Double for Sutherland as Anglers go top of the league
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CLACHNACUDDIN ‘A’ 1 - 4 HALKIRK UNITED
CHRIS Sutherland grabbed a double as United went top of the North Caledonian League with this routine win at Inverness’s Bught Park.
The game was put to bed for the Anglers by half-time by when they led 4-1 playing into the face of a howling wind. Clach showed more resolution after the break though they continued to struggle to seriously trouble the visiting rearguard.
NCL fans had expected Clach’s reserves to pack more of a punch than they have shown so far. On Saturday, they were under the cosh for long periods against a United side which adapted well to the tight park and the bothersome wind.
They hit the jackpot with their first attack on two minutes when Nigel MacKenzie jinked clear down the right wing and centred for Sutherland to convert from 10 yards. Clach were stung again on eight minutes when Stuart Florence set up Gavin Henderson whose 20 yarder beat keeper Stuart MacLachlan all-ends-up.
It was to be an afternoon when United’s Grant MacNab could have helped himself to a barrowload of goals.
On 11 minutes, Colin Davidson created MacNab’s first clear opening. The latter ran through unchallenged but fired wide of the target. MacNab missed two other snips in quick succession while Alan Larnach failed to test MacLachlan from prime position.
The Inverness side got one back from the penalty spot on 22 minutes following Alan Sinclair’s clumsy challenge in the box. Stuart Patience planted the spot-kick low to keeper Graham Williamson’s left.
Within a couple of minutes the Anglers re-established their two-goal advantage when good work on the right by MacNab set up Sutherland to score from close range. Sutherland was denied his hat-trick by a fingertip save by MacLachlan before his team forged further ahead four minutes from the interval.
MacKenzie was again the provider with his far-post cross allowing MacNab to finally break his duck and bag his eighth goal of the campaign.
Clach turned round to face the elements with their sights perhaps more set on damage limitation than mounting a comeback. The latter aim succeeded as a result of a sparkier defensive effort and a United strikeforce which continued to misfire.
MacLachlan was quickly to the fore with good stops from strikes by MacKenzie and Larnach.
MacNab thought he had a second on the hour mark but his “goal” was disallowed after referee John Nicolson deemed the striker had raised a foot dangerously high.
Sutherland then headed narrowly over from Henderson’s assist before MacLachlan displayed sure handling in fielding Michael Bremner’s stinging 18 yarder.
MacNab’s off day continued when he was twice sent clean on goal only to each time shoot straight at MacLachlan.
The keeper sealed his side’s man-of-the-match accolade when he flung himself late on to prevent Larnach disturbing the goalless second half.
Anglers boss Jock Mackay was happy with the way his team applied themselves in trying conditions.
“I thought we played really well against the wind and on a very narrow pitch,” he said. “I thought they might collapse after we got the two early goals but, to be fair, they stuck in and battled away for the rest of the game.
“We took about 20 minutes to adjust to playing with the wind but we went on to create a lot of chances and we could have scored a few more goals but for some poor finishing and a string of cracking saves from their keeper.”
Clach “A”: MacLachlan, P. Smith, Sinclair, McIroy, R. Smith, M. Smith, McCorquodale, Spence, Bower, Patience, Corbett. Subs used: Anderson, McLaren and Thomson.
Halkirk United: Williamson, G. Sinclair (Howden 80), Florence, A. Sinclair, Davidson, Henderson, Larnach, Bremner (Halliday 77), Sutherland, MacNab (Banks 75), MacKenzie.
Referee: J. Nicolson.
