Halkirk United FC - Reports, Results & Photos - Season 2008-2009

League - 20/09/08
Golspie 5 - 0 Halkirk United

Two goals at the death put an unfair gloss on Golspie's victory in Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at King George V Park.  Golspie emerged deserved winners but the sting at the tail was hard to take for the visitors who had more than held their own for the majority of the contest.

The Sutherland outfit have started the MSIS North Caley season in sprightly form and are already short-odds favourites to retain their title.

United had the misfortune of facing them without injured midfielders Alan Farquhar and Gavin Henderson and unavailable defender Stuart Farquhar.  Their injury curse struck again on Saturday with Scott Manson and Mark Nichol both having to hobble off the field with knocks and Graham MacDonald being a passenger in the latter stages after sustaining up a foot injury.

The home side were quickly in attacking mode with Andy Keveren's second minute power header from Aaron Smith's teasing cross going too close for comfort.

Halkirk responded with a Kyle Ross strike which home keeper Neil Mackay turned over his bar.

From the corner, Ross had another chance when Graham MacDonald's lay-off induced a strike from the pint-sized striker which flashed just wide of goal.

The all-action opening continued with Keveren's connection from Shane Sutherland's assist goalbound until a last-gasp clearance off the legs of visiting goalie Stuart MacCulloch.

Halkirk were seeing plenty of the ball and almost took the lead on 16 minutes after a cracking interchange between Nichol and Ross.  It opened the way for Stevie Reid to slot the ball past Mackay only for a defender to get back to hook the ball off the goal-line.

That roused Golspie to mount a series of quickfire attacks with MacCulloch equal to successive attempts by Smith, Keveren and Shane Sutherland.

Six minutes before falling behind, the visitors passed up a glorious opportunity created by Manson's searching free-kick from near the halfway line.  Three United players left it to each other to claim the lofted delivery which ended up passing harmlessly past Mackay's right post.

The opener on 35 minutes came after Golspie broke up a Halkirk attack and Tommy Campbell launched a 60 yard pass upfield.  Keveren won a challenge with Alan Sinclair and took advantage of MacCulloch's rash dash from his goal to slot home.

Before the break, good play by MacDonald set up Nichol for a crack at goal which was turned past by Mackay.

The hectic pace was maintained after the interval with Mackay in action again to deny MacDonald before MacPhail was frustrated to see what looked a surefire effort come back off a post.

Golspie doubled their lead on 56 minutes when a mix-up in the visiting defence left MacCulloch in no man's land as Shane Sutherland scored with a toe-poke.

Five minutes later, the tie was effectively settled when Halkirk were again caught as they pressed forward.

After one of their moves broke down in the 18 yard box, Smith's punted clearance was seized on by Shane Sutherland to run on and beat MacCulloch on his near post

Halkirk kept plugging away and Mackay was called on to make decent saves from both Sawyer and sub Michael Bremner.

The game was fizzling out when United struck twice more in the dying throes of the game.

Smith struck on 88 minutes with a snap-shot before he set up Keveren to notch his second of the day with a header in injury-time.

Halkirk manager Ian MacDonald felt the scoreline was rough justice on his side.

"I'd be more concerned if we played badly but we were more than a match for them in midfield.  "There were a few of us who didn't play up to par but overall I thought we competed well.  "They got several goals from long punts out of defence and Stuart held his hand up for a couple."

Golspie - N. Mackay, Dunnett, A. Sutherland, R. Thomson, Campbell, MacPhail, S. Thomson, Smith, J. Mackay, Keveren, S. Sutherland. Subs - Connelly, Sanderson and Whyte.

Halkirk - MacCulloch, Manson (Bremner h/t), C. Sinclair, A. Sinclair, Miller, MacDonald, Davidson, Reid, Nichol (Sutherland 68), Ross, Sawyer (Elder 70).

Ref - Mr G. Dearie, Inverness

report provided by Iain Grant

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