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

League Division 1 - 20/05/08
Wick Groats 1 - 1 Halkirk

Bainer

Injuries and work commitments again left the manager short of numbers to choose from for this match as he had to contend with no less than 5 call-offs. Charlie was back in the squad and Martin Bain came out of retirement to take up his familiar role at sweeper.

We started the match reasonably well on a very hard and bumpy Upper Bignold pitch although the home side enjoyed most of the early possession. Groats are a tidy passing team, but although they created a couple of half chances and had a few crosses into the box, they failed to really trouble Poop in the opening half. We didn't exactly create a lot of chances ourselves as we were restricted to a couple of long range efforts but the longer the game wore on, the more we posed an attacking threat and gave them one or two scares in and around their box.

Half Time 0 - 0

The second half continued on from where the first had left off as we more than matched our hosts.

We took the lead not long after the hour mark after a nice bit of skill from Adamson released Bainer who outpaced the home defence before calmly slotting the ball past the keeper. Despite some calls for offside from the home side the goal was awarded.

As the game wore on we understandably came under more pressure from Groats but the most Poop really had to deal with was a succession of cross and through balls into his box but he dealt with all of these comfortably and his assured handling and speaking to his defence was impressive throughout the game.

Martin was marshalling his defence well as it looked like he'd never been away but then we missed a glorious chance to put the game out of sight. Kitten broke down the right wing on a counter attack and crossed the ball in for Luke but his first touch let him down when he only had the keeper to beat.

Then, with about five minutes remaining, Groats got back level in somewhat controversial circumstances.

We failed to properly deal with a cross ball and it was only half cleared to the edge of the box from where a shot was hit into the net past Poop but there was an attacker standing right in front of him in an offside position, inside the 6 yard box. The referee didn't take the offside flag as he deemed the attacker to be inactive and not interfering with play, despite the fact that it looked like he had actually made contact with our keeper.

This was the last real goalmouth action and both teams had to settle for a point each.

A really disappointing end to the game and very much feels like a case of 2 points dropped having conceded the equaliser so late in the game. We probably would've settled for a point prior to the game with having a slightly depleted squad but having been so close to seeing out the game and looking fairly comfortable towards the end it felt similar to a defeat. We have to move on though and take the positives from a good performance down in Wick against a team that had taken ten points from their first four games. We need to maintain this level of commitment and work rate starting with Rovers at Recreation Park on Friday night.

Go Wildcat's!!

report provided by Liam Bremner

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