Huntly Football Club crush Forres Mechanics and Keith without Highland League’s leading goal scorer Angus Grant
Even without star striker Angus Grant, Huntly displayed their firepower with two crushing victories over tough opponents in the last week.
Manager Colin Charlesworth warned after a scrappy 1-0 win at Lossiemouth on March 8 that his team could not take victory for granted against any side.
A trip to Forres Mechanics the following Wednesday, followed by Saturday’s home clash against a stuffy Keith side presented the Black and Golds with two more tricky encounters which they tackled in some style.
Grant’s injury has presented Sam Robertson with the chance to lead the Huntly attack and he did so impressively with a hat-trick at Forres in a stunning 5-0 win.
Robertson then opened the scoring for Huntly for the fourth game in a row against Keith in the opening minutes, but few could have expected the whopping 7-0 win which the home side would deliver.
Grant did come off the bench for the final quarter of Saturday’s match, with Huntly already five goals clear - and they still didn’t need his assistance.
For Brodie Allen, recalled from a brief loan spell at Lossiemouth, also came on and chipped in with the closing two goals in the rout over a Maroons side who played for an hour with ten men.
“I said it after the game against Lossie, we weren't at our best but it looks like a great result now. We've gone on to have a really good week off the back of it,” Charlesworth said.
Huntly’s 31-goal ace Grant limped off in his side’s 1-1 draw at Banks o’ Dee, but Robertson has stepped in well with six goals in his last four outings.
“Don't get me wrong, we're a better team with Angus in it,” Charlesworth added. “He's having the season of his life and he's got some incredible numbers this season, but we have to be able to get goals elsewhere.
“It was a bit of a test with us when he picked up an injury to see who would step up.”
As well as Robertson’s treble at Forres, Ryan Sewell chipped in with the other two goals.
Against Keith, as well as ‘Robbo’s opener and Allen’s last two goals, Owen Morris contributed a double while Lewis Crosbie and Alex Thoirs were also on the scoresheet after Keith had Ryan Robertson sent off.
“Sam, Sewelly, Owen and all the boys that we knew we had been creating the chances lately have all stepped up and scored.
“It's been good with Sam in particular, he's taken that central role. His season is maybe getting overshadowed a bit by Angus' numbers, but 16 goals in his first season at a new club is incredible as well.
“He's been happy that him and Angus have had a really good understanding from day one this season. Sam's been the unlucky one that Angus has been finishing the chances, but now it's Sam's turn and the other lads are stepping up to create chances for him.
“He's a very clinical player and we see it in training regularly. He's a natural finisher and he's shown that just now with six goals in just over a week.”
Huntly’s past two wins have been all the more impressive in that Forres and Keith have troubled the best sides this season.
In Forres’ case, they have beaten Brechin City, Banks o’ Dee and Buckie Thistle as well as a thrilling 4-3 success over Huntly at Christie Park earlier this term.
Keith have won at Brora in their campaign and recently drew at Brechin, showing they are anything but a pushover.
“We're not beating amateur teams 5-0 and 7-0, we're beating good Highland League teams 5-0 and 7-0. So that's the most pleasing thing for me.
“We're just on a good run of form just now and winning breeds confidence and confidence breeds momentum and we've got that just now.”
Charlesworth now has an embarrassment of riches available to him in his front line, now that Grant should be fit to face Strathspey Thistle in Grantown on Wednesday night.
“That'll be him fully back in contention now for the run in. Brodie went out on loan at a time when we were having just regular Saturday fixtures and he was needing more minutes and his game time had been limited with Sam and Angus being so consistent in front of goal.
“When we faced six-and-a-half weeks of Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday games, we had to make a decision. We're going to be using a lot of rotation from now until the end of the season and Brodie's a top player at this level so it would be madness to keep him out on loan there when we could be doing better.
“I'm glad he's popped up with two goals because that'll be a massive confidence booster for him as well.”