, they have a good squad and deserved their win.
"You always expect a few boys to be missing. Even half a dozen you can cope with – but once you start hitting double digits you know it's going to be tough.
"We had to rely on a number of trialists, our uni boys thankfully being home and a few boys travelling despite not really being at the races in terms of fitness or health."
Urquhart opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour and doubled the home side's lead 10 minutes before the break. He completed his treble with about five minutes to go.
McElroy said: "The game itself was much as we expected and despite a depleted squad I was still pretty happy with the starting eleven we managed to field, and that was credit to the boys.
"At 1-0 down their keeper pulled off a magnificent save from Jonah Martens and it might have been a different story if that had gone in.
"We came in 2-0 down at the break and in terms of football I think we were actually the better team in the second half. We limited Loch Ness to a couple of half-chances and I actually thought the back four had a pretty solid game.
"Sam Urquhart is a top player – he was Buckie Thistle's top goalscorer in previous seasons, and he got three scrappy chances and put all three away.
"Both Lewis Gill and William Cannop were home from uni and although they have not played since August both started the game and worked tremendously hard for the duration. Lewis in particular had a terrific game.
"Aidan Reid has not managed to train since early December and Aaron McNicol has a niggling groin strain but I thought both were excellent at centre-back and their attitude, along with the rest of the squad, was commendable.
"The challenge for the group is to dust themselves down and look to Saturday to improve on things. Our uni boys won't be available but I am pretty certain we will have a stronger pool of players to choose from this weekend."
Seventh-placed Inverness Athletic beat Orkney 2-0 at home on Saturday with goals from Ryan MacLeod and Luke Mackay.
Halkirk won 4-3 when they met Athletic at Ferry Brae Park in September.
"Inverness Athletic are a really good side," McElroy said. "Their league position probably doesn't reflect the ability they have in their squad.
"It's always a close game and I have no doubt we will have to be at our very best if we want to get anything from the match."
Loch Ness remain at the top of the table with a superior goal difference over Invergordon, who ran out 4-0 winners at Thurso.
There were two goals apiece for Graham MacNab and Robbie Murray as Golspie Sutherland won 6-2 away to Alness United in a fixture that was switched as Golspie's ground was frozen. Cameron Sutherland and Sam Barclay got the others for the Sutherland side, with Shane Harkness and Luke Mackay replying for Alness.
Thomas Lewis netted twice for St Duthus as they beat Clachnacuddin "A" 3-2, while Fort William were 4-1 winners at home to Bonar Bridge.
North Caledonian League results: Alness United 2, Golspie Sutherland 6; Fort William 4, Bonar Bridge 1; Inverness Athletic 2, Orkney 0; Loch Ness 3, Halkirk United 0; St Duthus 3, Clachnacuddin "A" 2; Thurso 0, Invergordon 4.
North Caledonian League fixtures for Saturday, January 13: Bonar Bridge v Golspie Sutherland; Clachnacuddin "A" v Thurso v (1pm); Fort William v Alness United; Halkirk United v Inverness Athletic (1pm); Loch Ness v Orkney; St Duthus v Invergordon.
