Halkirk United fight back to lift cup
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GOLSPIE SUTHERLAND 1 - 2 HALKIRK UNITED
MISSING in action in the first half, the Anglers stormed back to get their hands on the first North Caley silverware of the season.
A brace from Chris Sutherland overhauled Shane Sutherland’s early opener at Brora’s Dudgeon Park on Saturday.
Over the piece, United just about deserved to prevail in an edgy encounter. The game was peppered with flash points, which led to referee Graham Elder flourishing cards like a Vegas high roller.
Nine players received cautions, with Golspie striker Gary Black’s second booking on 69 minutes leaving his side short-handed.
Golspie looked the sharper in a disappointing first half when the Anglers were playing into the glare of the low-lying sun. It was, however, United who carved out the first openings.
First, Colin Davidson’s slide-rule pass had Chris Sutherland romping free down the right with the inrushing Grant MacNab inches away from connecting with the ensuing centre. MacNab then had the ball nicked from under his boot as he shaped to shoot on the edge of the six-yard box.
Golspie’s ninth-minute breakthrough was simplicity personified, with Blair Duncan’s long throw inviting Shane Sutherland’s eight-yard header which left keeper Graeme Williamson clutching thin air.
United struggled to string three passes together with their forward forays invariably being cut short. Their opponents looked the more likely to add to their lead, with Aaron Christie’s prompts and Shaun Kerr’s hold-up play exceptions to the general mediocrity.
Midway through the half, Christie and Black combined to create an opening for Kerr whose shot lacked the power to trouble Williamson. A minute later, the keeper was relieved Aaron Smith’s pithy snap-shot whizzed just wide of his near-side post.
Nine minutes from the turnaround, a sparky break from United’s Stuart Florence released Chris Sutherland whose run-in with keeper Grant Robertson was halted by a marginal offside decision. Florence then opened the way for MacNab to step past defender Chris Stone and advance on Robertson, only for a heavy touch to allow the latter to make a block.
Golspie’s lead continued to come under threat after the break when they were faced with opponents who started to display the form which had seen them rattle off seven victories on the spin.
The equaliser arrived on 54 minutes after a concerted attack. Efforts by MacNab and Gavin Henderson were kept out as Golspie appeared to have weathered the storm. But Duncan’s miskicked clearance landed perfectly for Chris Sutherland to gather six yards out before tucking the ball wide of Robertson.
Nigel MacKenzie then let fly from 30 yards with his shot producing a spectacular one-handed stop from Robertson.
What proved the winner arrived on 58 minutes when Henderson’s glancing header from Larnach’s corner found Chris Sutherland whose shot fizzed high into the net.
There followed a fractious 20 minutes when half-a-dozen players fell foul of Mr Elder. Black’s second yellow for his ugly challenge on Henderson lengthened the odds on his side’s prospects of making up the leeway.
Robertson kept their hopes alive when he blocked a stinging, angled shot from Larnach on 70 minutes.
The Sutherland side was by no means dead and came close to an equaliser with an action replay of its opener.
Duncan’s long throw this time invited a hook shot from Shane Sutherland, which flew just wide.
United responded with a high-tempo counter five minutes from time when Florence’s overlapping run down the left flank carved an opening for MacNab. Once again, Robertson was equal to the striker’s swerving drive from the left edge of the penalty box.
United’s camp had to survive several nervy moments before it could celebrate victory.
Mr Elder saw nothing amiss when Florence clattered into the advancing Shane Sutherland near the penalty spot and then Duncan sent a looping header just over.
After Christie collected the man-of-the-match trophy, United skipper Alan Sinclair stepped forward to pick up the North Caledonian Cup.
Golspie Sutherland: Robertson. J. Sutherland, Duncan, Stone, McKernie (Thomson 27), Christie, Smith, Campbell (A. Sutherland 71), Kerr, Black, S. Sutherland. Subs not used: MacGregor and Morris.
Halkirk United: Williamson, G. Sinclair, Florence, A. Sinclair, Davidson, Henderson (Halliday 86), Larnach, Bremner (Cook 73), Sutherland (Banks 86), MacNab, MacKenzie. Subs not used: Howden and C. Sinclair.
Referee: G. Elder.
