Kevill double as Halkirk United's on-loan Ross County duo make instant impact
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Halkirk United's on-loan Ross County duo have made an immediate impact by scoring three goals between them in back-to-back wins for the Anglers.
Ethan Kevill came off the bench for his debut at Morrison Park on Saturday and netted twice in a 3-0 victory over Bonar Bridge, a result that kept Halkirk in fourth place in the North Caledonian League.
Kieran MacGregor was also on the mark in this first game for the Anglers, rounding off the scoring in a 3-1 win away to Alness last Wednesday night.
The pair, both 17, will be with Halkirk for the remainder of the North Caley season.
MacGregor, from Thurso, is a winger, while Kevill, from Halkirk, is a central midfielder.
Assistant manager Liam Anderson said: "It says a lot that they want to come and join us. They are capable of playing at a higher level than North Caley.
"They're both good lads. We've known them from a younger level. They know us and we know them, so that has probably helped as well.
"Their contracts are up at the end of the season, so it'll be up to Ross County if they are going to be renewed or not."
It took Halkirk until six minutes from half-time to make the breakthrough against second-bottom Bonar when Grant Aitkenhead found the net with a back-post header from a cross by Luke Manson.
Undeterred by a painful knock to the face which left him bleeding at the mouth, substitute Kevill made the points safe for the Anglers after 89 minutes when he pounced on a deflected cross from Colin Henstridge and slotted the ball low into the net.
Kevill added another in stoppage time, sweeping home a confident drive from well outside the box.
"Credit to Ethan because he took quite a bad face knock just before his first goal," Anderson said.
"The ref was hinting that if he couldn't get the bleeding to stop he was going to have to come off, but that wasn't an option to Ethan – he was wanting to get back on and finish the game."
Thurso remain at the foot of the table after a 4-0 away defeat to Invergordon.
The Easter Ross side took charge with goals from Ken Morrison and Blair Morrison in a three-minute spell in the first half. However, the Vikings – who had earned their second win of the season the previous weekend – prevented the leaders from adding to their tally until the closing 10 minutes.
Ryan McFee got the third before Andrew Miller rounded off the scoring.
Scott Davidson's men are in action on Wednesday night with a trip to Golspie. Three points for the Sutherland side would lift them to third.
A double by Graham MacNab after Sam Mackay's opener, all in the first half, gave Golspie a 3-0 win at home to Clachnacuddin "A" on Saturday.
North Caledonian League results from Saturday: Fort William 2, Inverness Athletic 0; Golspie Sutherland 3, Clachnacuddin "A" 0; Halkirk United 3, Bonar Bridge 0; Invergordon 4, Thurso 0; Loch Ness 2, Orkney 0.
Fixtures – Wednesday – North Caledonian League: Golspie Sutherland v Thurso (7.45pm). Saturday – North Caledonian League: Alness United v Orkney; Bonar Bridge v Clachnacuddin "A"; Inverness Athletic v Thurso (1.30pm); Loch Ness v Golspie Sutherland; St Duthus v Halkirk United (1pm).
North Caledonian Cup, quarter-final: Invergordon v Fort William.
