Post by Brian Mackay on Jan 25, 2005 10:43:25 GMT
Dance makes the difference as Halkirk lose momentum
HALKIRK United on Saturday took their leave of the North Caledonian Cup with more of a squeak than a snarl.
The home side set about things in a style which suggested they could claim a place in the final of the second knockout tournament of the MSIS season.
But the setback of the first of Ewan Dance's two goals, after 15 minutes, appeared to sap their morale and the zing which had infused their early play was to vanish without trace.
By the time Paul Skinner had doubled the lead on the half-hour mark, all bets were off on Balintore making their second successive final.
United had a new look on Saturday with Stuart Sinclair returning to make up a back three along with Colin Munro and David MacGill.
Between the sticks was Sean Henderson in place of regular keeper Marc Swanson, who has left to start a new job in Inverness.
The Easter Ross side, who had five members of the Skinner family in their starting line-up on Saturday, are fast gaining the reputation of cup specialists.
Last season they reached three finals - losing two to Thurso and beating Halkirk 41 to lift the Football Times Cup - while they succumbed again to Thurso in the final of this season's Port Services Cup.
It was Halkirk who impressed early on as they attacked down both flanks, while Willie Inrig caused problems with his pinpoint delivery of corners and free kicks.
The best chance fell to Garry Coghill after eight minutes with a route-one incursion into the penalty box. It looked like he had overrun the ball only for a favourable break to take him clear.
Eddie Shearer was alert and Coghill had to rush his shot which came back off the keeper, with defender David Calderwood able to complete the clearance.
The subdued Easter Ross side first showed their teeth after 14 minutes from a corner when a flashing, net-bound drive from Kevin Fraser ricocheted wide off Alan Farquhar.
A minute later, a long, raking pass from James Skinner sent Dance skipping down the left flank. He drove past MacGill before veering inside and, from a tight angle, steered the ball between Henderson and his left-hand post.
United went desperately close to equalising after 17 minutes when Farquhar cut out an opening for Graham MacDonald, whose shot was blocked by Shearer.
The home side thereafter faded badly with their opponents' dominance of the half reflected by a six-to-one corner count in their favour.
Among their best work was a move after 28 minutes culminating in James Skinner's glorious diagonal cross being met on the full by Paul Skinner, whose stinging volley from 10 yards flew just over.
The second goal duly arrived when Paul Skinner executed a smart turn on the edge of the box and then blasted an unstoppable low shot into the left-hand corner of the net.
Balintore continued to threaten, with Henderson doing exceptionally well after 34 minutes to bravely punch clear a Fraser free kick while under strong pressure from the towering Calderwood.
United rallied in the 10 minutes before the break when they manufactured three decent openings.
The first was created by Willie Inrig, whose searching pass picked out Martin Murray wide on the left. His cross-cum-shot struck the outside of the post, with Inrig seizing on the rebound to fire in an effort that was deflected wide.
Inrig should have done better after 37 minutes when he exchanged passes with Murray Coghill before shooting tamely from the penalty spot to give Shearer an easy save.
A minute from the interval, a through ball from Farquhar looked to have opened things up for Murray but his hesitation gave the keeper the vital extra moments he needed to close him down.
The half-time introduction of Mark Munro helped sustain the momentum and the winger was soon prominent with some lively bursts.
Balintore were by now in defensive mode and, while seldom out of their half, Shearer was so well protected he did not have to make a save of any note for the remainder of the game.
The visitors also had the personnel to launch counter-attacks from deep in their own territory. One such raid after 63 minutes ended with Paul Skinner feeding strike partner Dance, whose snap-shot produced a fine, full-length stop from Henderson.
Murray Coghill headed off his line following a corner and then Henderson showed good reflexes to field a mistimed back-header from Inrig.
After 57 minutes Dance shot wide after being set up by man-of-the-match James Skinner.
A minute later, Mark Munro looked to have been put in the clear only to be thwarted by a magnificent recovery tackle from wily sweeper John Skinner.
The game was put well and truly beyond the Caithness men 12 minutes from time when Neil Fearns upended Paul Skinner in the box and Dance stroked home the spotkick.
Balintore manager Alan Brindle was delighted his side had made another final.
He said: "I thought or guys played really well - it was probably our best performance this season. We were solid from back to front and always had control of the game."
His counterpart, Ian MacDonald, was generally happy with how his side played and believed the result could have been different had they converted the opportunities that came their way.
Tomorrow, United will be along the same lines when they travel to Helmsdale to play Bunillidh Thistle in the league.
Defender Gavin Mackay - unavailable last Saturday - should return, though striker Michael Bremner remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Halkirk United: Henderson, MacGill (Shearer 72), Sinclair, C. Munro (M. Munro h/t), Fearns, MacDonald, M. Coghill, Inrig, Farquhar, G. Coghill, Murray. Sub not used:
Florence.
