Halkirk United aiming to build on derby success as they take on St Duthus
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Manager Ewan McElroy will be hoping his Halkirk United side can build on their opening-day derby success when they travel to Tain for Saturday's North Caledonian League game against St Duthus.
The Anglers were convincing 3-0 winners over Thurso on Saturday thanks to a first-half strike by Andrew Mackay and two in quick succession from Korbyn Cameron and Jonah Martens in the closing 20 minutes. Thurso finished with 10 men after Roddy Innes was shown a straight red.
“It was a really committed and assured performance from the boys,” McElroy said. “Similar to most teams, I would imagine, our preparation was really limited.
“I actually think Thurso started the brighter. However, once we got a foothold in the game I thought we thoroughly deserved our win.
“Going forward we looked a constant threat and Korbyn Cameron led the line superbly well.
“Obviously we were delighted to get the three goals, but the most pleasing aspect for me was the clean sheet. Our back four and the subs who came on were excellent.
“In particular our centre-back partnership of Aidan Reid and Ryan Sutherland were able to nullify Thurso. Hasheem Bremner made his debut for the club on Saturday and I thought he was excellent for the duration.”
McElroy believes St Duthus are one of a number of clubs that could challenge for the title.
“I think St Duthus will be right up there this season,” he said. “We have never managed to take anything from St Duthus during my time here and we play them twice in the next few weeks.
“The good thing about this league is that just about anyone can take points off each other. I think there are around four or five teams that have a genuine chance of competing for the league, and although it is early I can’t see any team running away with it.”
Thurso manager Stevie Reid had said before the derby that he would have preferred more preparation time, and his concerns proved well founded.
“I knew deep down I wasn't happy with the preparations," he said. “We just looked a bit disjointed because we haven't been together too much.
“Halkirk were just that bit more clinical. They deserved to win – they were more up for it and they were better prepared.
“We did have a couple of half-chances but we got what we deserved. We made silly mistakes and we were showing people the wrong side.
"On another day we would never have made the mistakes we did, but fair play to Halkirk – they capitalised on it.
“We looked not up to it, to be honest, and that was always my fear. I never lost any sleep over it – it's a long league, whereas there was very little room for error last season.
“It was very disappointing but deep down I wasn't too happy with the preparations.
“It was just basic mistakes that have got to be ironed out.
“But it's just the start – there is a long way to go. We have good players. They showed that last season, and you don't turn bad overnight."
The Vikings venture into the unknown this weekend with a home game against Loch Ness – a team they have never faced before.
“We go again," Reid said. "We're at home this Saturday and it's an unknown quantity.
“Every game is going to be tough, every single one of them.
“It's just a matter of sticking together and getting back at the training.
“We have a few concerns again injury-wise and with players' availability.
Halkirk went ahead on 29 minutes after Martens was bundled to the ground and Mackay was quick to capitalise, slotting the ball home from close range.
Cameron added the second after 73 minutes when he took a pass from Bremner and rounded the keeper before placing it into the net.
Martens completed the scoring two minutes later with a stunning strike. The forward was set up by an outside-of-the-boot pass from Reid, and he was able to shrug off Innes before curling the ball in off a post.
Mackay rattled the bar late on from a free kick after Innes had been given his marching orders.
North Caledonian League results (Saturday, August 21): Alness 2, Invergordon 3; Golspie Sutherland 4, Inverness Athletic 4; Halkirk United 3, Thurso 0; Nairn County A 3, St Duthus 2.
North Caledonian League fixtures (Saturday, August 28): Alness United v Bonar Bridge; Inverness Athletic v Orkney; St Duthus v Halkirk United; Thurso v Loch Ness.
North-west Sutherland outfit Scourie withdrew two days before the start of the season, reducing the league to 11 clubs.
