Halkirk United 0 V Thurso 1 – Saturday the 20^th of December 2003 – MSIS North Caledonian League – Report by Iain Grant

United's wait for that elusive first derby victory goes on after Saturday's MSIS North Caley League clash at Recreation Park.

Alan Sutherland's smartly taken goal midway through the first half proved decisive and ensured it was his side who go into the festive break in better fettle.

The Vikings exploited a stuttering start to the game by United to take a firm grip of proceedings and they should have led by two or three before the breakthrough.

The village side was hit when young midfielder Alan Farquhar pulled out after aggravating a toe injury during the warm-up while at least a couple of their players looked the worse for wear for their excesses at pre-Xmas works dos the previous day.

The feeling that the visitors might rue their run of wasted opportunities intensified as the second half wore on and they found themselves increasingly on the back foot.

Halkirk, who looked vulnerable at the back and punch-less up front before the interval, gained in purpose and potency and a grandstand finish saw them go close to grabbing an equaliser.

The finale was in stark contrast to the opening quarter when the Vikings threatened to run riot -- helped in no small part by some woeful defending.

Slipshod passes and breakdowns in communication meant play was seldom far from home keeper Marc Swanson.

Swanson was to the fore in the third minute when he did well to hold Alan Murray's firmly struck shot after the striker had skipped past John Martin and tried his luck from just inside the penalty box.

After 12 minutes, Nigel MacKenzie jinked down the left before teeing up Ross Sutherland whose flick with the side of his foot from six yards had Swanson stretching high to his right to grasp.

United responded the following minute with a raid down the left which ended with Gordie Steven sending a 30 yard howitzer narrowly over the bar.

This was just about the only effort of any consequence of the first half for his side who too easily surrendered possession with hopeful punts upfield or passes which put team-mates under intense pressure.

Thurso continued to dominate with a slick move in the 15th minute seeing Ross Sutherland carve out a golden chance for Murray.

Eight yards out, with Swanson just off his goal-line, the striker blazed a left-foot shot marginally wide.

The chances were coming thick and fast with Swanson in trouble after 16 minutes when he lost possession on the right side of the box.

Jamie MacKenzie profited and United had Keith Blair to thank for an acrobatic clearance from MacKenzie's cross which was heading for the unmarked Murray.

The pressure was unrelenting with Jamie MacKenzie looking set to break the deadlock on 18 minutes only to see his well-struck effort from Murray's assist being headed to safety by Jamie Mackay.

After 20 minutes, Murray looked a couple of yards offside as he bore in on goal, with Swanson saving the day for United in smothering the ball at the striker's feet as he sought to round the big keeper.

Thurso went ahead two minutes later when Kevin Morris's curling free-kick from wide out on the left was met by Alan Sutherland who neatly flicked the ball over the advancing Swanson.

Morris shortly afterwards became the first booking of the afternoon for dissent.

United were fortunate to escape unscathed after 37 minutes when Swanson mishandled a hanging corner from Gavin Bremner and John Martin survived a hand-ball appeal after Brian Gray had driven the ball toward goal.

Alan Sutherland almost grabbed his second four minutes from the interval when his well-controlled effort from 30 yards whizzed just wide.

Halkirk underlined their new-found ambition in the opening minutes of the second half with Neil Fearns rising well but missing the target with a header from a Stevens free-kick and Murray Coghill threatening with a long-distance shot.

In between, Swanson had to look likely to race from his goal to foil Murray as he looked to latch on to a through-ball.

Stuart Sinclair almost undid United's good work with a piece of stupidity after 57 minutes.

His side were in possession on the edge of their own box when he unleashed a verbal volley towards referee Willie Sinclair.

The defender was not only booked but he was lucky his side did not have to pay a double penalty with Alan Sutherland's delivery from the resultant free-kick making Swanson scramble as the ball flew just past his right-hand post

United were pushing forward at every opportunity though their efforts were mainly confined to outside the penalty box.

Derek Munro was unlucky to see a dipping long-ranger clear the bar after 59 minutes.

There were a couple of scares at the other end with Swanson doing well to first pouch a tester from Bremner and then to block another run from Murray.

Derek Munro had a clear opening on 73 minutes after Ross Sutherland slipped on the greasy surface but the striker sought to beat another opponent rather than opt for a pot-shot.

The heightened tempo of the game had its downside in bookings for Luke Cassidy, for a foul; and Ross Sutherland, for dissent.

The closing 15 minutes saw Thurso defending ever deeper as United  pressed for the equaliser.

Stand-in keeper Jack Mackay was generally coping well though he was fortunate to get away with an unconvincing punched clearance from Michael Bremner free-kick after 79 minutes.

The Thurso goal had a real let-off two minutes later when Murray Coghill's looping back-post header was going on before it struck Gray's heel and bounced over the bar.

Four minutes from time, Derek Munro created space for himself in the box before firing in a measured shot which Jack Mackay did well to save.

Bremner's crack from 18 yards which drifted just wide a minute later was to be his side's last  throw of the dice.

Gray's injury time booking for a foul completed the crime count.

Thurso manager Duncan Gray said his side almost paid the price for their profligacy.

"For some reason, Halkirk weren't at the races early on and the game should really have been over by half-time.

"I think if we had got a second goal, it would have killed the game.

"Because we haven't put away our chances, we started sitting too deep in the second half. Our midfield were sitting on top of the defence and that ensured we were put under pressure."

Mr Gray singled out goal-scorer Alan Sutherland and goal-keeper Mackay, who was recruited only a couple of hours before the game.

United manager Ian MacDonald bemoaned his side's poor start and agreed they rode their luck to be only one down at the break.

He was pleased with the spirit they showed after the interval when he believes they did enough to deserve a draw.

Halkirk: Swanson, G.Mackay, Martin, Blair (Gunn 38), Sinclair, Fearns (M. Munro 68), M.Bremner, M. Coghill, G. Coghill, G.Steven, D. Munro. Sub (unused) -- Forbes.

Thurso: J.Mackay, A. Sutherland, Morris, B.Gray, Warner, Bremner, Inrig, R. Sutherland, Murray (MacDougall 78), J. MacKenzie (Cassidy 65), N. MacKenzie (P.Makhouli 80).

Ref -- Mr W. Sinclair.