Halkirk United FC - Reports, Results & Photos - Season 2009-2010

Port Services Group League - 10/04/10
Halkirk United 4 - 1 Balintore

United climbed to third in the PSG North Caley League after winning on Saturday without playing near their best.

While comfortably ahead in possession and looking the more creative throughout, they only made sure of victory with two goals in the last seven minutes.

After finishing the first quarter two ahead, they conceded just before half-time and had one major scare before their late brace.

Balintore have had a makeshift look for much of the season as manager Mike MacLeod seeks to regroup after a traumatic summer for the club when they at one stage had dropped out of the league.

In keeper Ross Henderson, they have one of the NCL's best shot-stoppers and he underlined that on Saturday when he regularly came to his side's rescue.

In three minutes, he excelled to keep out a Jimmy Budge effort after the striker was set up by Gavin Henderson.

The visiting keeper was then relieved when Luke Sawyer's jinking run ended with his shot striking the outside of his left post before going behind.

Ross Henderson was left helpless on 19 minutes when Gavin Henderson opened the scoring with a trademark 35 yard rocket-shot.

The Balintore keeper was at fault for the second on 23 minutes when he weakly palmed out a Colin Sinclair corner to allow Alan Sinclair to net with a powerful header.

United looked on course for a stress-free success as they continued to create chances.

On 35 minutes, Ross Henderson got down sharply to hold a strike from Sawyer after another rampaging run.

The home camp got a rude wake-up call three minutes when Balintore finished off what was their first serious foray.

An end-to-end, route-one offensive resulted in Jamie Kelly beating Williamson to a loose ball at the corner of the penalty box. Kelly's effort on goal was going wide before Scott Miller arrived to tap in at the far post despite the close attention of Alan Davis.

Budge almost restored his side's two goal advantage at the break but his connection from Scott Mackay Steven's cross drew a fine reaction stop from keeper Henderson.

Mackay Steven created the first opening of the second period for himself with his would-be finish producing a last-ditch block to turn the ball past the post.

On 54 minutes, Balintore were inches away from drawing level with Roy Gibson's clipped left-foot shot from the edge of the penalty box just clearing the bar.

United responded with Gavin Henderson striking a post and a solo run and shot from Colin Sinclair allowing Ross Henderson to again demonstrate his agility.

Balintore were reduced to 10 men on 70 minutes when Steven Alexander was shown his second yellow card of the afternoon for a mistimed tackle on Sawyer.

With United's defence by now seeing next to no action, Ben Murray strode forward on a weaving run which should have produced more than Pher Nicolson's weak headed attempt at goal.

Nicolson did somewhat better on 83 minutes when an incisive break from the halfway line ended with his cross being turned in by Budge.

Two minutes from time, Colin Sinclair made it 4-1 when he seized on a half-cleared header to score with a powerful, rising shot.

United manager Ian MacDonald said:

'It was not one of our better performances and we made life more uncomfortable for ourselves than we need to. I thought Pher made a difference when he went on - he managed to open up their defence a couple of times and he made the third goal.'

Halkirk United - Williamson, Davis (Banks 85), Murray, A. Sinclair, Davidson, Henderson, C. Sinclair, Sawyer, Budge, Munro (Shearer 59), Mackay Steven (Nicolson 59).

Balintore - Henderson, Davis, Metcalfe, Powell, Alexander, Sutherland, Dunnett, Kelly, MacDonald, Miller, Gibson. Subs - Morris, Knox and MacLeod.

Ref - Mr R. Gunn.

photos provided by jamesgunn.co.uk

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