Post by Brian Mackay on Oct 7, 2009 15:25:11 GMT -5
Halkirk United 3 V Thurso 0 - report by Iain Grant
United completed a surprisingly stress-free win over their county rivals to clinch a place in the first cup final of the North Caley season.
The dominant factor in the tie at Recreation Park was a near-galeforce wind which blasted towards the riding centre end.
The conditions made for some farcical sequences which put into doubt whether the match should have gone ahead.
The Anglers had the edge on fitness, adapted far better to the foul weather and could easily have ended up winning by a more handsome margin.
The visitors had defended stalwartly before falling behind to a goal from Sandy Sutherland on 27 minutes.
Despite conceding a second to Chris Sutherland before the break, Thurso had high hopes of an elements-induced fightback.
But Sandy Sutherland’s opportunist second soon after the interval virtually confirmed the Anglers’ passage into the final of the North Caledonian Cup.
An early indication of the problems besetting the players was when Lee MacDougall’s attempted cross from wide on the left arc-ed back to almost meet him.
The first goal opportunity was carved out by Luke Sawyer on 12 minutes when his assist played in Sandy Sutherland whose shot was blocked by the legs of keeper Michael Gray.
After a promising opening by the Vikings, they spent most of the first period camped deep in their own half.
Sawyer would have been in but for a last-ditch tackle from central defender Andrew Bremner and Chris Sutherland’s wicked, low free-kick zipped across a crowded goalmouth, untouched, before brushing past the far post.
Sandy Sutherland bagged the opener after he swivelled on Colin Davidson’s assist before beating Gray with a controlled finish low to the keeper’s right.
With a strengthening wind laced by heavy downpours, it was case of all hands to the pumps for the visitors as they sought to limit any further damage before the interval.
Nigel MacKenzie was on hand to hack clear after Gray failed to hold
a high, inswinging cross from Niall Traill on 29 minutes. The keeper then got emergency back-up when two Gavin Henderson headers from corners in quick succession were knocked off the line by Martin Sutherland and MacDougall respectively.
Just about Thurso’s only reply was a slick piece of play on the wide right on 32 minutes by Mark Nichol whose cross was marginally too strong for Des MacLeod.
Two minutes later, it was 2-0 when a lapse of concentration in the middle of the Vikings’ defence let in Chris Sutherland whose low shot flashed wide of Gray.
Just before half-time, Thurso would have got one back but for the overhead condtions. Nichol’s back-header from Sean Munro’s free-kick looped over Graeme Williamson but was held up in the wind, allowing the keeper to recover and pluck the ball a yard short of the line.
The expected Thurso barrage after the break failed to materialise as they struggled to exploit playing with the wind behind them.
Williamson got an early taster of life at the receiving end when a kick-out barely cleared his penalty box, encouraging a first-time riposte from MacLeod which narrowly missed the target.
The roof caved in on Stevie Reid’s men chances when they conceded a third goal on 53 minutes. A sharp counter had Chris Sutherland scurrying in on an unobstructed route to goal. Gray did well to make a smother at the edge of his penalty box but could only watch as Sandy Sutherland neatly netted the 25 yard follow-up.
While Thurso inevitably did most of the chasing, United’s counter-attacks carried a menace which their opponents failed to match.
Gray displayed sharp reactions to prevent Sawyer finishing off a long-distance raid on the hour mark.
Nichol had the ball in the net on 71 minutes but ref Bob Gunn had already whistled for Jamie Mackenzie’s baulk on Williamson as they challenged for a cross.
Nichol threatened with a free-kick and Bremner and Gary MacGregor both went close to getting one back before the end. But by then the game was well and truly up for the visitors.
Munro and MacDougall picked up the only bookings in what a generally even-tempered affair.
United manager Ian MacDonald reckoned his side coped much better with the dreadful weather. He said: “It actually got worse in the second half and I thought we did really well in the conditions. “We took our goals well and they never really looked like scoring. “We’re delighted to get through but I hope they change the venue of the final from Bonar Bridge because of the state of the pitch.”
His opposite number believed his team were very much in the contest at the break. “I thought we played pretty well for the first half-hour and then conceded two bad goals,” said Reid. “The third goal was always going to be vital but overall the conditions made it a bit of a lottery and I’m not taking that much out of the game.”
Halkirk – Williamson, Florence , Traill, MacDonald, Davidson, Henderson, Larnach, Sawyer, S. Sutherland, MacNab (Reid 66), C. Sutherland (Munro 63). Subs (not used) – Budge and Davis.
Thurso – Gray, Munro (Begg 63), Sutherland (Tait 80), Steven, Bremner (Robertson 85), MacGregor, N. MacKenzie, J. MacKenzie, Nichol, MacLeod, MacDougall.
