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

League Division 1 - 18/06/08
Pentland United 0 - 1 Halkirk

Kitten

A great three points for the Wildcat's following a well-deserved victory, which some spectator's thought might've been our first victory in Dunnet for almost twenty years (???).

Nige made a couple of changes to the line up from the Keiss game with Blocks and Muttley coming in to lead the line up front. Martin Bain was unavailable, so Adamson once again had to drop back to sweeper.

We took a wee while to find our feet and settle in the game but soon showed that we were more than capable of matching them and give a good game.

We had our first decent opportunity when Stevie and Bainer combined well with a breakaway move, which was only halted by a last man foul right on the edge of the box. Strangely, the referee decided not to take any action before Gavin put the free kick wide.

We continued to enjoy a fair share of the possession, with Blocks & Muttley linking well up front and Luke & Bainer proving to be a real threat in the wide positions.

It was Bainer who went close to opening the scoring when his 'cross-come-shot' almost deceived Michael Gray and flew just over the bar.

Ian, Gunny and Gav were playing really well at the back and were able to restrict the home team to just a couple of half chances in the first half, although they always looked a threat from set pieces with their extra height.

Half Time 0 - 0

We played up the Ham Park slope in the second half but this certainly didn't prove to be a hindrance as we dominated possession and the territorial advantage for much of the game.

We started the second period positively, played good football, were pressurising the home side all over the pitch and refused to allow them to settle.

Bainer was having a great game down the right hand side and looked our most obvious option for breaking the deadlock and went close a couple of times with shots from around the edge of the box.

We found ourselves under a bit of pressure around the hour mark and struggled to clear our box for a while as they won a succession of corners. We defended them well though, with everyone challenging for high balls and Poop's handling assured when he was called upon.

We almost took the lead soon after when Gavin fizzed a free kick just past the upright with the keeper looking beaten.

We continued to create, but with time moving on, it looked as if we might not be able to get the breakthrough. It finally came though with about fifteen minutes to go. Blocks did well in the build up and Bainer again found space out wide. He got to the bye-line and cut in before looking up and picking out Kitten on the edge of the six yard box and he side footed the ball past Gray.

The expected onslaught never really came from the Stabs after they fell behind. They came closest from a shot, which was superbly blocked by Gav.

Gavin then almost scored direct from a corner, but the ball came back off the upright with Gray scrambling to get there.

As the home side began to push more and more, we were able to pick them off on the break and should've increased our lead.

Luke was not to get what would've been a well-deserved goal, when he rounded Gray on a one-on-one but his shot was blocked on the line by a defender. The rebound fell to Tarpot and his first time volley flew just past the post.

The final action of the game saw Rusty try his luck from about 35 yards with the keeper stranded but once again a defender blocked the effort.

A great win for the team and an absolutely fantastic all-round performance from everyone that was involved.

The fact we were beaten 9-0 by the Swifts a week ago makes it all the more impressive. It was a fully deserved victory, which could've been more comfortable as we really did dominate most of the match. Let's hope that we maintain this good form for the remainder of the season starting against Carloway on Saturday.

Go Wildcat's!!

report provided by Liam Bremner

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