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pat cup 1st round 2/7/03

HELMSDALE UTD 0:1 GOLSPIE STAFFORD 

AMATEUR CUP 3rd ROUND

STAFFORD CUP  Sat May 24th,2003.

HIGHLAND AMATEUR CUP 2nd Round   Sat 17th May 2003

UNITED EASE INTO NEXT ROUND

HELMSDALE UTD 4:0 DORNOCH CITY

COUPER CUP  Wed 14th May 2003

UNITED OUT OF COUPER CUP

HELMSDALE UTD  1:3 GOLSPIE STAFFORD

STAFFORD CUP Quarter Final Sat May 10th,2003.

HELMSDALE UTD 4 : 1 LOCHINVER 

UNITED DEFEAT WANDERERS

GOLSPIE STAFFORD 0:0 HELMSDALE UTD

LEAGUE MATCH 5th April 2003

HELMSDALE UTD 1:2 EMBO

Helmsdale United opened their summer league campaign for this season with a shock home defeat to Embo last Saturday afternoon.

LEAGUE MATCH 15th July 2002

HELMSDALE UTD 4:3 GOLSPIE STAFFORD

Helmsdale United retained the The Northern Times league championship after an entertaining 4-3 victory over their old adversaries Golspie Stafford.

United went into the game requiring only one point for the Championship but knew that they would have to be at their best to get the point from Stafford, and eventually finished the season with a magnificent 100% record.

The game’s first real chance fell to Walter Mackay who headed wide from a Darren Pullen corner. Soon after United had their first goal scoring opportunity when Billy Cowie made a darting run down the left and his low cross was cleared just before the inrushing Martin Sutherland could make contact. United were starting to play some good football and after a good passing movement Graham Grant shot just over. Stafford began to come more into the the game as the had to push for the opener to give them the victory that they required and on the half hour a Pullen shot was deflected wide for a corner. United were now under pressure and the opener for Stafford came in the 35 minute after good work down the left by Mackay, his cut back was hammered home by Scott Lannon to give Golspie the lead.

Helmsdale went straight up the park and retaliated with a Jason Gunn header which Austin Mackay tipped onto the bar and the rebound was cleared for a corner. A Stuart Mackenzie cross was met by the head of Graham Grant but Mackay held comfortable. United were now pushing for the equaliser and Cowie beat the keeper to the ball but Stafford cleared the danger. On the stroke of half time Walter Mackay produced a brilliant piece of work to turn his marker and set up Ian Innes to increase the Stafford lead and what looked like a 2-0 half time lead. In first half injury time United were given a life line when referee MacLelland pointed to the spot for hand ball, and Kevin Macleod stepped up confidently and scored, but there was still time for Stafford's Darren Pullen to fire a free kick just over from 25 yards. Stafford went in at half-time the happier of the two teams with a 2-1 score line in their favour.

The second half saw Helmsdale come out of the traps very quickly as they had to get something out of the game to ensure they kept their league title and a Martin Sutherland shot was saved by Mackay. Then a Grant ball over the top saw Sutherland cut in from the right but his well hit shot was brilliantly turned over by Mackay. After 55 minutes a corner caused havoc in the Stafford defence and when the ball came out to Macleod he fired home from 16 yards to level the score line at 2-2. Four minutes later United nearly took the lead when the hard working Sutherland got a long ball on the right and cut back for Steven Henderson to shoot, but again Mackay saved well. On 63 minutes United took the lead when a perfect chipped ball by Cowie picked out Grant and his well hit shot flew into the net. Stafford were now behind for the first time in the game due to spirited comeback by united, soon retaliated and Pullen went clear of the united defence but he couldn’t beat Alan Bokas who saved well.

Then the game saw two red cards in the 71st minute when John Smith (Stafford) was sent off for a tackle from behind and Martin Sutherland (United) for retaliation. With more space on the park chances were coming for both teams, but United's Cowie was first to take advantage of the free space when he got on the end of a through ball and went slightly wide right and fired a great shot across Mackay into the bottom corner for a 4-2 lead to United. Stafford were still full of fight and within a minute of the restart Pullen again found himself clear but the outstanding Bokas saved. With ten minutes left Walter Mackay gave Stafford a fighting chance when after some great footwork he beat a couple of defenders and fired across Bokas and scored in of the post. Chances came and went at both ends but the Helmsdale United defence managed to hold out to secure the 4-3 win which gave them the league title and the 100% league record which they so badly wanted after recent poor cup performances.

United's vice captain Graham Grant accepted the league championship trophy on behalf of normal captain Andrew Cairns who could not be at the game due to a hospital appointment.

PAUL CUP FINAL  13th July 2002 @ Lairg.

EMBO 2:1 HELMSDALE UNITED

PATTISON CUP 10th July 2002

LEAGUE MATCH 29th June 2002

LAIRG ROVERS 1:4 HELMSDALE UTD

Helmsdale United went to within one point of the league title, after they defeated Lairg Rovers 4-1 in Lairg on Saturday.

