Halkirk United FC - Reports, Results & Photos - Season 2011-2012

North Caley League - 14/01/12
Halkirk United 3 - 0 Dingwall Thistle

The Anglers on Saturday negotiated another tricky obstacle in what they hope will be the run-in to a second successive North Caley League title.

Once again, victory was achieved on the back of a swashbuckling second half display in which two goals soon after the interval drew the sting from the visiting Jags.

Their challenge, further blunted by the sending-off of keeper Steven Hyslop, disappeared off the radar after Martin Banks made it 3-0 late on.

As the final furlong in the race hoves into view, Dingwall and Alness United - victims of a shock 1-0 defeat away to Clach A - look to have shot their bolt.

Muir of Ord Rovers - two points in second and still to play Halkirk at home - are the most visible threat though Golspie Sutherland could come up fast on the rails were they to win their games in hand.

One of Halkirk's strengths has been their ability to keep together a largely unchanged squad throughout their unbeaten NCL campaign.

On Saturday, the only change to the previous 4-1 win in Thurso the previous week was Banks coming off the bench to replace the injured Grant MacNab and Martyn Cook winning a starting place at the expense of Gavin Henderson.

Dingwall proved feisty opposition in a prosaic first half of few thrills.

Jack Halliday almost gave United an early boost when he burst clear on seven minutes but his effort was turned behind by Hyslop.

Soon after, the keeper was equal to a swerving free-kick dispatched by Alan Larnach.

With both sides toiling to pierce well-marshalled defences, the setpiece looked the most likely source of a breakthrough.

On 16 minutes, a Dingwall corner was met by Craig Stuart who pulled his shot wide of the target.

Halkirk were bossing possession and were unlucky no to take the lead when centre-back Alan Sinclair headed brother Colin's free-kick against an upright.

The keeper then saved well from Nigel Mackenzie though the final two chances of the half fell to the visitors with Norman Bain and Darren Goller both unable to find the target.

A match which was very much in the balance swung United's way when they struck twice within 12 minutes of the turnaround.

On 54 minutes, Chris Sutherland combined with Banks to spring the defence and allow Allan Larnach to run through and slot home.

Banks also had a large assist in the second as he was chopped down inside the penalty box at the end of a surging run.

Sutherland buried the spot-kick to boost his haul for the season to 16.

Midway through the half, Hyslop was sent off after he rushed out his box and poleaxed Sutherland as the forward sped on to although ball.

Before the collision, the United man managed to feed Larnach who passed the ball into the empty net.

Ref Graham John seemed content but after consulting an assistant, he chalked off the goal after deeming Larnach was offside.

Thistle then survived a strong penalty claim after Larnach appeared to be balked in the box before Williamson was forced to pull off a sharp save from Gollar.

The Anglers put the gloss on their victory on 77 minutes when Banks raced on to sub Michael Bremner's feed to make it 3-0.

Bremner went close soon after before Henderson fizzed a trademark long-ranger just over.

Halkirk manager Jock Mackay was happy with the way his troops went about their task.

'It was always going to be a hard game for us,' he said.

'They were quite a physical side and while we had a lot of the play in the first half, we struggled with a lack of movement up front and we weren't creating much.

'We looked more dangerous in the second half and once we got the first goal, it opened up for us.

'After they got their keeper sent off, there was no way back for them and it was just a case of how many we would score.'

Halkirk United - Williamson, C. Sinclair, Florence, A. Sinclair, Davidson, MacKenzie (G. Sinclair 80), Cook, Halliday (Henderson 79), Larnach, Sutherland (Bremner 75), Banks.

Dingwall Thistle - Hyslop, Wilson, Bain, MacBean (Taylor 88), Pirie, MacAllister, Urquhart, P. Gair, Urquhart, MacRae (Miller 62), Goller. Subs (unused) - A. Gair and Mackay.

Ref - Mr G. John.

report provided by Iain Grant

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