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

North Caley League - 10/09/11
Golspie 4 - 4 Halkirk United

The Anglers are setting the early pace in the North Caley League as far as entertainment goes.

A second 4-4 draw contained as many sub-plots and twists as your average Italian opera.

Manager Jock Mackay would however happily trade the cliffhanging librettos for a straightforward story-line in which his side records a comfortable victory.

Apart from the eight goals, Saturday's match at King George V Park had a glut of near things and plenty of decent football.

Throw in an early goal-of-the-season contender, a four-goals-in-five-minute spell and half-a-dozen bookings and you can see it was a game to send the pulse-rate racing.

There was no real hint of what was to come in a relatively low-key opening half-hour.

The hosts marked their dominance during this period by forging a two goal lead.

Left winger Aaron Smith struck on 10 minutes when he was sent clear to tuck the ball past keeper Graeme Williamson.

Smith turned provider on 28 minutes when his assist allowed midfielder Stuart Thomson to beat the offside trap and wrongfoot Williamson before netting.

United shook off their early lethargy with Nigel MacKenzie's switch with Martin Bain injecting more menace threat to their attacks.

A good spell was rewarded on 32 minutes when Colin Sinclair's tramp down the right flank resulted in his centre being cleared into the stride of Martyn Cook.

The central midfielder elected for the first-time shot with his rising 25 yarder arcing over the reach of keeper Steven Campbell to lodge in the right postage-stamp corner.

The visitors retained the upper hand and Campbell soon after was stretched to hold a Davie Cowie header from MacKenzie's spiralling cross.

On 36 minutes, the keeper needed the assistance of team-mate Jordan Sutherland to prevent Chris Sutherland turning in MacKenzie's low centre.

Campbell then did well to turn Grant MacNab's wicked, angled strike behind as the hosts desperately sought to keep their lead.

That proved in vain when, on the stroke of half-time, Cook's feed was touched on by Cowie for Sutherland to steer past the keeper.

Golspie's physical approach was marked by first half bookings for Mikey Sanderson, Gary Black and Ian Fyfe.

Centre-half Mark McKernie soon added to the crime count for a crude take-out of MacNab.

Halkirk enjoyed an edge on proceedings and it was against the run of play that Sanderson put them behind again on 58 minutes after Black and Smith did the donkeywork.

The lead lasted for less than a minute after a slack pass across the home 18 yard box was seized upon by Sutherland who set up MacNab with an open goal.

A minute later, United were chasing the game again after a catastrophic communication breakdown between Colin Sinclair and Williamson.

With the keeper advancing towards an innocuous punt, Sinclair's back-header went behind him.

Sinclair desperately chased back to try and redeem his gaffe but Smith just beat him to the punch and bundled the ball in from close range.

Golspie's lead this time lasted three minutes by when MacNab played in Sutherland whose first touch and juggle were followed by a sweet volley past Campbell to make it 4-4.

How there were no further goals in the half-of-hour play remaining is something of a mystery as the goalmouth drama at both ends continued unabated.

Sutherland almost clinched his hat-trick on 67 minutes with a spectacular looping shot from wide out on the left which shaved past the right upright.

Williamson was then extended to touch behind a fierce effort from Black.

Thomson met the resultant corner with a header which narrowly cleared the crossbar.

Sutherland looked on the money again on 75 minutes when he beat Campbell to win possession 30 yards out but he was denied a shot at the unguarded net by a backtracking defender.

Despite an under-strength bench, it was the hosts who finished the match the stronger and looked the more likely to grab a winner.

Sanderson, the experienced ex-Highland League campaigner, went close before setting up Smith for a crack which was just off-target.

In the final minute, good work by Sanderson teed up Thomson with a clear sight of goal 15 yards out only for the latter to scoop wildly over.

A final injury-time scare for United came when Tommy Campbell's inch-perfect cross was wastefully headed wide at the far post by sub Robert McCormack.

Jordan Sutherland joined his team-mates in the book, as did Halkirk pair Colin Sinclair and MacNab.

Golspie Suthertland - Campbell, J. Sutherland, Christie, Thomson, McKernie, Fyfe (McCormack 62), A. Sutherland, Campbell, Sanderson, Black (Pullen 81), Smith.

Halkirk United - Williamson, C. Sinclair, Florence, A, Sinclair, Henderson, Cook (Bremner 90), Bain, MacKenzie, MacNab, Sutherland (Mackay 86), Cowie (Halliday 72). Sub (unused) - Howden.

Ref - Mr G. Dearie.

report provided by Iain Grant

photos provided by Niall Manson

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