Helmsdale were the stronger team in the early exchanges of this match and came close on a couple of occasions. The nearest being a Paul Whitehead shot which deflected onto the post. United took the lead mid way through the first half when Billy Cowie fired a rocket of a free kick into the keepers top right hand corner.

The second half was barely ten minutes old when after good work by Jason Gunn, Drew Smith finished off coolly to give Helmsdale a two-goal cushion. Cowie added to his tally when he rifled in a thirty yard shot which left the keeper grasping at air. John MacAulay put United further ahead when he netted after the keeper lost control of the ball. Lairg pulled one back in the last twenty minutes when good work by Jamie Morrison down the right resulted in his cross being turned home by Kenny Fraser at the back post. Helmsdale United have one more league game to go, which is at home to Golspie Stafford, their main challengers. One point  from that game would see them crowned champions for the second season running and if they win the game they will have go through their league programme with a 100% record.

LEAGUE MATCH 26th June 2002

DORNOCH CITY 3:7 HELMSDALE UTD

Helmsdale United went nine points clear at the top of the, The Northern Times league, with a very good 7-3 win away to Dornoch City.

Dornoch were missing their goalkeeper Russell Mackenzie who is out through injury, his place was taken in goal by David Cameron. The game was even in the opening stages with both teams creating chances. It was City who took the lead when Lawrie Fairns went on a solo run and cut the ball back for Ian Moffat to score. Helmsdale responded immediately when a cross from the right was fired home by Kevin Macleod to send the game in level at half time.

United came went goal crazy after the break and went into a 1-4 lead, Billy Cowie started the goal burst when he fired home from 10 yards, then Graham Grant shot home when he was left unmarked at the back post. Cowie then got his second with a drive from 16 yards into the keepers left hand bottom corner. City gathered themselves after this on slot and fought their way back into the game, when Robbie Gillanders reduced the leeway, Helmsdale cleared the ball as far as David Matheson, he controlled his volley and sent the ball to Gillanders who duly scored. Then Roddy Mackay broke from the back and played a one two with Gillanders who sent him clear, Mackay then chipped the advancing keeper to make the score 3-4. After that United gained control of the game once again and went further ahead through Cowie when he got his hat-trick when he shot home from 12 yards after a scramble in the City box. Graham Grant got the goal off the game when he bulleted home a header, from a Martin Sutherland cross. Paul Whitehead finished of the scoring when he beat the offside trap and fired high into the net to give the Dornoch keeper no chance.

United will now be looking for another away victory against Lairg to ensure that Stafford are put under pressure to win all their remaining league games in order to stop United taking yet another League title.

LEAGUE MATCH 18th June 2002

GOLSPIE STAFFORD 1:2 HELMSDALE UTD

Last Tuesday night Helmsdale United carried on their 100% record in the league when they defeated Golspie Stafford 2-1 in Golspie and open a six point lead.

United started the strongest and were creating chances, and went ahead from a Billy Cowie cross which Andrew Cairns volleyed home from six yards at the back post. Helmsdale kept posing problems for their hosts and went further ahead, a cross into the Stafford box was cleared to the edge of the 18 yard box, Cairns was first to it and his rocket of a shot flew in to the top of the net giving Austin Mackay in the Golspie goal no chance.

2-0 down at half time Stafford came out in the second half with a more bit vigor, and were soon creating problems for United. Stephen Macleod came close but his close range shot was turned over the bar by Alan Bokas in the Helmsdale goal. Stafford were well in control of the game but were finding it hard to break down a solid United defence, they came close when Walter Mackay rounded Bokas but was forced wide, his cross just fell behind Macleod who had an open goal. Stafford eventually got a goal when Mackay side footed home from 12 yards, but Helmsdale held out for the remaining five minutes to secure a vital victory  in the league title chase.

LEAGUE MATCH 5th June 2002

HELMSDALE UTD 5:2 EMBO

In the league Helmsdale United beat Embo 5-2 to go six points clear at the top, and keep their 100% league record.

Embo fielded an under strength team as they were resting players for their Highland Amateur game.

They paid the price for this in the first half as United raced to a four goal lead, It took only ten minutes for Helmsdale to break the deadlock, when Billy Cowie fired home from a free kick, United were soon two nil ahead when Cowie scored with a near identical free kick. Cowie got his hat trick when he turned a right wing cross home from six yards, and added a fourth when Tommy MacAulay beat the offside trap and squared to Cowie who had a tap in.

