Post by Brian Mackay on Sept 11, 2006 9:36:51 GMT
MSIS North Caledonian League
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HALKIRK UNITED 3 v INVERGORDON 1 at Recreation Park, Halkirk
Halkirk goals by Stuart Florence, Michael Bremner and John Farquhar
Invergordon goal by Alan Milligan
THURSO 0 v BALINTORE 2 at The Dammies, Thurso
Balintore goals by Tony Farquhar and Ewan Dance
Other scores
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ALNESS UNITED 0 v INVERNESS CITY 1
Inverness goal by Sam McLaughlin
DORNOCH 4 v BUNILLIDH THISTLE 5
Dornoch goals by Brian MacRitchie, Neil MacIver, Jimmy Gunn and Craig Sutherland
Bunillidh goals by Greg Shearer, Martin Sutherland (2), Malcolm Cowie and Chris Skinner
all 3.00 p.m kick-offs
report from Halkirk 3 V Invergordon 1 - from The John O'Groat Journal
Three-goal burst maintains Halkirk's 100% start
Halkirk United 3, Invergordon 1
Published: 22 September, 2006
HALKIRK’S high-flying start to the North Caledonian season continued on Saturday when they proved too strong for their Easter Ross visitors.
The win keeps them top of the pile as they take a break from league action tomorrow for a Port Services Cup tie at Golspie.
The quarter-final marks the start of a tough-looking spell for Ian MacDonald’s men. They return to Golspie on league business next week and then face Thurso and Inverness City.
How they fare on this run will give the manager a fair idea of where they stand in relation to chasing trophies.
The pattern of the match on Saturday was similar to Halkirk’s win over Alness in their previous game. After an unconvincing start, they went on dominate while struggling to put chances away before securing an ultimately comfortable win.
Halkirk lined up with Lee Sutherland behind the sticks, with Thurso-based Lee Allan his opposite number for Invergordon. The Thurso Pentland keeper was to have a major influence, with a succession of saves, blocks and parries serving to frustrate the home side for most of the game.
United had to wait until the 65th minute for their opener, which came from the improbable source of defender Stuart Florence. Within seven minutes of that goal, substitute Michael Bremner and John Farquhar had netted two crackers, with Ashley Mills’ reply for the visitors coming too late to affect the outcome.
Halkirk lived dangerously early on, with Mills showing up well with some neat touches and off-the-ball movement. After outstripping the defence twice, his shots successively went wide of the target, to the relief of Sutherland, who was reduced to the role of onlooker.
In between, Allan made his first contribution, holding a stinging sixth-minute snap-shot from Stevie Reid.
Once they settled, Halkirk were soon creating a regular diet of chances for their frontmen. Reid mistimed his would-be finish from Lee Elder’s inviting deep cross after 12 minutes, allowing Allan to make a comfortable gather.
The first close shave came two minutes later when Reid teed up Sean Henstridge for an effort which Allan palmed onto the bar. Alan Sinclair ran in to head in the rebound but his celebrations were cut short by an offside ruling by assistant referee Bob Wheatcroft.
United’s next foray almost paid dividends. Lee Elder made tracks up the right before stepping inside and dispatching a shot which Allan saved well.
The middle 15-minute section of the first half was forgettable for both camps, with play degenerating into a dour, disjointed scrap.
Halkirk snapped back into life 10 minutes from the turnaround when, after a flowing move, a cute back-heel from Gavin Henderson set Henstridge in the clear. Henstridge got his angles wrong on the run-in and his attempt on goal came back off Allan’s legs.
Farquhar was then inches away with a rasping shot before Henstridge made a hash of trying to pick out Reid, who was unmarked with an unmissable view of goal.
The last action of the half saw Henstridge again being outfoxed by Allan after the striker had been played in by Reid.
Halkirk picked up the tempo of their play after the break, with a double substitution on the hour mark also providing new problems for the visitors.
One of the newcomers, Chris Sutherland, created the breakthrough with a typical surging run down the right. His cross was headed out by a defender into the path of Florence 30 yards out.