Referee: C. MacLeod.
21/01/2005
HALKIRK United on Saturday took their leave of the North Caledonian Cup with more of a squeak than a snarl.
The home side set about things in a style which suggested they could claim a place in the final of the second knockout tournament of the MSIS season.
But the setback of the first of Ewan Dance's two goals, after 15 minutes, appeared to sap their morale and the zing which had infused their early play was to vanish without trace.
By the time Paul Skinner had doubled the lead on the half-hour mark, all bets were off on Balintore making their second successive final.
United had a new look on Saturday with Stuart Sinclair returning to make up a back three along with Colin Munro and David MacGill.
Between the sticks was Sean Henderson in place of regular keeper Marc Swanson, who has left to start a new job in Inverness.
The Easter Ross side, who had five members of the Skinner family in their starting line-up on Saturday, are fast gaining the reputation of cup specialists.
Last season they reached three finals - losing two to Thurso and beating Halkirk 41 to lift the Football Times Cup - while they succumbed again to Thurso in the final of this season's Port Services Cup.
It was Halkirk who impressed early on as they attacked down both flanks, while Willie Inrig caused problems with his pinpoint delivery of corners and free kicks.
The best chance fell to Garry Coghill after eight minutes with a route-one incursion into the penalty box. It looked like he had overrun the ball only for a favourable break to take him clear.
Eddie Shearer was alert and Coghill had to rush his shot which came back off the keeper, with defender David Calderwood able to complete the clearance.
The subdued Easter Ross side first showed their teeth after 14 minutes from a corner when a flashing, net-bound drive from Kevin Fraser ricocheted wide off Alan Farquhar.
A minute later, a long, raking pass from James Skinner sent Dance skipping down the left flank. He drove past MacGill before veering inside and, from a tight angle, steered the ball between Henderson and his left-hand post.
United went desperately close to equalising after 17 minutes when Farquhar cut out an opening for Graham MacDonald, whose shot was blocked by Shearer.
The home side thereafter faded badly with their opponents' dominance of the half reflected by a six-to-one corner count in their favour.
Among their best work was a move after 28 minutes culminating in James Skinner's glorious diagonal cross being met on the full by Paul Skinner, whose stinging volley from 10 yards flew just over.
The second goal duly arrived when Paul Skinner executed a smart turn on the edge of the box and then blasted an unstoppable low shot into the left-hand corner of the net.
Balintore continued to threaten, with Henderson doing exceptionally well after 34 minutes to bravely punch clear a Fraser free kick while under strong pressure from the towering Calderwood.
United rallied in the 10 minutes before the break when they manufactured three decent openings.
The first was created by Willie Inrig, whose searching pass picked out Martin Murray wide on the left. His cross-cum-shot struck the outside of the post, with Inrig seizing on the rebound to fire in an effort that was deflected wide.
Inrig should have done better after 37 minutes when he exchanged passes with Murray Coghill before shooting tamely from the penalty spot to give Shearer an easy save.
A minute from the interval, a through ball from Farquhar looked to have opened things up for Murray but his hesitation gave the keeper the vital extra moments he needed to close him down.
The half-time introduction of Mark Munro helped sustain the momentum and the winger was soon prominent with some lively bursts.
Balintore were by now in defensive mode and, while seldom out of their half, Shearer was so well protected he did not have to make a save of any note for the remainder of the game.
The visitors also had the personnel to launch counter-attacks from deep in their own territory. One such raid after 63 minutes ended with Paul Skinner feeding strike partner Dance, whose snap-shot produced a fine, full-length stop from Henderson.
Murray Coghill headed off his line following a corner and then Henderson showed good reflexes to field a mistimed back-header from Inrig.
After 57 minutes Dance shot wide after being set up by man-of-the-match James Skinner.
A minute later, Mark Munro looked to have been put in the clear only to be thwarted by a magnificent recovery tackle from wily sweeper John Skinner.
The game was put well and truly beyond the Caithness men 12 minutes from time when Neil Fearns upended Paul Skinner in the box and Dance stroked home the spotkick.
Balintore manager Alan Brindle was delighted his side had made another final.
He said: "I thought or guys played really well - it was probably our best performance this season. We were solid from back to front and always had control of the game."
His counterpart, Ian MacDonald, was generally happy with how his side played and believed the result could have been different had they converted the opportunities that came their way.
Tomorrow, United will be along the same lines when they travel to Helmsdale to play Bunillidh Thistle in the league.
Defender Gavin Mackay - unavailable last Saturday - should return, though striker Michael Bremner remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Halkirk United: Henderson, MacGill (Shearer 72), Sinclair, C. Munro (M. Munro h/t), Fearns, MacDonald, M. Coghill, Inrig, Farquhar, G. Coghill, Murray. Sub not used:
Florence.
Referee: C. MacLeod.
21/01/2005