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

League - 15/11/08
Halkirk United 4 - 2 Alness United

(photo by jamesgunn.co.uk)

Halkirk United braved a foul day to overcome gritty opponents on Saturday to retain their 100% home record in this year's MSIS North Caledonian League.

Conditions were tough enough in a first half when the home side faced a capricious wind laced with occasional heavy showers. But they worsened significantly after the interval with the temperature dipping sharply and the game ending in fading light and a torrential downpour.

Halkirk were never behind though Tommy Regan's young bloods gamely stuck to their task and ensured the game had a competitive feel throughout.

As in their cup final victory over Alness a fortnight previously, Halkirk's main problem was finding a way past Grant Robertson. The 22-year-old electrician showed why he was in demand as a junior by Motherwell, with another top-notch display.

As early as the fourth minute, he proved his worth when he dived headlong to thwart Sandy Sutherland after the striker had been sent clear.

Robertson went on pull of last-ditch stops from shots by Graham MacDonald and Sandy Sutherland, again, and touch a Gavin Henderson header over the bar.

It was by no means all one-way traffic with Robert MacAskill and David Manson showing up well in some decent build-up play.

MacAskill went close with a snap-shot and his cutback would have produced the opener had home keeper Jamie Mackay not displayed razor-sharp reflexes to get to Stuart Murray's shot.

(photo by jamesgunn.co.uk)

Halkirk went ahead on 30 minutes with a glorious counter in which MacDonald's sweeping pass to Lee Elder ended up with the latter's first-time centre being swept in by Sandy Sutherland.

Within eight minutes, the visitors were level when David Murray's assist elicited a clinical, near-post finish from Craig Munro.

Robertson prevented Halkirk regaining the lead when a mistake by Alness defender Willie Stewart provided an opening for Sandy Sutherland only for the keeper to pull off a super block.

The Easter Ross men were up against it big-time after the break with the wind strengthening so much that Robertson had real trouble making any yardage with his clearances from feet or hand.

The omens did not look good for them when they fell behind within four minutes when Sandy Sutherland's surge up the right flank resulted in his low cross giving Alan Farquhar the chance to register his first goal of the season.

Robertson did well to keep out a raging shot from MacDonald before his side managed to survive a series of gale-assisted corners.

Their resistance cracked on 74 minutes after Evan Murray baulked sub Mark Nichol in the box. Nichol, who had earlier wasted a decent opening, made a professional job of burying the spot-kick.

(photo by jamesgunn.co.uk)

It now looked a hopeless cause for Alness but they somehow found a way back when they were awarded a penalty on 77 minutes after Colin Sinclair was adjudged to have pushed Munro in the box.

Sinclair's protest was marked by a booking before Evan Munro reduced the leeway to 3-2.

Halkirk went back on the offensive with Robertson denying sub Luke Sawyer.

The pressure was unrelenting and Halkirk's two goal cushion was restored by Chris Sutherland on 79 minutes. After rounding two opponents, his drive failed to beat Robertson but the keeper was unable to get enough on the ball to prevent it rolling over the goal-line.

In the gathering gloom and downpour, Robertson went on to make his final contributions to another man-of-the-match winning performance by foiling efforts from MacDonald and Nicol.

Apart from Sinclair, yellow cards were also shown to David and Evan Murray, Munro and Elder.

Manager Ian MacDonald said:

"I thought we played well in the first half, considering the strength of the wind. "We did the hard work then and dominated the second half. "Their keeper again stood out for them - without the saves he made, we could have had nine or 10."

Halkirk - Mackay, C. Sinclair, A. Sinclair, Miller, Davidson (Ross 55), Farquhar, Henderson, C. Sutherland, S. Sutherland (Nichol 55), MacDonald, Elder (Sawyer 70). Subs (unused) - Bremner and Niwa.

Alness United - Robertson, Campbell, Bremner, Stewart, E. Murray, MacAskill, Munro (Muir 74), Reid, S. Murray (Miller 87), D. Murray (Sinclair 73), Manson.

Ref - Mr G. John.

report provided by Iain Grant

pictures provided by jamesgunn.co.uk

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