Thurso boss knows Anglers will be hurting after cup final shoot-out
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Thurso manager Michael Bremner will warn his players to beware of a Halkirk United backlash in this weekend's North Caledonian League derby as the Anglers will still be hurting from their cup final defeat.
Bremner will be bringing the Vikings back down to earth after their Football Times Cup shoot-out triumph as they focus on improving their league position.
“At training on Tuesday they were still buzzing about the weekend but we'll try to calm them down a wee bit," Bremner said. "We'll focus on the league now and try to get a few wins together and climb up the table.”
Bremner was delighted with the way his team dug deep after Conor Trueman was sent off with half an hour gone.
"With us going down to 10 men, I don't know if we worked that bit harder or we didn't give Halkirk enough space," the manager said.
“This Saturday could be a totally different game. Hopefully it'll be 11 versus 11 for longer but I'm expecting Halkirk to come right at us. I think they'll be hurting after last week so I imagine it'll be a totally different beast on Saturday.”
It will be Thurso's last home fixture before Christmas, as they have away trips to Golspie and Orkney either side of a free weekend.
The derby is scheduled for the Dammies but, with bad weather expected, the Naver all-weather pitch is provisionally booked.
Bremner will be looking to sharpen up Thurso's goal threat in the second half of the season as they are the lowest scorers in the 11-team division, albeit they have played fewer games than anyone else.
“It's something that I talked about when we first came in," the manager said. "I looked through all the results that they had, and they were only getting beaten by ones and twos.
“If you get a settled squad and a settled two or three up front, they start getting to know each other better.”
The Vikings led twice in the cup showdown at Harmsworth Park, through Cameron Montgomery after 15 minutes and an own goal by Halkirk's John Budge with 64 minutes gone. Halkirk's scorers were Kyle Henderson (38 minutes) and Andy Mackay with 20 minutes remaining.
Thurso won 3-2 in the shoot-out, with keeper Asa Sinclair saving two of the Anglers' spot-kicks.
Saturday's North Caledonian League fixtures: Invergordon v Alness United; Inverness Athletic v Golspie; St Duthus v Nairn County “A”; Orkney v Loch Ness; Thurso v Halkirk United (1pm).
Related stories:
- Thurso lift Football Times Cup after shoot-out victory over Halkirk United
- Shoot-out hero Sinclair hopes Thurso can start moving up league after cup final triumph
