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

Football Times Cup - Quarter finals - 21/02/09
Invergordon 1 - 4 Halkirk United

Lee Elder

This result leaves the Anglers one game away from clinching a 'home' berth in the final of the Football Times Cup.

With the scheduled finale to the North Caley season at Recreation Park, United have extra incentive to see off Muir of Ord Rovers in the semi.

Invergordon never seriously threatened to put a spanner in the works on Saturday.

The Easter Ross side have been misfiring most of this campaign with a lack of pace and cohesion in their defence and the lack of a regular goal-getter a debilitating combination.

Had Halkirk exploited half of the decent chances that came their way in the first half, the contest would have been well and truly over by the interval.

As it was, they were made to rue their failure to add to Kyle Ross's opener when Invergordon sub Ashley Mills nipped in to equalise with the first play after the resumption.

Stuart Florence restored United's lead midway through the half but their dominance was only reflected in the scoreline with late strikes from Lee Elder and Mark Nichol.

The flow of the quarter-final was not helped by a stiff wind blowing straight down the park.

Invergordon were first to show a threat on eight minutes when United keeper Jack Mackay was tested by a snap-shot from Stevie Murray.

The visitors responded with an Elder effort which went just wide.

Nichol then cottoned on to a wind-assisted clearance from Mackay to run through and fire narrowly past, with Campbell again taken out of the equation.

Campbell earned his spurs on 24 minutes when he denied Nichol after Gavin Henderson had crafted the opening.

The keeper went on to foil Nichol again as he dived at full stretch to get to the striker's netbound attempt.

In between, Ross sidefooted past from close range after Florence had done the spadework with a weaving run and accurate lay-up.

Ross finally broke the deadlock two minutes from the turnaround.

Elder's sortie up the left flank bamboozled the defence and his cross produced a 12 yard angled finish from the Wick youngster.

There was still time in the half for Florence and Ross pass up close-range snips.

The misses were magnified when the home side drew level within a minute of the restart.

A poor clearance from Colin Davidson was seized on by Robert McCormack who strode forward before delivering a cross which was met by a tidy flick from Mills over keeper Mackay.

Halkirk quickly resumed their ascendancy in general play but the goal served to refuel Invergordon's energy levels.

Nichol was just off-target with a 57th minute free-kick after Graham MacDonald was fouled on the edge of the penalty box.

The Anglers reclaimed the lead on 65 minutes with a cracking goal.

Colin Sinclair was at the heart of a length-of-the-park counter, swapping passes with Nicol before his centre was met at the far post by a blistering drive from the inrushing Florence.

Florence went close to getting a second before Elder saw a shot come back off the inside of a post and roll across the line before being cleared.

Halkirk were well on top but their lead was precarious and it was only in the last two minutes that they pulled clear.

Nichol went close again on 85 minutes after good work from MacDonald and sub Sandy Sutherland before Elder made it 3-1.

Nichol was the provider before Elder tricked his way round Campbell before passing into the empty net.

A minute later, the roles were reversed as Elder's cutback was swept in by Nicol for his 29th goal of the campaign.

Halkirk manager Ian MacDonald was generally happy with the display.

He said - Apart from their goal, they never really threatened us. With us just one up after playing with the wind, I thought it was game-on when they equalised right after the break. But we settled down and went on to play some really good football. It's sometimes better playing against the wind than with it.

He rated the second goal as a season highlight.

It was one of the best moves I've seen for quite a while. It was one-touch right from their penalty box and it was a great finish.

Invergordon - Campbell, McHendry, Kennedy, C. Stone, Mackay, Ogilvie, McCormack, A. Stone, Cooper, Murray, MacLeod. Subs (used) - Mills, McGruer and Stevens.

Halkirk - Mackay, Sinclair, Davidson, Farquhar, Miller, Henderson, MacDonald, Florence, Nichol, Ross (Sutherland 67), Elder.

Referee - Mr J. Johnston.

report provided by Iain Grant

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