On-form Anglers net cup-final slot
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HALKIRK UNITED 3 - 0 MUIR OF ORD ROVERS
THE Halkirk bandwagon just keeps on rolling. They clinched their place in a second North Caley cup final on Saturday with a surprisingly comfortable margin of victory.
In doing so, they extended their unbeaten campaign and sent out a message to rivals their quest to dominate this year’s silverware will not be easily derailed.
They faced Rovers in the SWL semi-final without central midfielder Gavin Henderson and defensive kingpin Colin Davidson while work commitments meant Chris Sutherland started on the bench.
They made light of the absentees and after Martin Banks’s strike put them in front on the stroke of half-time, they carried the whip hand. A screamer from Alan Larnach made it 2-0 midway through the second period and Sutherland came off the bench to net a late third to score for the seventh game in a row.
In John Skinner and Davie Brennan, Muir has by far the eldest central defensive partnership in the NCL but they again showed why many believe them to be the best. They marshalled their defence superbly in company with fellow vet David Ross.
The visitors badly missed the guile of James Skinner in midfield and, while industrious throughout, they seldom pierced or outflanked the Anglers defence.
Given the blustery wind, biting cold and first-half hail showers, it proved a surprisingly entertaining affair.
Rovers keeper Michael MacCallum was tested early on with a sweetly struck 25 yarder from Colin Sinclair.
A neat interchange between Banks and Nigel MacKenzie down the right carved out an opening for Grant MacNab whose effort produced a goal-saving block from Skinner.
Stuart Florence was prominent, first forcing MacCallum to save high to his right before the keeper smothered at the wing-back’s feet as he drove into the penalty box.
Alan Fraser was Muir’s brightest spark in the first period and he cut out his side’s first chance when he breezed past Gavin Sinclair and saw his whipped cross flash inches outwith the reach of the inrushing Kevin Fraser.
Graeme Williamson kept out meaty attempts from Gavin Fraser in between MacNab wastefully shooting past after a defence-splitting pass from MacKenzie. Banks and Larnach passed up half-chances before Muir’s luck ran out in the last action of the half.
A multi-pass attack climaxed with Jack Halliday finding Banks whose angled shot flew across MacCallum into the far corner of the net.
The first booking came not for foul play or dissent but for Muir’s half-time sub, Calum Lamont, coming on without telling the officials.
The Anglers went on to establish a firm grip with Muir largely preoccupied with defensive duties. A surging run by Halliday was helped on by Banks to MacNab who was unable to supply the finish.
Banks had a strong penalty claim rejected on 62 minutes following a sweeping length-of-the-park move.
The second goal was delayed by a minute when Colin Sinclair’s astute infield lay-off prompted a first-time 25-yard strike from Larnach which blazed past MacCallum.
Shortly afterwards Muir’s hopes were dealt a terminal blow when Kevin Fraser was red-carded for what ref Graham John deemed an attempted head-butt.
He was promptly followed into the pavilion by manager Alan Hercher for a verbal volley directed at Mr John.
United were firing on all cylinders with Larnach sending a 30-yard free kick just wide and then having a venomous effort palmed to safety by MacCallum.
During a brief, spirited riposte, Muir were denied when Kevin Fraser rounded Williamson but had his shot headed off the line by Alan Sinclair.
Colin Sinclair then made a crucial block in the six-yard box when Ewan Dance was primed to convert Lamont’s cross.
MacCallum pulled off good stops from MacKenzie and Banks before Sutherland weighed in with his 15th of the season with a last-minute finish. Having had a “goal” chalked off for offside he drove home after his first effort was beaten out by MacCallum.
Halkirk United: Williamson, C. Sinclair, Florence, A. Sinclair, G. Sinclair, Cook, Larnach, Halliday (Bremner 80), MacKenzie, MacNab (Sutherland 74), Banks.
Muir of Ord Rovers: MacCallum, Ross (Geegan 83), J. Calvert, Skinner, Brennan, Henderson, Fuller, K. Fraser, Dance, A. Fraser (Farquhar 77), G. Calvert (Lamont h
Referee: G. John.