The defender tricked two opponents and contrived to repress the obligatory nose-bleed as he careered into the penalty box. He held his composure to send a shot from 14 yards rocketing high past Allan into the left-hand corner of the net.
The pain of that setback had hardly kicked in for Invergordon when they found themselves two behind.
A minute after coming on, Bremner latched on to a stray pass and wasted no time in unleashing a low shot between Allan and his left post.
That proved a terminal blow to the visitors, who conceded a third on 72 minutes. Sutherland ended a run with a far-post cross which was met first-time by a sumptuous strike from Farquhar which gave
Allan not an earthly as it blazed into the roof of the net.
Farquhar was denied a second when his net-bound 25-yard attempt was diverted to safety via Henstridge’s backside.
Henstridge was having a difficult day and it got no better on 80 minutes when he failed to convert from six yards after Allan had spilled another shot from Farquhar.
Invergordon were denied a “goal” which was chalked off for offside after 86 minutes. But a minute later Mills got on the scoresheet, finishing from close range after a slip by Florence.
Manager MacDonald was pleased with the win, which leaves his side and their opponents tomorrow with the only 100 per cent records.
“We took a while to break them down and they had a couple of players who caused us problems,” he said. “It was a case of missed chances again for us and, on another day, Sean could have had five goals. But I can’t complain about the result, and it’s up to us to try and keep up the momentum.”
Florence is out for tomorrow after turning an ankle in training. Fellow defender Graham MacDonald is also struggling with a foot problem, though Gordie MacDonald is set to rejoin the squad after recovering from a hamstring strain.
Skipper Colin Munro collected the Ian Cameron Memorial Cup. The trophy is put up each year for a home league match. The associated raffle raised £400 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Halkirk United: L. Sutherland, Coghill (Davidson 60), Florence, MacDonald, Munro, Sinclair, Henderson, Elder (C. Sutherland 60), Reid (Bremner 66), Henstridge, Farquhar.
Invergordon: Allan, Stewart, Kennedy, C. Stone, Thompson, Smith, Stevens, A. Stone, Mills, MacLeod, Leggie. Subs (all used): MacCormack, Lamont, McGruer.
Referee: R. Gunn.
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HALKIRK UNITED 3 v INVERGORDON 1 at Recreation Park, Halkirk
Halkirk goals by Stuart Florence, Michael Bremner and John Farquhar
Invergordon goal by Alan Milligan
THURSO 0 v BALINTORE 2 at The Dammies, Thurso
Balintore goals by Tony Farquhar and Ewan Dance
Other scores
##########
ALNESS UNITED 0 v INVERNESS CITY 1
Inverness goal by Sam McLaughlin
DORNOCH 4 v BUNILLIDH THISTLE 5
Dornoch goals by Brian MacRitchie, Neil MacIver, Jimmy Gunn and Craig Sutherland
Bunillidh goals by Greg Shearer, Martin Sutherland (2), Malcolm Cowie and Chris Skinner
all 3.00 p.m kick-offs
report from Halkirk 3 V Invergordon 1 - from The John O'Groat Journal
Three-goal burst maintains Halkirk's 100% start
Halkirk United 3, Invergordon 1
Published: 22 September, 2006
HALKIRK’S high-flying start to the North Caledonian season continued on Saturday when they proved too strong for their Easter Ross visitors.
The win keeps them top of the pile as they take a break from league action tomorrow for a Port Services Cup tie at Golspie.
The quarter-final marks the start of a tough-looking spell for Ian MacDonald’s men. They return to Golspie on league business next week and then face Thurso and Inverness City.
How they fare on this run will give the manager a fair idea of where they stand in relation to chasing trophies.
The pattern of the match on Saturday was similar to Halkirk’s win over Alness in their previous game. After an unconvincing start, they went on dominate while struggling to put chances away before securing an ultimately comfortable win.
Halkirk lined up with Lee Sutherland behind the sticks, with Thurso-based Lee Allan his opposite number for Invergordon. The Thurso Pentland keeper was to have a major influence, with a succession of saves, blocks and parries serving to frustrate the home side for most of the game.
