New manager happy with numbers as Vikings look to move off bottom spot
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Manager Scott Davidson is pleased with the numbers he is getting at training and on match days as Thurso look to get themselves away from the bottom of the North Caledonian League.
The Vikings are on the road to Evanton on Saturday to take on sixth-placed Clachnacuddin "A", who drew at Fort William last weekend before losing to Invergordon in a midweek cup tie.
Thurso's scheduled trip to Bonar Bridge last Saturday and Halkirk United's home match against Alness United were among several sporting fixtures that had to be postponed because of a lengthy A9 closure following a serious accident near Golspie.
Davidson, who took over after previous manager Michael Bremner announced his resignation last month, said: "We're going down there pretty strong and we're hopeful of getting points on the board.
"Obviously last week with the accident it wasn't great. We had a decent squad last week and the same again this week.
"We're just trying to get that cohesion now where we've got a core squad of guys, and it's happening already. We're getting decent numbers at training and the same for a Saturday.
"We'll be going down there quite confident of getting a result and trying to kick on then for the rest of the season."
A change to the fixture list has given fourth-placed Halkirk United a trip to Fortrose to meet Loch Ness, who are third.
The Anglers will be looking to make amends for their 1-0 defeat to the champions at Morrison Park in September.
Manager Ewan McElroy felt that United "more than matched" Loch Ness on that occasion.
Last weekend the champions put their recent player eligibility punishment to one side as they won 3-0 at Golspie.
Quick-fire goals midway through the first half by Jake Lockett and Phil MacDonald were followed by an Allan MacPhee penalty just before the break.
Invergordon remain on top after a 3-0 home win against Ross-shire rivals St Duthus with goals from Kyle Maclean (penalty), Keith Mason and Ken Morrison.
Fort William needed a stoppage-time goal from Andrew McLean to salvage a point in a 1-1 draw at home to Clachnacuddin "A", who had taken an early lead with an Aidan Mackinnon spot-kick.
Fort prevailed in a penalty shoot-out to win the Simon Shields Memorial Trophy, in memory of the former player of both clubs.
Orkney came from two down to win 4-2 at home to Inverness Athletic.
A double by Blair Morrison gave Invergordon a 2-0 win in their rearranged Football Times Cup quarter-final against Clachnacuddin "A" in Dingwall on Wednesday night. The two clubs had been reinstated after Loch Ness were kicked out of the competition, and deducted three league points, for fielding an ineligible player.
North Caledonian League results: Fort William 1, Clachnacuddin "A" 1; Golspie 0, Loch Ness 3; Invergordon 3, St Duthus 0; Orkney 4, Inverness Athletic 2. Football Times Cup quarter-final: Invergordon 2, Clachnacuddin "A" 0.
North Caledonian League fixtures for Saturday, October 7: Clachnacuddin "A" v Thurso (2pm); Fort William v St Duthus; Inverness Athletic v Alness United; Loch Ness v Halkirk United (2pm); Orkney v Bonar Bridge.
Football Times Cup semi-final: Golspie Sutherland v Invergordon.
