Halkirk United FC - Reports, Results & Photos - Season 2007-2008

League - 16/04/08
Halkirk United 3 - 1 Thurso

Halkirk signed off their MSIS North Caley season in cruise mode as they completed a league double over Alness.

Inconsistency has blighted the far north village outfit's chances of getting in among the silverware this season

They will finish outside the top three in the league and have come up short in the cups despite impressing as one of the most skilful sides in the division when firing on all cylinders.

On Saturday, they were able to harvest all three points without playing to their potential.  They could not have wished for a better start than to grab a second minute opener.

Lee Elder's foraging run down the wide left hit the jackpot when his cutback encouraged Colin Sinclair to let fly from 25 yards.  Keeper Jodie Campbell was taken out of the equation by the pace and precision of the strike which arrowed past him into the net.

Sinclair relished the new midfield role given to him with an energetic display which saw him regularly involved in the action.

Tommy Regan's fledgling Alness side struggled to settle with visiting wingers Pher Nicolson and Liam Mackay adding to their unease by regularly switching sides.

Halkirk keeper Asa Sinclair was however forced to make a decent stop from Alan Miller on 21 minutes in the aftermath to a corner.  Five minutes later, Alness found themselves two down after a long-range pass found released Elder who rounded Campbell before netting.

The action soon returned to the home goalmouth with Gavin Henderson twice going close with two booming shots from distance.

Campbell impressed with a double save after 39 minutes when Colin Sinclair chiselled out a chance for Elder. The keeper parried Elder's first attempt before pushing his follow-up clear of the bar.

Shortly afterwards, a long-range foray by Scott Manson ended with his fierce shot shaving the bar.

A minute after the turnaround, Manson went even closer when he got on the end of Henderson's assist and watched his shot come back off the far post.

Mackay and Elder then combined with the latter's effort just missing the target.

Elder could have added to his tally but failed to convert close-in opportunities to score with a header and then a shot.

The closest Alness came was when Evan Murray's towering header from a corner clattered back off the bar.

The game degenerated until a late flourish from the visitors culminated in their third goal.

A sparkling move on 80 minutes begun by teenage debutant Jordan MacKechnie and sustained by fellow sub Chris Sutherland and Elder had an anti-climax with Sandy Sutherland's maladroit stub over the bar.  Four minutes later, Chris Sutherland showed his namesake how to finish after Farquhar had done the spadework for him.

Halkirk manager Ian MacDonald was happy with the form his troops showed in finishing the season with wins over Thurso and Alness.  He is left to rue a couple of mini-fallow spells which spiked his side's bid for honours.

'On our day, we can beat anyone but defeats in key games proved costly for us while injuries have meant we have not had a settled sweeper.'  'The back-to-back defeats versus Inverness were major setbacks - but for them we would have been right in the hunt.'

Halkirk have not beaten Inverness in any of the six encounters since the city side joined the North Caley League last year.  'They've certainly been a bit of a Jonah for us,' said the manager.

Currently fourth, Halkirk will finish fifth if Muir of Ord win their remaining match, away to Bunillidh Thistle tomorrow.

report provided by Iain Grant

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