Halkirk FC - Reports, Results & Photos - Season 2010-2011

Davie Allan Shield Round 1 - 26/07/10
Wick Thistle 1 - 4 Halkirk

The Wildcat's progress into the next round of the Davie Allan Shield with what was at times a far from convincing performance.

The home side made a bright start to the game and enjoyed the majority of possession in the early stages as we struggled to match the level of performance produced against the Stabs in our last game.

Although they had more of the ball, they didn't really create too many clear-cut chances and we were able to restrict them to a few long range free kicks, although this was a threat as they had a bit of a free-kick specialist in their ranks and he fired in a couple of efforts that just went the wrong side of the crossbar.

When we finally showed a bit of urgency going forward, we created our first real chance of the game and Muttley was unlucky to see his shot hit the post and go wide after a fine run.

Charlie was looking dangerous in flashes down our left hand side but the longer the first half went, the more frustrated we became.

We finally made the breakthrough just after the half hour and it was a fine goal from Hothead. He showed some good battling qualities to track back and make a challenge just inside their half before going on a run that saw him evade a couple of tackles before playing a neat one-two with Mikey on the edge of the box and placing the ball past the keeper.

Half Time 0 - 1

A bit of a talking to at the break didn't have an immediate effect as we again made a sluggish start to the second 45 but soon settled down and a couple of quick-fire goals put the tie beyond Thistle.

Muttley produced some good wing play for the first, beating his man before looking up to pick out an unmarked Charlie on the edge of the six yard box and he calmly placed his header into the bottom corner.

It was then Charlie's turn to provide the assist, as he played in Mikey in the inside right channel and he ran on just inside the box before powering what was a deserved goal past the keeper.

The third goal more or less clinched the game but Thistle pulled one back with a goal that must've been a good couple of yards offside but was allowed to stand.

We then endured a nervy five minutes or so before restoring our three goal advantage and it again was Charlie who grabbed the goal. He got played in by young Liam and his first time shot caught the keeper by surprise and the ball found the bottom corner.

We then went on to spurn quite a few chances, most notably when Brenda fired just wide with a shot that would've burst the net, as we picked off Thistle on the break but any further scoring would've been extremely harsh on an impressive young Thistle team.

I'm not sure if it was because it was a Monday night game, we were once again missing a few players or we perhaps underestimated our second division hosts but something was amiss because for long periods of this game too many of us under-performed.

The only real positive that we can take from this game is the fact that we have progressed into the next round of the cup but we'll need to raise our commitment, effort and performance levels if we hope to make the semi final.

Go Wildcats!

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