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

MSIS League - 12/04/08
Muir of Ord Rovers 2 - 0 Halkirk Utd

Muir's Indian sign over Halkirk continued on Saturday as an early headed brace from Ewen Dance did the damage in this MSIS North Caley encounter.

The league newcomers had previously edged Ian MacDonald's men out of two cups and been drawing 2-2 when a rainstorm aborted the league match in Halkirk.

United made the third trip to Muir in confident mood of posting a first victory over their opponents.

But after a decent opening in which Niall Murray struck the woodwork, their cause was undermined by Dance's double.

The visitors battled valiantly to get back in the contest but could not break down a feisty rearguard, in which keeper Martin Rae excelled.

Halkirk were hampered before they started when winger Chris Sutherland was consigned to the bench after aggravating a hamstring in the warm-up.

They however gave notice of their attacking intent within four minutes

following a powerful surge up the left touchline by Stuart Florence.

His far-post cross invited a header from Stevie Reid which the striker failed to direct on target.

Four minutes later, Alan Farquhar's prompt encouraged Murray to have a crack at goal with his shot beating Rae only to come back off the far post.

The optimism engendered by the lively opening was punctured when the home side went in front on 10 minutes with their first attack of any substance.

There appeared no immediate danger by a long-range free-kick delivered into Asa Sinclair's penalty box.

But Dance was unchallenged as he executed a header which caught out the keeper as it looped over him into the net.

Shortly afterwards, Asa Sinclair came to his side's rescue when he dashed out to confront the inrushing Morris MacMillan. MacMillan's netbound shot was blocked by the keeper's feet.

It proved a brief reprieve as Dance weighed in with his second on 17 minutes.

A quickfire raid down the right ended with Asa Sinclair grasping thin air as Dance nodded home.

Rovers came close to adding to their tally after 21 minutes when Kevin MacAllister's clever chip eluded Asa Sinclair but rebounded in play off a post.

United went on to play the better football for the remainder of the half while rarely seriously troubling Rae.

Their best effort came on the half-hour mark when a neat flick from Farquhar put Sandy Sutherland racing through on goal.

The striker steered the ball past Rae but just wide of the target.

After the break, United kept up the pressure but continued to suffer from a

lack of a cutting edge in the final third.

Muir's only real threat came on 57 minutes when Asa Sinclair showed sure handling in fielding a stinging free-kick from Dave Brennan.

Shortly afterwards, Reid caused panic stations in the home penalty box after a weaving run and diagonal cross which failed to attract the touch needed.

After 75 minutes, what was to be the last opportunity for the visitors came and went.

A sweeping move involving Gavin Henderson, Farquhar and Murray looked to have released Reid but Rae doubled up as sweeper to sprint from his box to get to the ball fractionally before the striker.

report provided by Iain Grant

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