Halkirk FC - Reports, Results & Photos - Season 2009-2010

David Allan Shield Round 1 - 30/07/09
Halkirk 3 - 2 Thurso Pentland

Bainer

Wildcats returned to Recreation Park on Thursday night for the first time since their Highland Cup defeat by Avoch, again on cup duty, in the Davie Allan Shield against Thurso Pentland. The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was put back to give the field time to recover, after the Halkirk Highland Games.

Sexy took the managerial reigns and had a very strong squad to select from but Gunnie, Rusty, Tarpot and the Emirates Stadium bound Duck were the absentees from the victory in Dunnet.

Sexy started with Pies in goal, the returning Spike and Crispy along with Swandog at the back. Stevie C, Gav B and Blocks occupied midfield, Bainer and Kitten on the flanks with Mikey and Charlie up front.

The windy conditions caused concern that this was going to be no easy game against a Pentland side that had caused the Wildcats problems at the Dammies in the league.

This proved the case early on with both teams failing to settle and adapt to the conditions.

A magnificent last ditch tackle by Swandog gave the lads confidence and this led to a spell of sustained pressure on the Pentland goal with Mikey, Bainer, Kitten and Charlie all going close with decent efforts.

On 26 minutes the Wildcats broke the deadlock with Bainer firing home after been fed through by Charlie.

Charlie

Almost immediately Gav B almost made it 2 with a thunderous 30 yarder that smacked off the crossbar.

It wasn't long before the 2nd goal arrived courtesy of Charlie who fired the ball past the impressive Reid Anderson in the Pentland goal.

At half time the Wildcats went in with a deserved 2-0 lead - although it could have been more.

The second half started the same as the first had ended with more sustained pressure.

Mikey had a chance to put the game beyond doubt only to be thwarted by an excellent block by Pentland's keeper Anderson.

This seemed to give the Thurso side hope and Pies was called into action to make a fantastic stop from a powerfully hit free kick from Pentland's James McLean.

The Pentland's did make a breakthrough and yet again it took a penalty to beat Pies with the referee adjudging that Swandog had handled in the box.

Adam Sutherland made no mistake, hitting it high to Pies right although the keeper had gone the right way he had no chance.

Spike

The Wildcats regrouped and Gav B was finding plenty of room on the left side where he was linking up well with Blocks and Stevie C.

Sexy then made his first change with Brenda going on to replace Bainer who had nearly restored the 2 goal cushion with a 25 yard rocket that smacked off the inside of the post.

Muttley made an appearance coming on for Mikey B.

The marauding Spike then put the game beyond doubt with a fine finish across Anderson into the far corner.

Almost immediately the Pentlands replied with a low drive that left Pies helpless.

Butch came on for Charlie and the Wildcats comfortably played out time to progress to a home tie versus Wick Groats on Monday.

All in all a good performance and continued winning ways after the excellent win in Dunnet last week.

This cup represents Halkirk's last chance of silverware, this season and let's hope the Wildcats will rise to the challenge on Monday - on what will be a tough encounter against the league leaders and Highland Amateur semi finalists.

Go Wildcats!

report provided by Niall Manson

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