Late penalty seals Halkirk's fate

Clach 2, Halkirk United 1

Published: 28 July, 2010

HALKIRK United came desperately close to pulling off a North of Scotland Cup shock on Saturday.

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The short-handed Anglers were undone by a late penalty to lose their quarter-final clash 2-1 away to Clach.

Ian MacDonald's men competed well throughout against the Highland League outfit and can count themselves unfortunate not to at least have had a crack at the penalty shoot-out which would have resulted had the teams finished level after 90 minutes.

Clach went ahead three minutes from the interval when a long cross from Michael Finnis took a wicked deflection and went in off United defender Graham MacDonald.

United went close several times before they pulled level 11 minutes from full time. Alan Sinclair's long-range free kick fell for Luke Sawyer who was balked in the box as he sought to bustle his way past a defender.

Colin Sinclair made a nerveless job of the spot-kick, planting the ball firmly in the back of the net.

Just when the game seemed to be heading for penalties, the visitors conceded three minutes from time.

Alan Pollock's through ball to Neil MacDonald resulted in the former Orkney-based striker being upended by keeper Graeme Williamson as he raced into the box.

Finnis netted to put the Inverness men through to a meeting with either Inverness Caley Thistle or Golspie Sutherland.

Clach: Harrison, Finnis, Smith, MacDonald, Anderson, Davidson, Shields, Craig, Leslie, MacDonald, Urquhart, Pollock, Dougall, Kennedy, Fraser and MacLennan.

Halkirk United: Williamson, C. Sinclair, Florence, A. Sinclair, MacDonald, Henderson, MacNab, Sawyer, Elder, L. Bremner, Shearer. Subs, all used: Murray, Bremner and Mackay.

* Pentland United and Golspie Stafford will meet in the first Caithness/Sutherland clash in the final of the MacLeod IFA Highland Amateur Cup.

Stafford came from behind to defeat Lochs 3-2 in Saturday's second semi-final at Culbokie.

Two goals from Iain Innes either side of the break were crucial in the win which allows the Golspie men to chase the dream of being the first from their county to claim the trophy.

United won through after a dramatic 4-1 extra-time win over holders Kirkwall Thorfinn the previous week.

The final goes ahead at Dudgeon Park, Brora on August 14.

iain-grant@ukf.net