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

Port Services Cup - Quarter Final - 04/10/08
Muir of Ord Rovers 1 - 6 Halkirk United

Kevin Miller (photo by jamesgunn.co.uk)

The appetising prospect of an all-Caithness North Caley cup final was kept alive by Saturday's results.  Victories for United and Halkirk in their respective semis a week tomorrow would seal the deal and put the pair on course for a November 11 showdown.

United's stroll was unexpected in that they had not previously beaten Rovers in the five clashes since the latter rejoined the league last year.

After a highly promising first season which yielded a cup triumph and a third place finish in the league, Muir have had to regroup after losing a clutch of regulars, including several now playing in the Highland League.

Injury problems have hit Halkirk hard this term with Saturday's squad missing seven, including two crocked goal-keepers.  That led to call-ups for former Workshops keeper Jack Mackay and Orkney county midfielder Adam Stanger.  Other newcomers Alan Banks and Peter Niwa made up the bench with the pair boosting the Staxigoe presence in the United party to five.

The home side only settled into a semblance of their former selves in a bright 15 minutes early in the second half.  By then their cause was a forlorn one as they had shipped five goals without reply before the interval.

Halkirk were quickly into their stride and before their fourth minute opener, home keeper Ian Bartlett had already made a smart double save from Mark Nichol and Sandy Sutherland.

Stanger was involved in the intricate build-up to the opener with Nichol releasing Luke Sawyer and his cross being turned in at the near post by Sutherland.

Rovers were firmly under the cosh and it was no surprise when they fell two behind on 17 minutes.  Stanger's searching pass to Sawyer was cut back to Sutherland who set up Nichol for the first of his afternoon's brace.

Sutherland spurned a glorious chance a minute later while Bartlett distinguished himself with an athletic dive to turn away a rasping volley from Nichol.

On 31 minutes, the keeper again denied Nichol from the hard-working Sawyer's delivery.

It proved a momentary respite as the next attack hit the jackpot after Bartlett parried Lee Elder's hanging cross into the path of United central defender Kevin Miller who netted from 10 yards.

Minutes later, Nichol's nudge to Sawyer would have given the youngster a deserved place on the score-sheet had Bartlett not shown razor-sharp reflexes to block his low shot.

Colin Davidson was next to pierce the home defence with his slide-rule pass on 37 minutes releasing Elder to run on to make it 4-0. Four minutes later, Halkirk had further joy when Alan Sinclair's back-post cross found the unmarked Sutherland.  His effort was beaten away by Bartlett but Nichol was hovering to net his 13^th of the season

Gavin Henderson missed a decent headed opportunity after the break as Rovers looked in danger of being at the end of a real rout.  But they somehow lifted themselves to enjoy a decent spell when they belatedly tested the visitors' defence.

Muir were awarded a penalty on 50 minutes when Alan Sinclair tugged back Ewan Dance in the box.  Dance took on the responsibility for the spot-kick which was well enough struck but produced a fine, full-stretch stop from Mackay.

Within five minutes, the home side were awarded another penalty though this time it was unclear what offence ref John Nicolson had seen.  Mackay almost staged an action replay though this time he could not quite get to Kevin MacAllister's strike.

United deflated any hopes Muir might have had of making further inroads when Elder grabbed his second on 59 minutes.  A quickly taken throw-in caught out Muir and Sawyer exploited the advantage with his neat cutback being turned in by Elder from the edge of the box.

The game thereafter drifted into the doldrums.

A long-range strike from Davidson which went just over and two late chances passed up by sub Banks were just about the only noteworthy episodes.

United manager Ian MacDonald emerged happy with another decent display by his troops who he believes are coping well with the current injury crisis.

He is also impressed by their strike-rate with Halkirk having rattled in 30 goals in their first seven games.

He said: "I thought the boys we brought in did well.  "Getting the early goal again helped us settle and we went on to play some really good football."

Muir of Ord - Bartlett, Globan, Callum, MacMillan, Cadden, Stewart, MacAllister, Wilson, Dance, MacLachlan, Lyall. Subs - Clark, Sutherland, Pirie and Brindle.

Halkirk - Mackay, C. Sinclair, Davidson, A. Sinclair, Miller, Henderson, Stanger, Sawyer, Nichol, Sutherland (Banks 80), Elder (Niwa 75).

Ref - Mr J. Nicolson, Inverness.

report provided by Iain Grant

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