Clachnacuddin star James Anderson bearing goalscoring responsibility for Highland League outfit
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James Anderson helped revive Clach’s mid-table ambitions – and the striker is being told to give himself more credit for goalscoring prowess.
Lilywhites’ manager Jordan MacDonald reckons the 21-year-old striker has been far too hard on himself during the Merkinch outfit’s recent struggles.
The fine double at home to Huntly left Clach just four points off ninth-placed Turriff United and sparked hope that, with confidence returning, they can rekindle their best in the second part of the campaign.
After Anderson scored twice in the 2–0 home victory over Huntly, MacDonald said: “He does beat himself up about missed chances – too much.
“James is on nine goals now, so in the last season and a half he has scored 35 goals. If we don’t score, James puts a lot of the responsibility on his own shoulders, and fair play to him for that.
"He’s only 21 and it is great he has that attitude, but we have to remind him it is not all on him. We need others to help him and chip in and score goals.”
MacDonald’s only criticism of his team, who now face Brora Rangers away this Saturday, was that they didn’t win more comfortably.
He stressed: “Even at Turriff last week, we performed really well with the ball and created chances. It was without the ball where we didn’t do enough. On Saturday, we got everything from them and thoroughly deserved to win the game. It should have been more.
“That’s the only disappointing part. That’s the ruthless streak we have to find because it isn’t half-chances we’re missing, it is gilt-edged chances – but that’s a good complaint to have, I suppose.
“Our young players have been low in confidence and we needed to help them, so the likes of Blair Lawrie started at the weekend. He deserved it having performed well from the bench lately.
“We hope the win gives them that extra bit of confidence. The clean sheet was massive as well.
“My back four was excellent, as was young Dawid Sienkowski – thrown in 20 minutes before kick-off after Dan Rae was injured. We worked so hard all over the pitch and James was outstanding with his goals and contribution.”
