It's advantage Golspie in North Caledonian League title race after victory at Halkirk
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Golspie have gained the upper hand in the North Caledonian League title race after beating Halkirk United 3-0 on Saturday while other results went in their favour.
It means the Sutherland side now have a one-point advantage at the top of the table and will be champions if they take maximum points from their final three fixtures – away to erstwhile leaders Invergordon this weekend, followed by two matches against Orkney.
“If we win our three games we’ll win the league," Golspie player/manager Sam Mackay after his team proved too strong for the Anglers at Morrison Park.
"Hopefully we’ll get something out of it next week and we’ll just take the Orkney games as they come. We’re looking forward to it."
Mackay clattered the bar from the edge of the box before Ally Macleod gave Golspie the lead inside four minutes, sending an angled shot into the far corner from wide on the left.
The young Halkirk side produced a spirited response and carved out a series of half-chances. Korbyn Cameron had a header knocked behind for a corner, Jonah Martens raced through only to fire his shot too high and Aiden Reid saw a dipping header go over the bar after Cameron had earned another flag-kick.
Golspie's Sean Munro tried his luck with a long-range effort that sailed over before Halkirk threatened again. Andy Mackay embarked on a determined run into the heart of the Golspie defence and there were brief claims for a penalty as his progress was halted.
Cameron sliced a shot over the top after getting on the end of a long ball, then Martens was unable to take advantage of a rebound after his initial effort had been saved by keeper Cameron Yuill.
Golspie looked stronger after the break and Liam Bremner's fierce strike brought a fine reaction save from Halkirk keeper Lewis Gallacher.
The visitors doubled their lead on 57 minutes when Munro rose highest to meet Mackay's floated corner from the left. It wasn't the most powerful of headers but it was perfectly directed to creep in at Gallacher's right post.
Five minutes later it was effectively game over as Golspie added a third. Bremner accepted a knock-down and slammed the ball under the diving Gallacher, who will have been disappointed that he couldn't keep it out.
The Anglers went in search of a consolation goal but Ryan Sutherland's low shot from the edge of the box was saved by Yuill. At the other end, substitute Gary Pullen had an attempt that Gallacher blocked with his legs.
Golspie boss Mackay said: “We did well to get ahead, and after that I thought Halkirk were the better team.
“We were probably fortunate to go in at half-time at 1-0 – we’d created a couple of half-chances but nothing major.
“We got our second and third goals at good times in the game, and that probably knocked the stuffing out of them a wee bit.
“We said at half-time we had to get a second goal to make things comfortable because Halkirk were playing well. They’re a good young fit side who were causing us a lot of problems, so the timing of the goals I thought was good and it gave us a base then to go on and see the game out.
“Other results went our way, so we are top of the league tonight by a point ahead of our game next week against Invergordon which is a big game."
Invergordon fell to a 2-0 defeat to St Duthus at Tain's Grant Park. Both goals came in the second half, through Kyle Mackenzie Glenn Fell.
Thurso's hopes also suffered a setback as they had to settle for a 2-2 draw with Orkney at Holm.
Bobby Gunn took advantage of a defensive mix-up to put the Vikings in front after seven minutes but the islanders levelled through Zak Singh with just over half an hour played.
Ben Sinclair restored Thurso's lead on the stroke of half-time only for Orkney to hit back again through an Aiden Drever penalty with 20 minutes remaining.
North Caledonian League results and tables are available to view here.