United had to wait until the 65th minute for their opener, which came from the improbable source of defender Stuart Florence. Within seven minutes of that goal, substitute Michael Bremner and John Farquhar had netted two crackers, with Ashley Mills’ reply for the visitors coming too late to affect the outcome.
Halkirk lived dangerously early on, with Mills showing up well with some neat touches and off-the-ball movement. After outstripping the defence twice, his shots successively went wide of the target, to the relief of Sutherland, who was reduced to the role of onlooker.
In between, Allan made his first contribution, holding a stinging sixth-minute snap-shot from Stevie Reid.
Once they settled, Halkirk were soon creating a regular diet of chances for their frontmen. Reid mistimed his would-be finish from Lee Elder’s inviting deep cross after 12 minutes, allowing Allan to make a comfortable gather.
The first close shave came two minutes later when Reid teed up Sean Henstridge for an effort which Allan palmed onto the bar. Alan Sinclair ran in to head in the rebound but his celebrations were cut short by an offside ruling by assistant referee Bob Wheatcroft.
United’s next foray almost paid dividends. Lee Elder made tracks up the right before stepping inside and dispatching a shot which Allan saved well.
The middle 15-minute section of the first half was forgettable for both camps, with play degenerating into a dour, disjointed scrap.
Halkirk snapped back into life 10 minutes from the turnaround when, after a flowing move, a cute back-heel from Gavin Henderson set Henstridge in the clear. Henstridge got his angles wrong on the run-in and his attempt on goal came back off Allan’s legs.
Farquhar was then inches away with a rasping shot before Henstridge made a hash of trying to pick out Reid, who was unmarked with an unmissable view of goal.
The last action of the half saw Henstridge again being outfoxed by Allan after the striker had been played in by Reid.
Halkirk picked up the tempo of their play after the break, with a double substitution on the hour mark also providing new problems for the visitors.
One of the newcomers, Chris Sutherland, created the breakthrough with a typical surging run down the right. His cross was headed out by a defender into the path of Florence 30 yards out.
The defender tricked two opponents and contrived to repress the obligatory nose-bleed as he careered into the penalty box. He held his composure to send a shot from 14 yards rocketing high past Allan into the left-hand corner of the net.
The pain of that setback had hardly kicked in for Invergordon when they found themselves two behind.
A minute after coming on, Bremner latched on to a stray pass and wasted no time in unleashing a low shot between Allan and his left post.
That proved a terminal blow to the visitors, who conceded a third on 72 minutes. Sutherland ended a run with a far-post cross which was met first-time by a sumptuous strike from Farquhar which gave
Allan not an earthly as it blazed into the roof of the net.
Farquhar was denied a second when his net-bound 25-yard attempt was diverted to safety via Henstridge’s backside.
Henstridge was having a difficult day and it got no better on 80 minutes when he failed to convert from six yards after Allan had spilled another shot from Farquhar.
Invergordon were denied a “goal” which was chalked off for offside after 86 minutes. But a minute later Mills got on the scoresheet, finishing from close range after a slip by Florence.
Manager MacDonald was pleased with the win, which leaves his side and their opponents tomorrow with the only 100 per cent records.
“We took a while to break them down and they had a couple of players who caused us problems,” he said. “It was a case of missed chances again for us and, on another day, Sean could have had five goals. But I can’t complain about the result, and it’s up to us to try and keep up the momentum.”
Florence is out for tomorrow after turning an ankle in training. Fellow defender Graham MacDonald is also struggling with a foot problem, though Gordie MacDonald is set to rejoin the squad after recovering from a hamstring strain.
Skipper Colin Munro collected the Ian Cameron Memorial Cup. The trophy is put up each year for a home league match. The associated raffle raised £400 for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Halkirk United: L. Sutherland, Coghill (Davidson 60), Florence, MacDonald, Munro, Sinclair, Henderson, Elder (C. Sutherland 60), Reid (Bremner 66), Henstridge, Farquhar.
Invergordon: Allan, Stewart, Kennedy, C. Stone, Thompson, Smith, Stevens, A. Stone, Mills, MacLeod, Leggie. Subs (all used): MacCormack, Lamont, McGruer.
Referee: R. Gunn.