Halkirk United FC - Reports, Results & Photos - Season 2008-2009

Port Services Cup - Final (in Golspie) - 01/11/08
Halkirk United 1- 0 Alness United

Alan Sinclair
(photo by ross-shire.net)

Halkirk sweeper Alan Sinclair had particular reason to savour Saturday's cup final triumph in Golspie. His fourth minute goal proved decisive while, as skipper, he raised the Port Services Cup aloft to spark a night of celebrations for the Anglers.

The success was the first the 27-year-old joiner has enjoyed since battling his way back to play from a career-threatening medical condition.

The dependable Wick-based defender was a regular with Academy when the advance of an arthritic ailment led to doctors fearing he would have to give up the game. He played a season with Halkirk two years ago before returning to Harmsworth Park to prove to himself that he could cut it for one last season in the Highland League.

Having successfully done so, he duly rejoined the MSIS North Caledonian outfit, where he has been one of the side's most consistent performers this term. Last week's cold snap aggravated his arthritis and he was a doubt right up until the morning of the game with a hip complaint.

His early strike - his first for the club - would not have been so crucial had the Anglers not capitalised on long spells of domination in the course of the match.

While that was partly down to indifferent finishing, much of the credit went to young Alness keeper Grant Robertson whose masterly display between the sticks belied his years. Any other choice to pick up the man-of-the-match award would have been scandalous.

Winning Halkirk United FC Team, Manager and Committee

Robertson had conceded the corner which led to the goal after getting down smartly to turn Mark Nichol's stinging shot past the left upright. Luke Sawyer's delivery ended with Kevin Miller laying off to centre back partner Sinclair who calmly side-footed home from six yards.

Alan Sinclair later demonstrated his worth at the back when he was the only outfield defender as the nippy Stuart Murray sped towards goal. Sinclair forced the striker out wide before dispossessing him.

Gavin Henderson & Mark Nicol
(photo by ross-shire.net)

Alness had their fair share of the ball but throughout the game lacked the killer pass or darting run to pierce the opposing rearguard.

Halkirk, on the other hand, regularly, got in behind enemy lines with Michael Bremner proving an excellent foil for Nichol up front.

A sweeping attack on 19 minutes resulted in Bremner and Luke Sawyer providing a second clear opening for Nichol. The striker's attempt on goal was struck well enough but Robertson threw himself to his left to keep it out.

After 31 minutes, Nichol turned provider when he latched on to Colin Sinclair's searching pass to set up Bremner. His shot beat Robertson only to be hooked off the goal-line by Evan Murray.

Alness's best attempt on goal came on 40 minutes when Stuart Murray's surprise dig from 30 yards required two clutches from Halkirk keeper Shaun Henderson before he was able to gather,

Halkirk should have doubled the lead two minutes later when Lee Elder's prompt sent Bremner running free down the inside-left channel. Bremner neatly stepped Jodi Campbell on the edge of the box but then inadvisedly opted for power rather than craft in his finish which allowed Robertson to make the block.

The keeper then turned away a raking drive from Elder and saw a Nichol header scrape wide as the half ended with Halkirk firmly on top.

The resumption was to witness a full-on blitz on the Alness goal as Halkirk pressed for a killer second goal.

Robertson did well to reach a deflected shot from Colin Sinclair while Nichol's netbound shot looked a winner before cannoning wide off Campbell's chest.

Miller was just off-target with a volley and Nichol shaved the post with a header before sending a raging shot just over as Alness somehow held out.

Campbell was fortunate not to hook the ball into his own net on 61 minutes.

Michael Bremner
(photo by ross-shire.net)

Robertson became an ever more influential presence, first standing up well to another attempt from Nichol before leaping to his right to somehow claw to safety a shot from Sawyer after a marvellous zig-zag run into the box from the midfielder.

The siege was briefly lifted by a quick counter from Alness on 70 minutes with good work from Sean Robertson giving Craig Munro an inviting opening from 12 yards which he failed to exploit.

Nichol again came out the loser in a duel with the keeper eight minutes later as Halkirk kept up the pressure.

Robertson did well to hold a lusty volley from sub Chris Sutherland and even better to again deny Nichol shortly afterwards.

The script changed in injury-time when Tommy Regan's men came as close as they came all day to equalising.

A powerful long-range run from Andrew Maitland ended with Henderson making a timely interception to prevent the sub's cross being turned in.

In the last action of the day, an Alness corner found two men unmarked at the far post with the resultant header requiring a scrambled goal-line clearance from Sutherland.

Stuart and Evan Murray and Halkirk's Gavin Henderson were booked by Caithness ref Willie Sinclair, who was making his last appearance in charge of a North Caley game.

Halkirk - S. Henderson, C. Sinclair, Davidson, A. Sinclair, Miller, G. Henderson, Stanger (Farquhar 67), Sawyer, Nichol, Bremner (MacDonald 72), Elder (Sutherland 69). Sub (unused) - Niwa.

Alness United - Robertson, Campbell, Bremner, Stewart, E. Murray, MacDonald, MacLean, Munro, S. Murray, Robertson (Maitland 85), D. Murray (Sinclair 76). Subs (unused) - Muir, Graham and Miller.

Ref - Mr W. Sinclair.

report provided by Iain Grant

pictures provided by ross-shire.net

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