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

Football Times Cup Semi Final - 03/04/10
Muir of Ord 2 - 5 Halkirk United

The Anglers extended their Midas touch in cup competitions with this handsome win at the venue where they all too often have come to grief.

Never behind, they could afford to miss a late penalty as they clinched a place in their 11th final in the last three seasons. The pair are set for a further match-up in the SWL Cup final in Thurso on April 24.

United meanwhile can look forward to featuring in the climax to the NCL protracted season when they play Dingwall Thistle in the Football Times Cup final.

Doubles from Colin Sinclair and Luke Sawyer and a Jimmy Budge counter did the damage for United with Ewan Dance's brace doing no more than salvaging some pride for the hosts.

Muir struggled to deal with United's attack-minded formation with Scott Mackay Steven and Sawyer regularly allowed licence to roam down the wide channels.

Budge and Sandy Sutherland provided the central spearhead while United were well served by defensive linchpin Alan Sinclair and midfield orchestrator Gavin Henderson.

Their threat was demonstrated in the opening minutes with a coruscating run from Mackay Steven from his own half providing Budge with the chance to work veteran keeper Jim Calder.

The 49-year-old former Inverness CT number one was then helped by sweeper John Skinner's block of a later attempt by Budge.

Calder's goal continued to come under pressure with the keeper relieved to see a Budge header from a Henderson cross clear his bar before he did well to keep out a Sutherland shot.

United's dominance was rewarded on 26 minutes, though there was a fair slice of luck in the way they took the lead. A quickly-taken corner by Sawyer to Colin Sinclair ended with the latter's floated cross foxing friend and foe as it went in off the underside of the bar. The setback inspired a good spell from the hosts who restored parity within five minutes.

Visiting keeper Graeme Williamson did well to hold a daisycutter from Dance. He then used his legs to block another effort from the striker from a teasing cross from Gary Calvert.

Williamson was powerless to act after Kevin Keith's flick wrongfooted the Halkirk's central defence and Dance pounced to net. Within a minute, United were back in front when another mazy run from Mackay Steven created an opening for Budge. The big striker's effort deflected off John Skinner to Sawyer who finished off in some style from 15 yards.

Minutes later, Ian MacDonald struck again after Williamson's long clearance had central defenders John Skinner and Jason Calvert in a pickle.

The ball eluded both and Sawyer raced through to steer past Calder for his second of the afternoon.

Halkirk continued to press with Sutherland hitting a post and the over-worked Calder preventing Sawyer getting his hat-trick after slick approach work from Mackay Steven and Budge.

Muir, who had won the three previous encounters this season, continued to struggle and eight minutes into the second half fell three behind.

Sawyer's foray ended with his cross to Sutherland being touched on to Budge whose low shot from the edge of the penalty box blurred past Calder.

Muir committed resources forward in a desperate bid to keep their hopes alive with Dance being foiled by a smother save by Williamson on 73 minutes. The lively Dance got a goal back two minutes later with an unchallenged header from Gary Calvert's cross.

United welcomed back Graham MacDonald from the bench and he quickly provide his worth with a sparky run and shot, which Calder turned behind.

Colin Sinclair's lucky streak continued when he curled the ensuing corner on a parabola which avoided contact until it went into the net off the inside of the far upright.

Seven minutes from time, Dance missed a golden chance to claim his hat-trick when United sub Alan Davis was adjudged to have pushed Keith in the penalty box. The striker, however, scuffed the spot kick which trundled harmlessly wide.

Colin Sinclair followed suit three minutes later when John Skinner's handball in the box gave him the chance of a rare threesome only for his attempt to comfortably clear the bar. A hat-trick of hat-trick cock-ups came in the final action when Sawyer found himself in the clear but was thwarted by a brave block by Calder.

United's return to the swashbuckling style which characterised their play in the opening months of the season delighted manager Ian MacDonald.

'It looked like we had remembered how to play football again. There was a recent spell when we couldn't string two passes together. We looked good on Saturday and we should have won by a bit more than we did.'

Muir of Ord Rovers - Calder, J. Calvert, John Skinner, Morrison, Brennan, MacCallum, James Skinner, Gair, Dance, Keith, G. Calvert. Subs: MacMillan, Geegan, Stewart and Brindle.

Halkirk United - Williamson, C. Sinclair, Murray (Davis 58), A. Sinclair, Davidson, Florence, Henderson, Sawyer, S. Sutherland (MacDonald 76), Budge, Mackay Steven.

Ref - J. Bicknell.

report provided by Iain Grant

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