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

League - 11/10/08
Balintore 2 - 1 Halkirk United

(photo by ross-shire.net)

Saturday's defeat dents United's MSIS North Caley League ambitions which were fuelled by their high-scoring start to the campaign.

Balintore's hit-and-run victory, sealed with Tony Farquhar's injury-time winner, is a hammer-blow to their bid to wrest the championship from Golspie's grasp.

Though the league is only a third of the way through, they have shipped eight more points than the Sutherland outfit and United boss Ian MacDonald knows his side now have next-to-no margin for error.

He said: "We're looking for them to have a couple of off days while we need to keep winning and beating them in Halkirk is now a must."

The manager missed Saturday's defeat as, along with players Kevin Miller and Lee Elder, he was at Hampden suffering with the rest of the Tartan Army.

Balintore are masters at defending a lead and it looked like their stifling tactics would make John Skinner's early penalty decisive. But United sub Michael Bremner struck with eight minutes left with his second goal since his return from his year out Down Under.

(photo by ross-shire.net)

With MacDonald's men deployed in full-out offensive mode in search of a winner, they were hit by a classic counter-punch at the death.

While Balintore showed little appetite for committing men forward, they showed plenty of grit in midfield while their rearguard was superbly organised by their wily sweeper John Skinner.

While United ended the day well ahead in terms of shots on and off target, the bulk of the efforts were long range. Missing their out-and-out wide men, they struggled to outflank their opponents.

The first chance was a United set piece on 11 minutes with home keeper Ross Henderson making his first save from Colin Sinclair's free-kick. Three minutes later, Balintore went ahead after Gavin Henderson balked Alan Stainke after the latter had just beaten him to a 50-50 ball played into the visitors' penalty box. John Skinner sent United goalie Jack Mackay the wrong way with the resultant spot-kick.

Balintore thereafter set up shop in their own half with Farquhar condemned to live on starvation rations for the rest of the match.

On 16 minutes, a hanging cross from Colin Davidson was touched on by Kyle Ross to Mark Nichol whose header produced a smart save from Ross Henderson. Nichol then sent a Colin Sinclair assist narrowly wide while Adam Stanger hit straight at the keeper when set up by Sandy Sutherland.

(photo by ross-shire.net)

Seven minutes from the break, Stanger passed up a glorious chance to open his scoring account for his new club. Colin Sinclair and Luke Sawyer had opened up the defence with Nichol's dummy inducing a fumble from Ross Henderson. That left the Orcadian with a gaping net six yards out. His miss was not quite in the Iwelumo class but could still have given him sleepless nights.

A goal down at the break while facing a stiff wind and having enjoyed most of the play encouraged hopes in the visiting camp of a second half comeback. These were nourished by a lively resumption in which Gavin Henderson and Nichol both went close with lusty strikes at goal.

Nichol threatened again on 50 minutes with a header from Colin Sinclair's well-flighted cross which veered just wide of target. Mackay had little to do though a Gus MacDonald delivery two minutes later caused a flap in United's central defence with the keeper relieved to be able to swoop on the ball ahead of several attackers.

The action soon returned to the other end with Nichol's angst-filled afternoon continuing with a snap-shot that beat Ross Henderson only to skiff the outside of the far post.

Stanger was again unable to hit the target from Sawyer's assist while Ross Henderson pulled off a decent stop to thwart Nichol.

There was little respite for the hosts as Ross Henderson rose to keep out an 18 yarder from Florence in between Colin Sinclair and Sawyer going desperately close.

(photo by ross-shire.net)

The pressure belatedly paid off when Nichol gave Bremner free passage and his swerving shot eluded Ross Henderson to make it 1-1.

United then went for the jugular and created several half-chances before Farquhar's late sucker punch.

There appeared no obvious danger two minutes into injury time when John Skinner heaved a high ball into the United box. The ball took several deflections before finding Farquhar whose less-than-convincing connection from just inside the six-yard box floated over Mackay into the back of the net.

From feedback he was given, manager MacDonald was left to reflect on how his side came away with nought after dominating the contest from the off.

He said: "It sounds like we dominated just about the whole game while they were hardly ever in it apart from the penalty and the last kick of the game."

Balintore - Henderson, Davis, MacFarquhar, J. Skinner, MacCallum, Stainke, Mitchell, Farquhar, S. Skinner, MacDonald, MacKain. Subs (used) - Smith, MacRitchie and Martin.

Halkirk - Mackay, C. Sinclair, Florence, A. Sinclair, Davidson, Henderson, Stanger, Ross (Bremner 67), Nichol (Niwa 83), Sutherland (Farquhar 78), Sawyer.

report provided by Iain Grant

pictures provided by ross-shire.net

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