Poor start to season for Caithness U15
CAITHNESS United’s new-look under-15s faced a demanding early season schedule of two trips in four days to play Highland Youth Development League fixtures.
After sharing eight goals in an entertaining tussle versus Alness, a poor start cost them dear as they went down 4-2 to Brora.
The county youngsters enjoyed a bright start against Alness with a snap-shot from Kai Cameron giving them a third-minute lead.
Slack defensive play by United allowed the hosts back into the match with two quick replies seeing them 2-1 up at the end of the first third.
Both teams stepped up the tempo of play in the middle third with Alness bagging two more in a five-minute spell after United had drawn level when Cameron Mackay finished off a sharp counterattack.
United piled on the pressure in the final third and were rewarded with a penalty when an Alness player handled in the box.
With the offender fortunate only to be cautioned, captain Mark Webster slotted home the spot-kick.
The equaliser arrived 15 minutes from the end with a slick run from Calum Shields who played in Webster. The latter netted with a powerful drive from just inside the box.
United went on to make the short trip to Brora where they endured a nightmare opening 30 minutes.While the home side injected menace into its attacks, several defensive howlers helped them bag four goals with reply.
From the start of the middle third, United tightened up at the back and looked dangerous on the counter.
They pulled a goal back with a neat finish from Mackay and continued to push hard to further eat into the deficit. But they struggled to turn all the possession and pressure into goals until Webster’s fizzing 20-yard strike made it 4-2.
United enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the final third without reward.
Squads for both games: Esson, Johnston, Cormack, Ninness, Webster, I. Ross, S. Ross, Mackay, Shields, Gordon, Horne, Steven, Wares, Mackay, Campbell and Cameron.
Coach Garry Macleod said: "We have a new squad that is taking time to gel. Quite a few of them are making the step up from playing seven-a-side football at under-13s to 11-a-side with us and are unsure of positional awareness during games and what to do at times.
"There have been a few decent passages of play in these games which we will look to build on. We have plenty of work to do in training to improve."