Inverurie Locos forward Martin Bavidge is confident his side can push Brora Rangers all the way for this season’s Highland League title.
Locos are fourth in the table, level with the champions and Formartine United, but have played three games more than Davie Kirkwood’s side and are two points behind joint leaders Wick Academy and Turriff United.
Former Peterhead attacker Bavidge concedes Brora remain the team to beat but insists there is plenty of encouragement for the clubs hoping to stop Rangers from making it back-to-back title wins.
He said: “Brora are the favourites for the title but all we can do is keep picking up points and try to put pressure on them.
“Formartine United are the only team in the league with the resources to match them but the likes of ourselves, Wick and Turriff are all capable of competing on our day. Turriff have been on a great run and are consistently picking up points and that’s what the other teams have to try to do. We’ve dropped some points which we shouldn’t have and it has cost us but we believe we can stay up there.”
Locos return to league duty today after exiting the Aberdeenshire Shield on Wednesday when they lost 1-0 to Turriff.
Fraserburgh are the visitors to Harlaw Park and Bavidge knows his side cannot afford another sluggish start against the Broch.
He said: “We’ve had horrendous injuries this season and I think Wednesday was a game where it caught up with us a little as we were really slow to get going against Turriff.
“We were better in the second half but without creating any real clear-cut chances and we are disappointed to have gone out of the cup.
“We have to start tomorrow’s game against Fraserburgh properly as they are another very good side.
“We played them in the Aberdeenshire Cup earlier in the season and were 2-0 up before losing after extra time, so we know exactly what we are up against.”