Ref – Mr B. Gunn
United completed a surprisingly stress-free win over their county rivals to clinch a place in the first cup final of the North Caley season.
The dominant factor in the tie at Recreation Park was a near-galeforce wind which blasted towards the riding centre end.
The conditions made for some farcical sequences which put into doubt whether the match should have gone ahead.
The Anglers had the edge on fitness, adapted far better to the foul weather and could easily have ended up winning by a more handsome margin.
The visitors had defended stalwartly before falling behind to a goal from Sandy Sutherland on 27 minutes.
Despite conceding a second to Chris Sutherland before the break, Thurso had high hopes of an elements-induced fightback.
But Sandy Sutherland’s opportunist second soon after the interval virtually confirmed the Anglers’ passage into the final of the North Caledonian Cup.
An early indication of the problems besetting the players was when Lee MacDougall’s attempted cross from wide on the left arc-ed back to almost meet him.
The first goal opportunity was carved out by Luke Sawyer on 12 minutes when his assist played in Sandy Sutherland whose shot was blocked by the legs of keeper Michael Gray.
After a promising opening by the Vikings, they spent most of the first period camped deep in their own half.
Sawyer would have been in but for a last-ditch tackle from central defender Andrew Bremner and Chris Sutherland’s wicked, low free-kick zipped across a crowded goalmouth, untouched, before brushing past the far post.
Sandy Sutherland bagged the opener after he swivelled on Colin Davidson’s assist before beating Gray with a controlled finish low to the keeper’s right.
With a strengthening wind laced by heavy downpours, it was case of all hands to the pumps for the visitors as they sought to limit any further damage before the interval.
Nigel MacKenzie was on hand to hack clear after Gray failed to hold
a high, inswinging cross from Niall Traill on 29 minutes. The keeper then got emergency back-up when two Gavin Henderson headers from corners in quick succession were knocked off the line by Martin Sutherland and MacDougall respectively.
Just about Thurso’s only reply was a slick piece of play on the wide right on 32 minutes by Mark Nichol whose cross was marginally too strong for Des MacLeod.
Two minutes later, it was 2-0 when a lapse of concentration in the middle of the Vikings’ defence let in Chris Sutherland whose low shot flashed wide of Gray.
Just before half-time, Thurso would have got one back but for the overhead condtions. Nichol’s back-header from Sean Munro’s free-kick looped over Graeme Williamson but was held up in the wind, allowing the keeper to recover and pluck the ball a yard short of the line.
The expected Thurso barrage after the break failed to materialise as they struggled to exploit playing with the wind behind them.
Williamson got an early taster of life at the receiving end when a kick-out barely cleared his penalty box, encouraging a first-time riposte from MacLeod which narrowly missed the target.
The roof caved in on Stevie Reid’s men chances when they conceded a third goal on 53 minutes. A sharp counter had Chris Sutherland scurrying in on an unobstructed route to goal. Gray did well to make a smother at the edge of his penalty box but could only watch as Sandy Sutherland neatly netted the 25 yard follow-up.
While Thurso inevitably did most of the chasing, United’s counter-attacks carried a menace which their opponents failed to match.
Gray displayed sharp reactions to prevent Sawyer finishing off a long-distance raid on the hour mark.
Nichol had the ball in the net on 71 minutes but ref Bob Gunn had already whistled for Jamie Mackenzie’s baulk on Williamson as they challenged for a cross.
Nichol threatened with a free-kick and Bremner and Gary MacGregor both went close to getting one back before the end. But by then the game was well and truly up for the visitors.
Munro and MacDougall picked up the only bookings in what a generally even-tempered affair.
United manager Ian MacDonald reckoned his side coped much better with the dreadful weather. He said: “It actually got worse in the second half and I thought we did really well in the conditions. “We took our goals well and they never really looked like scoring. “We’re delighted to get through but I hope they change the venue of the final from Bonar Bridge because of the state of the pitch.”
His opposite number believed his team were very much in the contest at the break. “I thought we played pretty well for the first half-hour and then conceded two bad goals,” said Reid. “The third goal was always going to be vital but overall the conditions made it a bit of a lottery and I’m not taking that much out of the game.”
Halkirk – Williamson, Florence , Traill, MacDonald, Davidson, Henderson, Larnach, Sawyer, S. Sutherland, MacNab (Reid 66), C. Sutherland (Munro 63). Subs (not used) – Budge and Davis.
Thurso – Gray, Munro (Begg 63), Sutherland (Tait 80), Steven, Bremner (Robertson 85), MacGregor, N. MacKenzie, J. MacKenzie, Nichol, MacLeod, MacDougall.
Ref – Mr B. Gunn