The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Gordonians crucial away days looming
Caithness to the four for their new coaches
Leaders Gordonians face two pivotal away games which will go a long way to confirming their National 3 title credentials, but captain Tom Williams insists his side is looking no further than tomorrow’s home game against HillheadJordanhill.
Ryan Morrice’s men are six points clear of nearest challengers Newton Stewart –and have a game in hand. The Aberdeen men go to Newton Stewart next week before travelling to fourth-placed West of Scotland at the end of the month.
Williams said: “It’s a really big month but all we can do is keep doing what has taken us to this position in the first place and trust in ourselves.
“It’s nice to have another home game this weekend, especially with two massive games coming up against Newton Stewart and West of Scotland, and it is important we press home that advantage but it won’t be easy.
“Hillhead-Jordanhill always cause us problems and they play a similar game to us.”
Gordonians fate is in their own hands but, with eight games remaining, Williams can sense the pressure building in the league.
He said: “The second half of the season is always tougher as teams know what the opposition is all about.
“The strengths and weaknesses have been identified and approaches are altered accordingly for the reverse fixtures as we head towards the end of the season.
“The finish line is in sight for everyone now whether they are competing at the top of the table or trying to avoid relegation and we can all feel the ante rising now.”
Morrice’s men go into tomorrow’s game at Countesswells in fine fettle following their 59-19 win against Murrayfield Wanderers last weekend and Williams is eager to continue the impressive unbeaten league run, which stands at 13 wins and a draw from the 14 games so far.
He said: “It was a great win against Murrayfield Wanderers. It was a tough game.
“They were really good defensively and pressed us well. They really forced us to think and we had to play well to win.
“We’re in good shape, we’re playing well and we just have to keep going. If we do that then we won’t be far away.” Caithness skipper Marc Anderson is eager to kickstart the Greens’ push for a top-four place in National 3 with a home victory over St Boswells tomorrow.
The Thurso men return to action following the winter break in their first outing since a victory over Orkney way back on December 8.
With Caithness currently sixth in the table, outside centre Anderson is determined to regain momentum with a win over the second-bottom Borderers side.
Anderson said: “We really want to push for a top-four finish.
“I would say the top two is probably out of the question now but I feel a top-four place is more than do-able.
“We have not played since the start of December so we are looking forward to getting going again.
“St Boswells beat us down there earlier in the season in what was a poor performance from us.
“We know what to expect. They are a big, quick side who play a lot up front. We just have to look to play our game and move the ball the way we always do.”
Anderson, who has struggled with a hamstring injury, and his brother Grant Anderson are among several players back in contention this weekend in the Greens’ first game under new coaching team Kenny Russell, Ewen Boyd and David Pottinger.
Anderson added: “We had a few injuries but we’ve got some guys back now. We have a squad of about 30 available this weekend and it’s not very often we have that.
“It’s vital for us, even though it’s not going to happen like that all the time.
“We have a few guys who work offshore, but it’s good to have a strong squad to pick from.
“There will be some difficult decisions to make but it’s a good problem to have.
“It’s working quite well with the new coaching team as each one is doing their own part.
“It’s good to spread the workload a little bit.”