Halkirk United and Thurso take on top two as North Caledonian League returns
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Halkirk United and Thurso face tough assignments on Saturday as the North Caledonian League returns from its festive break.
The Anglers take on champions and league leaders Loch Ness at King George V Park in Fortrose, while the Vikings are at home to second-placed Invergordon.
Halkirk United are third in the table, seven points behind the top two who are separated by goal difference. Ewan McElroy's men have two games in hand over Invergordon and three over Loch Ness.
The Anglers were frustrated when their last scheduled fixture before Christmas – at home to Inverness Athletic – was postponed by league officials because high winds were forecast.
Iain Whitehead, president of the North Caledonian FA, later admitted the decision to call off the match had been made "far too early" and was "ultimately wrong".
Halkirk's only league defeat so far this season came when Loch Ness won 1-0 at Morrison Park in September.
The Anglers' statistics of eight league wins, one draw and one loss are a mirror image of Thurso's. A solitary win, a draw and eight defeats have left Scott Davidson's side at the bottom of the table and their priority in the early weeks of 2024 will be to start climbing to a more respectable position.
The Vikings are three points behind Bonar Bridge and seven adrift of third-bottom Inverness Athletic, with two games in hand on both those clubs.
As well as looking to move up the table, Davidson will be targeting a run in the second knockout competition of the season – the North Caledonian Cup.
Thurso's latest outing was a 7-0 away defeat to Loch Ness.
North Caledonian League fixtures for Saturday, January 6: Fort William v Bonar Bridge; Golspie Sutherland v Alness United; Inverness Athletic v Orkney; Loch Ness v Halkirk United (1pm); St Duthus v Clachnacuddin "A"; Thurso v Invergordon (1pm).
