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

Football Times Cup Semi-Final - 25/04/09
Halkirk United 7 - 0 Muir of Ord

(photo by jamesgunn.co.uk)

United will tomorrow bring down the curtain on their North Caley season with an appearance in the final of the Football Times Cup on their home turf.

They made sure of a gala end to a memorable season with what turned into a rout in their semi-final versus Muir of Ord on Saturday.

The contest was by no means settled by the interval when they led thanks to an opportunist brace of goals from Sandy Sutherland.

Rovers' hopes were buried when Lee Elder netted two long-range crackers in the space of a minute soon after the turnaround.

A deflected effort by Ross Sutherland in between a Mark Nichol double rubbed further salt in the visitors' wounds.

On a glorious spring afternoon, the Anglers were quickly to the fore as they continued their quest for a third cup triumph.

A Nichol prompt after three minutes looked to have opened the way for Sandy Sutherland only for the striker to be thwarted by a last-gasp recovery tackle from David Niven.

Chris Sutherland shortly after misfired from six yards after the opportunity was created by Elder's persistence along the left bye-line.

Nichol then skied a half-chance before Muir came closest to scoring on 15 minutes.

A diagonal from the rugged Graeme MacGregor fell perfectly for the unmarked Lorne Mackay whose 10 yard drive inched past the left upright though ref Graham John thought United keeper Shaun Henderson played a part in diverting the ball wide.

(photo by jamesgunn.co.uk)

Niven lost his early brownie points when his slip on 18 minutes let in Alan Farquhar for an unobstructed run-in on keeper Steven Hyslop.

The midfielder was undone by a heavy first touch which undoubtedly contributed to him snatching his shot past the right post.

Farquhar partly atoned three minutes later when his set-up afforded Sandy Sutherland just enough time and space to steer an angled, rising shot past Hyslop from near the corner of the penalty box.

The striker was celebrating again on 37 minutes when he got on the end of a marvellous, long-range pass from Elder from wide out in his own half.

The ball eluded the Muir back-line and Sandy Sutherland ran on to net from 12 yards.

Halkirk continued to hold the whip hand and almost increased their advantage on the cusp of half-time.

A flowing move culminated in Elder's flick setting Nichol racing into the box.

Hyslop was the equal to his first effort and through the striker prodded home the rebound, his effort was rightly ruled out for his use of an arm to control the loose ball.

An outbreak of hostilities in the run-up to half-time resulted in United's Kyle Ross, Gavin Henderson and Chris Sutherland and Rovers duo David Brennan and Alan Geegan being cautioned.

The visitor's young striker Paul Brindle had been the first to go into Mr John's book for a late tackle on Sandy Sutherland.

Muir's goal was soon under threat after the turnaround but a slick build-up involving Ross, Nichol and Chris Sutherland was not matched by Elder's woeful attempted finish from near the penalty spot.

On 49 minutes, United again pierced Muir's overworked backline when Farquhar sent Nichol scampering through the centre. He beat Hyslop to the ball with his shot pinging back off the base of the right post.

Nichol was favourite to reach the rebound when he was poleaxed by Alan Geegan though Mr John saw nothing amiss.

The killer third goal on 53 minutes came right out of the blue.

(photo by jamesgunn.co.uk)

There seemed nothing on when Elder gathered 20 yards out. His first touch took him away from an opponent and his second sent the ball fizzing towards the top, right-hand corner via Hyslop's fingertips.

Within a minute of the restart, Elder was at it again after he seized on a defensive foul-up to lob the ball high over the stranded keeper to make it 4-0.

Muir's freefall continued five minutes later when Nichol pulled off his marker to rise and net with a powerful downward header from Farquhar's corner.

The chances continued to come thick and fast with Ross creating opportunities for Sandy Sutherland and sub Ross Sutherland while Nichol was unable to find away past Hyslop when clear on goal.

The keeper was again required on 75th minute to make a brave parry to deny Farquhar with the excellent Brennan flinging himself to prevent Stevie Reid bagging the follow-up.

Reid was again foiled by Hyslop before United grabbed a sixth when Hyslop was wrong footed when Nichol's shot took a crucial deflection off Ross Sutherland.

Shaun Henderson had to wait until the 85th minute for his first genuine save when he was made to work to get to a dipping shot from Niven following a rare Muir corner.

Hyslop marred a more-than-decent performance five minutes from time when his miskicked clearance left Nichol with a tap-in for his second of the afternoon.

Halkirk - S. Henderson, Ross, Davidson, A. Sinclair, Miller, G. Henderson (Bremner 70), Farquhar, C. Sutherland (R. Sutherland 58), Nichol, S. Sutherland (Bremner 70), Elder.

Muir of Ord Rovers - Hyslop, Cadden, Mackay (Gow 68), Brennan, Niven, MacLennan, A. Geegan (S. Geegan 75), MacGruer, Dance, Brindle, Calvert (Kerr 60).

Ref - Mr G. John.

report provided by Iain Grant

pictures provided by jamesgunn.co.uk

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