Halkirk United manager Ewan McElroy remaining cautious ahead of testing his side against a surging Orkney outfit in the North Caledonian League
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Halkirk United manager Ewan McElroy is wary of the form next opponents Orkney have shown in their last few matches.
The two teams are locked together in the North Caledonian League table, both sitting on 12 points, although Halkirk’s tally has come from five matches while the islanders have played seven.
Orkney, though, are in impressive form. After a slow start to the season, they have won four of their last five games, leaving McElroy in no doubt about the task his side faces at Morrison Park this weekend.
“Orkney is always a really difficult game,” McElroy insisted.
“They are a physical group but also technically always very strong as well.
“I think they underperformed a little at the start of the season but have won four of their last five and are showing exactly what they are capable of.
“Orkney are in quite a similar situation to ourselves and Thurso – there is unfortunately a bit of a cross over between the summer and winter football seasons and it usually takes them a few games to get properly up and running.
“We are sitting level on points and I expect a tight affair on Saturday.”
Andrew Mackay is set to return from suspension for Halkirk, but Aidan Reid is set to miss out as he is away.
For the rest of the squad, it will feel like a long overdue game after a series of postponements – most recently as a result of Storm Babet.
“It’s been pretty frustrating but by and large its been the same for most teams so we cant complain,” McElroy reasoned.
“We have missed the last four weekends which makes any real continuity or consistency difficult to come by.
“We have an extremely difficult run of games coming up, but we have continued to train well and the mood in the camp is positive for sure.
“We have a competitive squad, and when one misses out it’s always a chance for another to stake a claim.”
