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

Jock Mackay Memorial Cup - 15/03/08
Inverness 2 - 0 Halkirk Utd (after extra time)

Manager, Blade - 'We had the clearest chances and I though it was a stone-wall penalty...'

United were left battered and bruised at North Kessock after a brave, if unsuccessful bid to oust the holders of the Jock Mackay Memorial Cup.

Two goals in the first period of extra-time killed off their hopes of recording what would have been a first success over the North Caley newcomers.

The Caithness outfit lost by an odd goal in three clashes with City in between an opening 2-2 draw and a freak 7-1 defeat in this season's league encounter at North Kessock.

City, who knocked Ian MacDonald's men out of the cup at the same stage in their debut season, were mightily relieved to have prevailed after a full-on, physical encounter on Saturday.

The visitors left with a sense of injustice, believing they were denied a clear-cut penalty towards the end of normal time when Stevie Reid was manhandled in the box.  They also could claim the lion's share of the chances on offer, striking the woodwork twice near the end of normal time.

United looked the more likely in over-time before their cause was killed off by City's ruthless execution of two defensive lapses.

The home men almost struck in the first minute when Stuart Pearse raced through unchallenged and looked a good bet to finish when he was undone by a block-tackle form the backtracking Colin Munro.

United's first decent effort came from Alan Farquhar whose 30 yard snap-shot had keeper Iain Young scrambling to turn it past a post.

Farquhar is relishing his return to the midfield where he was prominent in shaping attacks and breaking up opposition moves.

Garry Miller proved a key man for City, his first telling contribution in 15 minutes seeing him skip past Scott Manson and firing in a low, hard cross which eluded friend and foe as it scooted past the far post.

Miller was to the fore again in 28 minutes when his connection from Colin Mason's centre was netbound until Munro's last-ditch block.

United had to regroup when Manson limped off with a thigh injury on 35 minutes.

Wick youngster Graham MacNab was given a decent chance two minutes later to mark with first start with a goal but his shot from Farquhar's through-ball was kept out by Young.

A couple of minutes from the break, the teenager seized on a loose ball and forced Young to pull off another decent stop.

There was little to choose between the sides though the odds started to swing City's way after the resumption.

Visiting keeper Asa Sinclair was forced into a near-post save to keep out a stinging effort from Miller.

United then wrested the initiative with good interplay from John Harper and Gavin Henderson creating a clear opening for Reid which he failed to convert.

Harper fired narrowly wide before United were inches away from breaking the deadlock on 62 minutes.

Henderson swung over a cross from wide on the right to the far post where the unmarked Chris Sutherland was lurking.

His chip-shot beat Young but came back off the opposite post.

Minutes afterwards, Chris Sutherland created an aerial opportunity for Munro which grazed just over.

On 70 minutes, Farquhar tricked two opponents before playing in sub Sandy Sutherland who did the difficult bit in making space for a shot only to fail to get power on the effort, which was easily gathered by the keeper.

An edge was lent to the already full-blooded tussle in the closing stages as both camps realised a single goal would almost certainly be enough to decide the contest.

It almost arrived on 75 minutes when Farquhar and Sandy Sutherland did the spadework for Reid whose effort produced a marvellous fingertip save from Young which deflected the ball on to the bar.

Minutes later, Asa Sinclair needed two attempts to keep out a powerful 20 yard strike from Pearce.

Young stood up to Henderson's shot from distance before the 84^th minute flashpoint when United appealed in vain for a penalty.

Henderson and Farquhar had worked the ball through to Reid who rounded David Beaton before the latter appeared to grab hold of him.

Young was the busier keeper in the early stages of extra-time, first getting down well to deny Sandy Sutherland after good work from Stuart Florence.

Young then got his fingers burned as he turned a Henderson free-kick special behind.

The roof caved in on United in the five minutes before the second turnaround.

After Colin Sinclair lost possession, City bolted upfield with Pearce finding Miller who lashed the ball home from six yards.  Then, on 105 minutes, a mix-up in the heart of the visiting defence was seized on by sub Gary Anderson who netted from close in.

With the tie effectively settled, tiredness set in on both sides and the remainder of the game was played out uneventfully.

The physical toll exacted on the Halkirk players led to manager Ian MacDonald cancelling Monday night's scheduled training so players could recover from a variety of bumps, bruises and strains.

MacDonald said: 'I thought it was a good, hard game which we should have won in 90 minutes.  'We had the clearest chances and I though it was a stone-wall penalty when Birch (Stevie Reid) was taken out when he was clean through.'

report provided by Iain Grant

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