Halkirk United FC - Reports, Results & Photos - Season 2007-2008

Football Times Cup - 05/04/08
Balintore 3 - 1 Halkirk Utd

United returned with a well-justified sense of grievance after being hustled out of the Football Times Cup on Saturday.

Having bossed the second round tie almost from start to finish, they lost out to a defensively-minded side whose efforts were concentrated on blocking off the opposition supply lines.

Balintore showed precious little attacking ambition though they did give the visitors a lesson in how to convert scoring chances.

Graeme Davis headed the hosts in front against the run of play with a Lewis Ross counter rubbing further salt in the wounds before the interval.

Having got one back soon after the restart through Sandy Sutherland, the United backroom team were quietly confident they would go on to win.

But the tie -- and with it United's last chance for North Caley silverware - was put beyond them after Steve MacCallum pounced on a late defensive gremlin to make it 3-1.

United had made light of playing against the strong wind to produce some silky football which had Balintore pinned deep in their own half for long spells.

As early as the second minute, Niall Murray cut out an opening which Chris Sutherland sent wide of the target.

The visitors continued to dominate, only to find themselves behind when Balintore scored with their first attack on 23 minutes.

As Davis rose to meet James Skinner's high inswinging corner, the ball appeared to go in off United's Gavin Henderson.

United should have restored parity within two minutes when the lively Murray again did the spadework for Sutherland whose netbound attempt was blocked by a defender.

A neat inter-change between Henderson and Sandy Sutherland on 37 minutes manufactured a chance for Murray which he miscued.

It was all hands to the pumps in defence for Balintore but they contrived to

forge two in front two minutes later.

A hopeful long ball broke off Stuart Florence to Lewis Ross who ran on to steer the ball past Asa Sinclair.

The chances continued to come at the other end with Chris Sutherland skipping past his marker and setting up Pher Nicolson whose effort failed to seriously test keeper Ross Henderson.

Within four minutes of the restart, United finally got some reward when Nicolson controlled a long through ball before finding Sandy Sutherland who span round before sending a vicious 18 yarder between Ross Henderson and his right post.

United failed to capitalise on the breakthrough as the game degenerated into a bit of a stalemate.

Graham MacDonald's introduction after a lengthy spell on the sidelines gave a fillip to United.

The visitors survived a scare midway through the second half when Ross broke clear but had his shot diverted over by Asa Sinclair.

On 70 minutes, United came agonisingly close to equalising via the unlikely source of Lee Elder's head.

Stuart Florence floated cross eluded several defenders with Elder's powerful header skimming over the top of the crossbar.

Steven MacDonald wasted little time after his arrival from the bench as his 73nd minute strike produced a fine stop from Ross Henderson.

Graham MacDonald then saw a shot come back off the inside of a post before being denied by a point-blank save from Ross Henderson as United pressed for an equaliser.

The momentum was nipped in the bud by Balintore's third five minutes from the end.

Asa Sinclair's normal prowess with the ball at his feet let him down as he mishit his would-be pass to Florence.

It went straight to MacCallum who wasted no time in dispatching it into the empty goal.

Halkirk manager Ian MacDonald was devastated at the turn of events.

'We played well and did enough to win easily,' he reflected.

'Had we converted the chances we had before they scored, we would have been on easy street.'

With the season now destined to finish trophy-less, United have the goal of finishing as high up the league as they can.

report provided by Iain Grant

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