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

SWL Cup Semi-Final - 05/12/09
Dingwall Thistle 1 - 2 Halkirk United

North Caley anoraks are checking the record books to find out if United are the first club to have reached six finals on the trot.

Ian MacDonald's side gritty victory in Dingwall on Saturday swept them into the SWL Cup final in Thurso tomorrow week.

It pits them against Muir of Ord Rovers, who pipped them to win the NCC Cup earlier this season.

Jimmy Budge's late headed winner in Saturday's semi condemned Thistle to their first reverse at home in this, their first season back after a 22 year break.

Luke Sawyer's early opener put United in the driving seat but the Jags drew heart from David Taylor's 30th minute penalty leveller before being stung by Budge's late clincher.

A highly charged, ultra-competitive clash laced with good football and heartstopping goalmouth action was a good advert for the division.

Thistle were inches away from taking a first minute lead when David Murray played in Gary Urquhart whose 10 yard effort scraped the top of the crowbar.

It was Halkirk who got the early settler when Colin Davidson's long diagonal found Luke Sawyer who skipped past David Buchanan before rifling an angled shot low past keeper Neil Mackay.

The visitors were almost celebrating again six minutes later when Alan Sinclair's head-flick set up fellow striker Budge for a raking effort which produced a glorious one-handed stop by Mackay.

Thistle's first clear opening came on 17 minutes when Taylor's corner was headed across goal by Gordon Duff to Craig Stuart whose header failed to find a sizeable section of unguarded net.

Sawyer's pace and trickery was regularly causing problems for the left side of Thistle's rearguard.

On 29 minutes, a typical bustling run by the youngster ended with his centre picking out Alan Sinclair whose header thudded back off the bar.

Thurso exile John MacLeod was next to go close when he ended a rampaging run with a shot which United keeper Graeme Williamson was relieved to see scrape past a post.

The high tempo of the evenly-matched contest continued a minute later when the home side drew level.

Davidson's joust with David Murray as the pair chased a long through-ball towards United's box ended with the Halkirk man clearly pulling his opponent back. Ref John Bicknell ruled the contact was in the box and pointed to the spot with Davidson counting himself fortunate to escape with just a booking.

Taylor ignored the controversy to tuck away the spot-kick low past Williamson.

Thistle would have gone in front had MacLeod shown more precision when sent clear and not shot close enough to Williamson to allow the keeper to send the ball behind with his feet.

The home men started the second half the sharper though it was United who were the first to threaten when Neil Mackay needed sharp reflexes to turn away Gavin Henderson's piledriver on 57 minutes.

A minute later, United had a major reshuffle after Scott Mackay Steven - one of three in the visiting squad struggling to shake off after bouts of flu - was forced to call it a day.

With Stevie Reid coming on up front, Alan Sinclair reverted to his normal station in the middle of defence, Benn Murray went to full-back and Stuart Florence moved into midfield.

The changes reinvigorated the Anglers though neither side ever was able to get a long spell on the front foot.

Reid was booked for a dive in the Thistle penalty box and the home side were unlucky when David Mackay's header from a free-kick on 71 minutes came back off the bar.

United's winner owed much to keeper Mackay's rash dash from his goal to collect a free-kick driven in by Davidson.

Budge was among a clutch of players standing just inside the penalty box and his back-header flew over everybody into the back of the untended net.

Williamson again saved from MacLeod before Reid missed a half-chance to seal the tie on 83 minutes when he shot over after being set up by Sawyer.

Manager MacDonald emerged more than satisfied to have extended United's remarkable run of cup final appearances.

It was a bit of a battle out there. I thought we were the better side for the first 25 minutes but the game then got a bit niggly and they got back in the game with a penalty for a foul which was clearly outside the box, said MacDonald.

MacDonald was happy his side managed to sustain the hectic pace of the game, especially as it was just their second outing in five weeks.

Dingwall Thistle - N. Mackay, Macbean, Buchanan (Munro 35), Duff, D. Mackay, Morton, Murray, Taylor, Urquhart, MacLeod, Stewart. Subs (unused) - MacLean, Reid, Manson and Thain.

Halkirk - Williamson, Florence, Murray, Davidson, Traill, C. Sinclair, Mackay Steven (Reid 61), Henderson, A. Sinclair, Sawyer, Budge. Subs (unused) - Davis and Mackay.

Ref - Mr J. Bicknell.

report provided by Iain Grant

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