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

Port Services Group League - 10/10/09
Bonar Bridge 2 - 5 Halkirk United

United repeated their recent cup victory over Bonar with a win on Saturday which keeps them on the tails of PSG North Caley League leaders Thurso.

Bonar topped and tailed the match with goals but in between had shipped five as well as surviving a number of near-misses.

Anglers striker Sandy Sutherland contributed a well-taken second half double to make it five goals in the last four games to make up for his enforced late start to the season.

His pair came after Chris Sutherland levelled Barry Duncanson's stunning fourth minute opener.

The gloss for United came when subs Kyle Ross and Gordie MacDonald opened their accounts with late strikes.

Bonar drew heart from taking the lead with their first attack when visiting keeper Graeme Williamson failed to appreciate the threat posed after a Sean Henstridge's effort was partially cleared.

Williamson was left stranded as Duncanson's first-time riposte from 30 yards arrowed over him into the back of the net.

The keeper partially redeemed himself shortly afterwards with a vital parry to deny John Dorrian.

Halkirk responded with Sandy Sutherland twice going close - the first a solo effort and the second created by Stuart Florence.

Bonar keeper Steve Martin impressed on 36 minutes when he managed to divert a spanking 25 yard free-kick from Alan Larnach over the bar.

The equaliser was delayed by just a minute when Florence drove past two defenders before squaring to Chris Sutherland who shot low past Martin.

The visitors came desperately close to taking a half-time lead when Chris Sutherland scuttled down the left wing before setting up Larnach. His powerful strike would have counted but for Martin's athletic lunge to save near the foot of his left-hand post.

Halkirk continued to look the likelier to score next with Chris Sutherland and sub Luke Sawyer regularly making productive inroads down the wide channels.

Sandy Sutherland and Larnach had both gone close before their side was denied what looked a clearcut penalty on 55 minutes when Neil Traill's looping cross came back off the arm of defender Mark Munro.

Ref John Johnston - who had earlier waved away Sean Henstridge's penalty appeal at the other end - was unimpressed.

Sandy Sutherland, whose over-vigorous protest saw him booked, grabbed his first of the afternoon on 59 minutes.

Sawyer's foray down the left flank ended with his delivery being controlled by the Wick-based striker before he clipped the ball wide of Martin.

Larnach got more than his usual quota of goal opportunities with the last coming on the hour-mark when he headed over from Colin Sinclair's free-kick.

Bonar were very much on the receiving end and Chris Sutherland would have increased their deficit on 65 minutes but for another fine stop from the over-worked home keeper.

Sandy Sutherland pounced on 73 minutes to make it 3-1 when he diverted Gordie MacDonald's cut-back across Martin to nestle just inside the keeper's far post.

Within a minute of the restart, Sandy Sutherland almost grabbed his hat-trick with Martin's trailing leg preventing the striker converting a run-in.

Ross struck on 81 minutes with a first-time connection from Sawyer's service.

Three minutes later, fellow sub Gordie MacDonald got in on the act when he met a cross from Traill with a neat header.

Sawyer missed a great chance to make it six before Bonar grabbed a last minute second when John Bremner rose to net from David Clark's corner.

United's manager Ian MacDonald was pleased how his side stepped up a gear after the interval.

He said: Losing the early goal meant we were having to chase the game and the first half was a bit of a battle. We got the equaliser and then pretty well ran over the top of them. They never showed up in the second half when I thought we played really well.

Bonar Bridge - Martin, M. Munro, Stewart, Bremner, MacAskill, Dorrian, Duncanson, Henstridge, Mackay, Sutherland, Fulton. Subs - K. Munro, Crombie, Clark, Montgomery, and Jones.

Halkirk - Williamson, Sinclair, Murray (Sawyer h/t), Graham MacDonald, Traill, Florence (Ross 75), C. Sutherland, Davidson, Henderson, Larnach, S. Sutherland. Subs (not used) - Munro and MacNab.

Ref - Mr J. Johnston.

report provided by Iain Grant

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