Halkirk FC - Reports, Results & Photos - Season 2009-2010

Highland Amateur Cup Quarter Finals - 11/07/09
Avoch 3 - 3 Halkirk

Blocksy is crushed after late equaliser.

The Highland Cup dream lives on as we come from behind three times to secure a replay, following a hard-fought encounter against favourites Avoch.

It was once again a full bus that left 'H' and with several car-loads also making the trip, as well as representatives from the Aberdeen and London Wildcat's Supporters Club's being in attendance, we had a healthy support for the game.

A lot of people thought that this game would be a formality for Avoch, including the John O'Groat Journal who had written off our chances on the Friday but this underdog tag suited us fine as we knew the pressure was off us.

Charlie & Muttley were missing from the squad and Bainer & Spike started the match despite both struggling with ankle injuries and Kitten declared himself fit enough for a spot on the bench having been out for three weeks.

We made a sluggish start to the game and fell behind about ten minutes in when poor marking allowed their dangerous centre forward a free jump to guide his header into the bottom corner past Pies.

The game then should've been over five minutes later.

Pies was beaten by a long range effort that hit the post, but the rebound fell right to the feet of their first goalscorer but he somehow fired his shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy.

This gave us a lift and gradually got ourselves back into the game as we started to enjoy more possession.

We started to get at their defence and they seemed to be all over the place when we played the long ball and this proved to be our main attacking option.

Spike beats the keeper for the second.

It was from a long ball that we got our equaliser.

Gav played a ball over the top and Stevie C latched onto it, he used his body strength to shake off his marker before dinking the ball over the keeper.

The home side were rattled and looked as if they were there for the taking as we continued to get success from the ball over the top.

We then conceded another soft goal as we let an attacker turn in the box and fire a shot past the helpless Pies.

This could have knocked the stuffing out of us but we didn't let the heads go down and were soon back on level terms.

Gavin picked out Stevie C on the left and he flighted a dangerous cross over to the back post where Spike showed the greater determination to beat his marker and their keeper to the ball to bullet his header into the back of the net.

We almost went in front before the break when Gunny (who had earlier seen an effort cleared off the line) met a corner kick from Gavin at the front post but his header struck the cross-bar.

Half Time 2 - 2

The home side were forced into a tactical change at the break as they tried to get back in control of the game and they did look more solid in the second half and we didn't get quite as much joy from the long ball.

Mikey jumps high to win challenge.

It was still an even contest and could've gone either way with both teams having spells of possession in their opponents final third.

Just when we seemed to be gaining the upper hand in the contest, we fell behind for a third time to a goal on the counter attack about the midway point of the half.

Again, the heads didn't drop, we pushed for an equaliser and were almost caught again on the break a couple of times but Pies was having a great game and pulled off a couple of fine saves to keep us in the game.

We were putting them under pressure in their box but didn't seem to be getting any luck as all the loose balls fell to a defender or the ball just wouldn't bounce for us.

We did get the equaliser with about seven minutes to go.

Blocks took a long throw from out on the left which they struggled to deal with. The ball was only partially cleared back out to 'The PF' and he kept his cool, beat his man with a shimmy and fired the ball into the net. There was a slight deflection on the ball to deceive the keeper but it was definitely Blocksy's goal and he deservedly took the credit as the crowd went wild.

This wasn't the end of the action and Blocks was at it at the other end when he popped up on the line to clear a goal-bound shot from a corner.

There were one or two more scares as they forced some more corners but we were able to deal with them comfortably enough and hang on to the end to secure a well deserved draw.

A tremendous display from everyone wearing red and black against an Avoch side with some very good players.

Blocksy clears off the line late on.

We showed great character to come back from behind three times, looked the fitter side as the game wore on and perhaps could've snatched it.

A special mention should go to Bainer & Spike who played despite being nowhere near fit and both produced brilliant performances. Blocks, who despite being gutted at being dropped showed a great attitude when he came on and played really well and, also to Pies who probably had his best game in a Halkirk shirt and had a couple of great saves.

There is still a long way to go in this tie though and we're sure to have a hard game in the replay at Recreation Park on Saturday when a semi-final against Castletown awaits the winners.

Despite there being two other games being played in the County at the same time, we'll be hoping for a decent crowd to give us their backing as we try to progress.

Go Wildcat's!!

report provided by Liam Bremner

A bad knock of heads...

The crowd look on.

The ball comes over and Spike looks like a non-contender...

...but up he jumps and beats the keeper...

...for it to trundle in the net.

Gunnie looks to produce something from the corner...

...with a nice flick on, the ball catches the under side of the bar...

...and passes everyone out to safety.

A sort of Aerial view of the park at half time.

Spike goes in and picks up a booking for his challenge. Although, the Och player made a lot of it..!!!

The wall does it's job against a Gavin free-kick.

Home and ready for the replay...!!!

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