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

Port Services Group League - 06/02/10
Muir of Ord 3 - 1 Halkirk United

A valiant effort by an under-strength United side failed to stem the run of losses they have sustained on trips to the Easter Ross village.

Muir's win also fuels their surge up the PSG North Caley League table and closes the gap on leaders Thurso to four points.

Grant MacNab's surgical strike early in the second half cancelled out Ewan Dance's early counter for the home side but Halkirk had no reply to two scrappy goals in the closing 20 minutes.

The defeat left United - not for the first time in the fixture - sore that a committed and spirited display went unrewarded.

Injuries and suspensions meant United were hard-pushed to get a squad together for what was just their second outing in two months.

Four trialists were included while Graham MacDonald made his first start since mid-October in what has been an injury-plagued season. He was paired with Gavin Henderson in the middle of the park with MacNab and Stevie Reid the strikeforce.

The recent prolonged cold snap and thaw left the Muir pitch uneven and pock-marked. The surface played a part in Dance's third minute opener.

A spell of Halkirk possession ended with Stuart Florence's pass-back taking a rogue stot just as keeper Graeme Williamson went to clear. His aerial miscue fell straight to Dance and the striker calmly netted with a first-time riposte.

Before that, Henderson had drawn a fine, full-length save from home keeper Robert Rose after good work by Scott Mackay Steven and MacNab.

United also came close to restoring parity soon after the goal when Scott Mackay was inches away from meeting Henderson's sweeping cross across the six yard box.

Williamson was then well placed to field a snap header from Dance.

The home side rode their luck on 13 minutes when Luke Sawyer's assist invited a Henderson shot which crashed off the face of the crossbar.

Rose was the busier keeper and he did well to keep out a rasping shot from Florence from just outside the box.

Another effort from Florence drifted just wide while Mackay Steven forced Rose to make a difficult save.

Sawyer was next to threaten when he tricked two defenders to put himself in prime position only to make a hash of his attempt on goal.

Muir threatened with a series of corners but Williamson and his defence stood up well to the pressure.

The final two chances of the half went to the visitors with Rose rising to turn away Reid's volley and then a Colin Davidson flick-on from a corner almost resulting in an own goal.

Davidson was to the fore in ensuring his side did not go two down on 56 minutes when his timely tackle prevented Dance running clear on to James Skinner's through-ball.

Six minutes later, the match was tied after Henderson released MacNab who held off two defenders before steering the ball low past Rose.

The Wick youngster was almost celebrating again on 69 minutes when his header from Sawyer's cross skimmed past a post with Rose beaten.

A minute later, Muir reclaimed the lead with another goal which again had Williamson looking to the heavens.

The keeper had set himself for a cross when Scott Morrison was played into space on then left flank, five yards or so from the bye-line. His miscued cross spiralled over Williamson to nestle in the far side-net.

United rallied and Sawyer fed Reid who was denied by another fine parry from keeper Rose.

Muir wrapped up the points on 76 minutes when they grabbed a third shortly after a Dance strike struck the outside of a post.

Another raid down the left had Tony Farquhar straining to reach the high cross. The ball skiffed his head before hitting off the unlucky Davidson and trickling into the net.

That sounded the deathknell on the Anglers' hopes of getting back into the game and the remainder of the match had a dead feel to it.

United secretary Billy Manson was happy with the display put up by the visitors.

'We were right down to the bones and I though we put up a very good show against what was their full team,' he said.

'We gave it a good go and I think we deserved to get something out of the game.'

He added: 'There wasn't a good goal among the three they scored but Grant's was a real cracker'.

Muir of Ord Rovers - Rose, J. Calvert, Duncan, John Skinner, Brennan, Keith, Callum, James Skinner, Dance, Farquhar, G. Calvert. Subs - MacLennan, Morrison, Gair, Turner and Stuart.

Halkirk - Williamson, Florence, Murray, Davis, Davidson, Henderson, MacDonald (Niwa 77), Sawyer, Reid, (Banks 77), MacNab, Mackay Steven (Mackay 77).

Ref - Mr M. Dalton.

report provided by Iain Grant

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