Halkirk United determined to push champions all the way in title challenge in North Caledonian League
MANAGER Ewan McElroy says Halkirk United are determined to push the North Caledonian League title race down to the wire after defeating Thurso 3-0 in the Caithness derby.
The Anglers remain six points clear of Invergordon at the top of the table with two games remaining in the campaign. However, Invergordon have three games in hand on Halkirk as their title defence remains in their own hands.
Halkirk are not in action this weekend and Invergordon could reduce the gap at the top to three points if they beat Inverness Athletic at home on Saturday.
McElroy accepted why people see Invergordon as favourites to win the title, but he says they will give themselves their best chance to win the league by winning their final two matches away to Inverness Athletic on March 8 and at home to Orkney on April 5.
He said: “It's tight at the top of the league with ourselves, Invergordon and Inverness all challenging.
“It’s great for the league that it is going down to the wire and its credit to the squad that we are still very much up there.
“Invergordon are obviously still favourites with the games in hand but you never know in football and all we can do is concentrate on ourselves from now until the end of the season.”
Halkirk continued their title challenge with a 3-0 win at Thurso in the Caithness derby last weekend.
Jonah Martens gave Halkirk the lead after seven minutes with Aiden Reid doubling their advantage six minutes into the second half.
Martens killed the game off with his second with 17 minutes remaining.
McElroy said it was a terrific performance from his team.
He said: The Caithness derby is always a game the squad look forward to and we were really pleased to come away with three points.
“We recognised in the warm up that is was a really heavy pitch and it was about playing the conditions as much as anything else. Thankfully it was near perfect conditions otherwise and I thought the all the goals scored were really clinical , it was a gritty performance from the boys in general.
“Credit to Thurso and their manager on the day Asa, I thought they were well organised and fought for everything, they made life difficult and we had to dig in to get the points.
“Aidan Reid had a goal chopped off that I thought was a little harsh, but other than that I don’t have many complaints.
“Jonah took both of his goals really well and the back for were again resolute with both full backs Connor Farquhar and Innes Mackintosh getting forward at every opportunity.
“Aaron Wilson epitomised the attitude of the squad, I thought he was excellent, he covered every inch of the pitch and is in really good from at the minute.”
