Alness end their Dingwall duck
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ALNESS United finally broke their duck against North Caledonian League rivals Dingwall Thistle at the fourth attempt with a 2-0 victory at Jubilee Park last Saturday.
United lost the previous three meetings between the teams this season, but two second-half goals from Robert MacCormack and Chris Graham were enough to see them leapfrog Thistle into third place in the table.
Chances were few and far between in the first half, although Thistle had a real opportunity to take the lead just before the break. But Craig Stuart just failed to connect with a Gary Urquhart cross with the goal in his sights. United were restricted to a couple of dead ball efforts which failed to test Thistle’s stand-in goalkeeper Gordon Duff.
United made the breakthrough five minutes into the second half. Robert McCormack and Craig Munro played a short corner and McCormack curled a superb effort into the top corner of the net, giving Duff no chance.
Thistle’s best effort of the second half fell to Stuart MacKay, but his goal-bound header was pushed away to safety by United keeper Andrew Maitland. There was no way back for Thistle when United grabbed a second goal in the 88th minute. After Munro won the ball back on his own 18-yard line, his lay-off to John MacLeod was swept into the path of Graham, who deftly chipped the ball over Duff for the clincher.
Golspie Sutherland kept their slim title hopes alive with a 3-2 victory over Thurso at King George V Park.
Mike Sanderson gave Golspie the lead midway through the first half with a clinical finish but Thurso’s big centre forward Lucas Gerazel squared matters just before the break.
Golspie were awarded a penalty on the hour mark when Sanderson went sprawling in the box and Shane Sutherland coolly converted from the spot.
Sutherland put Golspie further ahead in the 70th minute with a fine individual goal. He cut in from the left, beat two defenders and fired a shot into the corner of the net.
To their credit Thurso kept battling away and their persistence was rewarded with a Marc MacGregor goal ten minutes from the end. The ball appeared to be stuck in the muddy goalmouth before MacGregor bundled it over the line.
The match between Halkirk United and Clachnacuddin was postponed.
Meanwhile, Muir of Ord Rovers make the long trip north to play Thurso in their penultimate league fixture of the season tomorrow (Saturday).
It is a must-win situation for Rovers, who will be hoping leaders Halkirk United slip up at Alness.
Rovers’ co-manager Alan Hercher told the Ross-shire Journal: "Thurso is always such a difficult place to go but hopefully we can come away with a win.
"We will still need someone else to do us a favour if we are to win the league – but we’ll remain positive."
Rovers will be without Scott Houston, who has returned to Nairn County. But Daryl Henderson is available again after missing Rovers’ last match against Clach a couple of weeks ago.
Dingwall Thistle are down to the bare bones for their trip to Inverness to play Clach at Bught Park.
Norman Bain and Alan MacBean are both struggling with ankle injuries, while Gary Urquhart is a major doubt after coming off injured near the end of last week’s match against Alness.
To add to Thistle’s woes, Steven MacLean and Stuart MacKay have work commitments, while Gordon Duff has a damaged knee.
Balintore are expected to be at full strength for their match against Golspie Sutherland at King George V Park, while Aaron Christie returns for Golspie.
In the other match, Alness United welcome back David Murray, Campbell Jamieson and Willie Stewart, but Evan Murray is unavailable. Donald Sutherland may be in contention after recovering from a broken toe.
? Fixtures, Saturday, March 17 – League – 2pm – Alness United v Halkirk United; Golspie Sutherland v Balintore; Clachnacuddin v Dingwall Thistle; Thurso v Muir of Ord Rovers.
