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

Port Services Group League - 17/04/10
Halkirk United 7 - 1 Bonar Bridge

The Anglers completed their PSG North Caley League programme with a bumper haul against a below-par Bonar side.

After briefly restoring parity following Scott Mackay Steven's early opener, the visitors never looked capable of staying in touch with a United side eager to mark their last home game with a stylish victory.

Luke Sawyer netted a hat-trick while Colin Sinclair's single extended his scoring run to six to take his total to 11 - just one behind leading marksman Jimmy Budge.

This year's championship race has gone the distance but the downside has been the effective existence of two mini-leagues.

The aggregate score in the three clashes on Saturday involving sides from the top and bottom halves was a whopping 21-3.

A free-kick from Colin Sinclair was the source of United's first goal on seven minutes.

It was palmed out by visiting keeper Keith MacLeod to Mackay Steven whose side-foot finish from six yards was a formality.

MacLeod's goal continued to come under regular threat with successive efforts from Sawyer, Colin Sinclair and Mackay Steven keeping the keeper on his toes.

MacLeod excelled on 17 minutes after flinging himself to prevent Sawyer finishing off a solo dribble from the halfway line.

Bonar had a double let-off nine minutes later when MacLeod turned Colin Sinclair's spanking free-kick against the bar and Scott Steven's cheeky back-heel follow-up came back off the underside of the bar.

After repeatedly riding their luck, Bonar contrived to draw level on 28 minutes.

Colin Davidson and Alan Sinclair got in a fankle to gift possession to Sean Henstridge who ran through to score with a cracking, low shot from the edge of the penalty box.

Within a minute, the Anglers were back in front when Stuart Florence and Colin Sinclair combined to set up Gavin Henderson whose 30 yarder flew in off the underside of the bar.

Budge should have added to his season's tally on 32 minutes after Mackay Steven's cross left him with a tap-in.

The big striker dallied and allowed Mackay to pull of a spectacular point-blank save.

United drew further ahead six minutes from the break when they again exploited their clear superiority in the wide areas.

Ben Murray's feed to Mackay Steven ended with the latter's cross being swept home by Sawyer.

Colin Sinclair made it 4-1 two minutes after the turnaround with a close-in finish from Murray's assist.

A silky link-up involving Greg Shearer, Florence and Henderson gave Sinclair the chance for a second but he shot just over.

Budge struck the outside of a post before Sawyer grabbed his second on 70 minutes after a slick turn took him clear and able to bury a drive past the flailing arms of keeper MacLeod.

Four minutes from time, Mackay Steven's cross was hooked past MacLeod by team-mate Robert MacDonald to make it 6-1.

Sawyer rounded off the scoring with his hat-trick goal in the last minute when he provided the finish to a sparky break from sub Pher Nicolson.

The late purple patch particularly impressed United manager Ian MacDonald.

He said: 'We missed quite a few chances in the first half when we should have been well clear. I don't think they managed to get out of their half after the interval. It was pretty comfortable for us and I thought we really came to life in the last quarter.'

Halkirk United - Williamson, Murray (Munro 65), A. Sinclair, Davidson (Nicolson 71), Florence, Henderson, C. Sinclair, Sawyer, Budge, Shearer, Mackay Steven.

Bonar Bridge - MacLeod, G. MacLean, Mackay, MacIntosh, Sinclair, Ewan, G. Sutherland, MacDonald, Henstridge, Fitzpatrick, Campbell. Subs - L. MacLean, R. MacLean, J. Sutherland, Duncanson and Bremner.

Referee - Mr G. John.

report provided by Iain Grant

photos provided by jamesgunn.co.uk

End-of-Document