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

Port Services Group League - 17/10/09
Tain Thistle 1 - 2 Halkirk United

United were relieved to see out a fraught finale to Saturday's match to sustain their PSG North Caley title push.

Tain rode their luck before the turnaround when they were grateful to be just two behind. But they proved steelier opposition in the second half when they got a goal back and spent the last 10 minutes battling for an equaliser.

The Jags started the day in third spot, a place behind their opponents who were aiming to maintain their impressive strike rate of 33 goals from eight outings.

The early omens were not good for the home camp as United gave late call-up keeper Sean Broadbent no time to settle.

The keeper was in emergency action as early as the third minute when he spread himself well to prevent Luke Sawyer scoring from Kyle Ross's flick-on.

Soon after, Ross released Sandy Sutherland whose effort on goal was smothered by Broadbent.

Sawyer was next to be thwarted when his attempt was blocked by defender Martin Farquhar.

Gavin Henderson then shaved the top of the bar with a long-ranger before Broadbent was required to tip Colin Sinclair's shot over after a high-tempo, multi-pass sequence.

Darran Gollar had Tain's only real chance in open play in the first half when he raced clear on 12 minutes but saw his shot come back off keeper Graeme Williamson's legs.

Broadbent distinguished himself again six minutes later when he was initially wrongfooted by Alan Larnach's stinging drive only to re-adjust and fling himself to turn the ball past a post.

The mounting pressure paid off on 26 minutes when Sutherland and Larnach cut out an opening for Ross who netted with a composed finish.

The Anglers were celebrating again on the half-hour mark when Benn Murray found Sutherland who picked out Larnach's run towards the unguarded net. Before Larnach could connect, back-tracking defender Craig Sutherland's despairing effort to clear backfired when he swept the ball into the net.

Halkirk were soon pressing for a third with Broadbent at full stretch to divert Sinclair's 30 yard free-kick behind.

Four minutes from the break, Sutherland looked to have done the needful when he ran through and chipped over the advancing Broadbent only to see the ball trundle wide of the far post.

While Tain were much sparkier after the break, the early chances fell to their opponents.

The on-form Sawyer was posing plenty problems down the wide right and he created two good openings which neither Stuart Florence nor Sutherland were able to direct on target.

Florence's long-range assist on 55 minutes resulted in Sutherland's raking shot being well saved.

Tain got a goal back three minutes later when a free-kick broke off Sinclair and Lee Morrison was handily positioned to net from close in.

Shortly before, Gollar had missed a sitter.

The visitors almost reclaimed their two goal advantage when Larnach's free-kick eluded Broadbent only to come back off the angle of the bar and the left post.

That was the start of a busy 10 minute spell from United when Sawyer and Murray went close and Sutherland was again foiled by Broadbent.

The Jags went on to boss the closing 10 minutes when they came closest to levelling from an almighty melee in the visiting goalmouth.

United manager Ian MacDonald was relieved his misfiring side emerged with a victory.

He said: They decided to have an off-day and I'd give only Colin Davidson pass marks. It was frustrating but at least we got the win.

Tain Thistle - Broadbent, Durrand (Murray 77), Farquhar, Mackay, Morrison, Mills, Austin (Cowie 77), Sutherland, Gollar, A. Christie, K. Oliver. Sub (not used) - D. Oliver.

Halkirk - Williamson, Sinclair, Murray, Davidson, Traill (Munro 66), Henderson, Larnach, S. Sutherland, Ross (Budge 66), Sawyer, Florence. Subs (not used) - MacNab.

Ref - Mr J. Johnston.

report provided by Iain Grant

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