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

Port Services Group League - 26/09/09
Halkirk United 2 - 3 Muir of Ord

The concession of a goal deep into injury-time consigned United to their first defeat at home for two years.

The winner from Martin Callum capped a deeply disappointing day for the Anglers who failed to capitalise on an encouraging first half showing.

After a faltering start to their PSG North Caley League campaign, Rovers have run into a rich run of form and are among a clutch of teams that could mount a serious title challenge.

United's midfield missed the industry and invention of Gavin Henderson while defender Colin Sinclair's injury at the end of the first half also hit their cause.

The visitors forged in front on 20 minutes after United had enjoyed the better of the early action.

United's best chance came on 11 minutes when Lee Elder's cross picked out Luke Sawyer whose header was powerful enough but too straight to seriously trouble keeper Martin Rae.

The opening goal came from a corner swung in by Callum and netted by Dave Brennan whose unchallenged leap prompted an inquest among the United markers.

The lead lasted just four minutes when a route one attack paid dividends for Ian MacDonald's men.

Graeme Williamson's long punt was missed by defender Blair Duncan to allow Elder to feed Sandy Sutherland who rounded the last outfield defender before neatly sliding the ball past Rae.

Buoyed by the equaliser, United went on to enjoy a sprightly second quarter.

On 35 minutes, Alan Larnach's free-kick was wastefully headed over by Elder when Stuart Florence was much better placed.

Two minutes later, United went in front when Niall Traill's cross was played back by Sandy Sutherland for Graham MacNab to net with a raking, low shot from the edge of the penalty box.

Muir spurned an early opportunity to level when Ewan Dance's header from Gary Calvert's set-up was mistimed to enable Graeme Williamson to make a routine gather.

Larnach's wing-play was posing plenty of problems for the visitors and he was unlucky when a run on 41 minutes ended with a 20 yard strike which came back off the right post.

A minute before the break, a series of attacks by United led to a clutch of goal attempts for Elder, Sandy Sutherland and Larnach, at least one of which should have counted.

The home support were to be mystified by their side's collective fade-out after the interval.

Rae was seldom troubled with the visitors growing in confidence and increasingly impressing as an attacking force.

Rae was relieved Traill over-ran the ball when given an opening on 55 minutes.

Muir had threatened several times before they made it 2-2 on 72 minutes with a glorious 30 yard strike by Paul Gair.

The visitors turned up the heat in the closing stages and it was they who looked the more likely to get the winner.

United believed they had held out only to be denied by Callum's clincher four minutes into injury-time.

Callum shook off three would-be tackles on a path into the box before he calmly dispatched the ball wide of Williamson into the net.

Manager MacDonald afterwards struggled to account for United's second half switch-off.

He said: I thought we played really well in the first half when they posed next to no threat. In the second half, I felt sorry for our defence as they regularly had no-one in front of them who could either give them protection or keep the ball.

MacDonald was also piqued by the amount of injury-time played.

United were last beaten at Recreation Park against Inverness City in October 2007.

Halkirk - Williamson, Sinclair (Bremner h/t), Traill, MacDonald, Davidson, Florence, Larnach, Sawyer, S. Sutherland (C. Sutherland 75), MacNab (Reid 65), Elder.

Muir of Ord - Rae, J. Calvert, Brennan, Duncan, MacMillan, Keith, Callum, Gair, Farquhar, Dance, G. Calvert. Subs - Skinner, Geegan, Mitchell, Mackay and Turner.

Ref - Mr G. Elder.

report provided by Iain Grant

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