Halkirk United manager Ewan McElroy: Alness United have no weaknesses
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Halkirk United manager Ewan McElroy is expecting another close game when the North Caledonian League’s highest scorers come calling this afternoon.
Alness United are due to make the journey to Morrison Park this weekend, with the two teams level on points ahead of the contest.
Both sides have seen mixed results over recent weeks, but Halkirk managed to pick up a narrow 1–0 victory when the sides met at the start of September thanks to Alan Mathieson’s 89th minute strike.
McElroy, then, is expecting a nip and tuck game – but knows Halkirk will have to cancel out Alness United’s firepower to get a result.
“They’re obviously a free-scoring team,” he reasoned.
“We’ll obviously look to try and nullify their threat going forward as best we can, although that’s not going to be easy.
“They like to get the ball down and play football and they don’t really have any out and out weaknesses. They’re a solid outfit for sure.
“I have no doubt that they will be coming up here looking to leave with three points.
“That said, we do have a good squad, and I fully believe that on our day we’re a match for anyone in the league. It’s going to be difficult, but we’re looking forward to it for sure.”
Halkirk will be missing Marc Coghill, who has picked up an ankle injury that will keep the central midfielder on the sidelines for a few weeks.
Others will be subject to late assessments before the Alness match, and with the opportunity to rise up a congested league table McElroy will hope as many of them are available to play as possible.
“I think how close things are is credit to the league itself,” McElroy added.
“It just shows how competitive the North Caley is. I don’t think you can go into any game thinking that you’re just going to get an easy three points.
“Every game is a new challenge, and the league reflects that.”
North Caley preview
Thurso are the odd ones out this weekend in the 13-team North Caledonian League, but while they are inactive other teams will be looking to make their move up the table.
For the most part, there is plenty of scope for the standings to change this weekend with three points separating second-placed Golspie Sutherland from Halkirk, sitting eighth ahead of today’s matches.
Golspie will be going up against the side that succeeded them as North Caley champions, Invergordon, with both sides desperate not to fall too far behind current leaders Loch Ness.
The Inverness club are currently eight points clear after winning a derby against Inverness Athletic last time out, and will be heavy favourites to at least consolidate their place at the summit when they host bottom of the table Bonar Bridge.
Thurso can rest easy in the knowledge that even if Bonar Bridge do spring an upset, the bottom two will not swap places, but the teams immediately above those two do have the opportunity to pull further away.
Nairn County A – fresh off the back of a win over Halkirk – will try to record another underdog victory against Inverness Athletic.
Clachnacuddin’s reserves, meanwhile, make the journey north to take on Orkney, who could move above Halkirk in the standings if results of their way.
Completing the round of fixtures is Fort William’s trip to third place St Duthus, which promises entertainment with both sides being involved in goal-fests over recent weeks – albeit not always ones that went in their favour.
