McKenna insists there’s still work to be done as Caithness Ladies see off Ross County
Head coach Tom McKenna said he couldn’t fault Caithness Ladies’ effort or attitude after they inflicted a first defeat of the season on Ross County’s development squad.
Caithness ran out 5-2 winners at Back Park in Castletown on Sunday, ensuring confidence will be high for Saturday’s trip to face Orkney in their last match in the SWF Highlands and Islands League before the summer break.
Carly Erridge hit a hat-trick after captain Sophie Kinghorn had opened the scoring. Donna Majilton was also on target for Caithness, for whom Kerrie Martin had three assists.
Maimie Zimmerman and Simone Coles replied for County, who were knocked off top spot as a result and are now third in the eight-team division. Caithness remain fourth.
“The girls played well,” McKenna said. “I spoke to a few of the fans and they said it’s the best they’ve seen the girls playing this year.
“I’ve been criticised for being too hard on them and I take that on board. Maybe I am too demanding at times.
“The girls were 2-0 up within seven minutes so that enabled them to relax and gave them something to protect. In spells they played really well and could have scored a lot more.
“At times they were going back to their old selves, panicking and kicking it anywhere, and I’m trying to take that away from them.
“I’d rather they lose the ball and try to do the right things than just kicking it anywhere. I’m trying to change that mentality.
“They worked hard – I can’t fault their effort, I can’t fault their attitude. There were passages of play within the game that were really, really good.
“There are elements that are very positive. Other aspects we’ve still got a wee bit of work to do.
“That’s the first time Ross County have been beaten this year. They were top of the league.”
Caithness had beaten Clachnacuddin 6-1 in a cup tie the previous weekend and McKenna said: “As a coach you want to see constant progression.
“Everything we do at training is to try and help their development and take that into games.
“Putting everything into perspective, it was a very good three points. It lifts morale, it gives the girls confidence. There were some strong individual performances.
“That’s three unbeaten now and they were absolutely buzzing after the game.
“We’ve got Orkney this Saturday and that’s a very tough game. They’re a strong team.”
Girls from East End attended Sunday’s match along with their parents and coaches. The Wick-based club began girls-only sessions towards the end of last year.
"It was good to start building a relationship with them,” McKenna said. “The feedback we got was absolutely brilliant.
“The kids loved it. I got them involved in the warm-up and the girls brought them out before kick-off.
“With having that experience, they can see there’s a pathway from junior football to senior football. It’s all the county working together to try and encourage women’s football and young girls’ football and try to increase participation in it.
“By the time they get older, women’s football, if it continues going the way it is, will be massive and it’ll be a lot more popular and more professional. It’s good starting that relationship now.”
Results – SWF Highlands and Islands League: Caithness 5, Ross County 2; Clachnacuddin 0, Sutherland 6; Nairn 3, Orkney 11; Ross and Cromarty 1, Buckie 9.