Match-winner McNicol 'has gone from strength to strength' for Halkirk United
Aaron McNicol has been praised for the "excellent" progress he has made since returning to winter football with Halkirk United after grabbing the only goal in Saturday's North Caledonian League victory over Nairn County "A".
The defender scored with a powerful back-post header at Morrison Park to secure all three points for the Anglers in their first match since December 10. The 1-0 win lifted them to sixth in the table ahead of this weekend's trip to Orkney
Manager Ewan McElroy said: "Aaron took his goal well. He had a couple of decent efforts earlier that the keeper had managed to get a hand to and we were delighted that this one went in.
"He has been excellent and has been going from strength to strength each week since returning to winter football this season.
"We really should have been out of sight in the first half. We hit the woodwork three times and then again in the second half we had a goal chalked off and on another day the referee would play advantage.
"I have no complaints, though, as these things happen, and I thought the referee did well to keep the game flowing for the duration.
"If we had managed to get a second I think we would have gone on to win the game comfortably. Defensively we were excellent and our back line looked assured throughout."
McElroy added: "The first game after a break of a month was always going to be a difficult one and you could see a little rustiness in the squad. Our finishing was not as clinical as it could have been and a few boys were tiring a little as we went on.
"With it being 1-0 there is always that slight niggle at the back of your mind for the final five to 10 minutes. Thankfully the boys secured the win and the three points."
McElroy's men now take on Orkney and would happily settle for a repeat of the scoreline when the teams met at Morrison Park in November. The Anglers were 3-1 winners that day.
"It’s only ever a difficult game across the water and I would expect it will be the same again come Saturday," the manager said. "We have a couple of new injuries to assess towards the end of the week and are still without the likes of Ryan Sutherland, Jonah Martens, Stuart Atkins, Andy Mackay, Conor Cormack and Colin Henstridge."
North Caledonian League results: Fort William 4, Alness United 2; Golspie Sutherland 2, Thurso 1; Halkirk United 1, Nairn County "A" 0; Invergordon 3, St Duthus 1; Inverness Athletic 2, Loch Ness 1.
Fixtures for Saturday, January 14 – North Caledonian Cup, first round: Bonar Bridge v Golspie Sutherland; Clachnacuddin "A" v Nairn County "A"; Thurso v Invergordon (1pm).
North Caledonian League: Fort William v St Duthus; Orkney v Halkirk United (1pm); Inverness Athletic v Alness United.