Embo made a couple of chances at half time and this was evident as they were soon on the attack, Embo pulled one back when James MacGilvary left defenders in his trail and fired across Alan Bokas in the United goal to score a great individual goal. On the hour mark Embo reduced the leeway further when their new signing Kenny Farmer hammered home a twenty-yard free kick, and he came close again from the same distance but this time it went just wide. The last twenty minutes of the game was stretched as both teams went for the next goal, chances were coming at both ends but it was Andrew Cairns who finally took his chance when he shot home from eight yards after good work By Billy Cowie. A good win for Helmsdale, but they were made to work for it in the second half by a hard working Embo side, United now lead Golspie by six points who have two games in hand.

HIGHLAND AMATEUR CUP   Sat 18th May 2002

The Highland Amateur Cup saw a big 2nd round shock when the much fancied Helmsdale United fell at the hands of Caithness second division side Ashes. Lairg Rovers also went down to last years champions Wick Thistle, but on a brighter note Golspie Stafford went through beating Kinlochbervie 10-0 and there was also good wins for Dornoch City and Embo.

ASHES 2:1 HELMSDALE UTD

Helmsdale United went into the game as much fancied favourites to return home with a place in the third round secured, but their hosts had other ideas and went on to complete a memorable victory.

Helmsdale started well and chances but it was obvious that it was going to one of those days as everything they hit towards goal always seemed to find an Ashes player in the right position on the goal line to clear. Ashes took the lead after they took an early free kick and as it got played into the box United only cleared to the edge of the area, for an Ashes attacker to shoot home from 18 yards. Then the unthinkable happened Helmsdale went two down the Ashes winger sent an unstoppable volley into the top corner to send the home in at the break 2-0 ahead. The second half saw Helmsdale push forward but their luck was not in on the day and all the muster was solitary Billy Cowie effort. The Helmsdale United c/o managers Hector Mackay and Willie Cowie both agreed that it was not one off Helmsdale’s best days and a lot of credit must be given to Ashes for the way they doggedly held on to secure a place in the third round.
 

COUPER CUP  14th May 2002

LAIRG ROVERS 3:2 HELMSDALE UTD

Last Tuesday Lairg Rovers made it through to the final of Couper Cup after an entertaining game with Helmsdale United. Lairg were involved in their third successive 3-2 game having lost the last two they eventually won this one. Both teams started well and chances came at both ends, but the best chance fell to United’s Billy Cowie, who’s penalty kick was saved by Mark Airey in the Rovers goal. With the game so open it was a surprise that the first goal came from a set piece, with a perfectly flighted Graig Caunter free kick Kenny Fraser got his head to it first and found the net. Then just before the break another Caunter cross caused havoc in the visitors defence and when the ball fell to Neil Macdonald his shot went in of the crossbar to give Lairg a 2-0 half time lead. Jamie Morrison had the perfect chance to increase the lead, but Alan Bokas in the Helmsdale goal acrobatically saved his penalty kick, this boosted Helmsdale and they pushed their hosts back and soon reduced the leeway when Malcolm Cowie hammered home a volley from 18 yards. The game was in the last minute when it saw it’s next goal, Malcolm Cowie again found space and his curling shot went in of the post to level things up. With everybody looking for penalty kicks Rovers broke straight from the kick off and a Kenny Fraser cross picked out the lethal Jamie Morrison at the back post and his vicious volley went in of the post to send Lairg into a repeat of last seasons Couper Cup final against Golspie Stafford.

STAFFORD CUP 9th May 2002

HELMSDALE UTD 3:1 BETTYHILL

Helmsdale United played Bettyhill for the second year running in Helmsdale in the Stafford Cup, the outcome was the same with a victory for the East coast side by three goals to one.

Bettyhill started the game confidently and looked the more likely to score. As the game wore Helmsdale started to make chances but failed to capitalise, they paid for this when Bettyhill took the lead midway through the half, with a well taken goal, the visitors were well worth their goal lead at half time. The second was only ten minutes old when youngster Robert Macdonald raced through on the Brian Mackay in the Bettyhill goal to slot the ball past for the equalizer, Then their was a bit of controversy about United’s second goal, when Mackay dropped the ball after injuring his finger but the ball was still in play and Sandy Macaulay nipped in to put Helmsdale 2-1 ahead. Then chances came and went at both ends before Graham Grant rose above the Bettyhill defence and head home from a corner kick, to seal a excellent second half fight back for the home team.

Helmsdale United now have a difficult trip away to Golspie Stafford in the next round.

The Quarter finals of the Stafford Cup has produced two East Coast tie’s with Lairg Rovers v Embo and Golspie Stafford v Helmsdale United, which will put two East coast sides in the semi-finals, and Dornoch city have a long away trip to Kinlochbervie.

LEAGUE MATCH 29th April 2002

HELMSDALE UTD 3:2 LAIRG ROVERS

In the league Helmsdale United were at home to Lairg Rovers. Helmsdale kicked off with a strong wind at their backs and within 30 seconds Billy Cowie raced through the Lairg team only to pulled back in the box, but the referee decided a goal kick was the outcome. With their first attack Lairg went one up, when Jamie Morrison latched onto a through pass and finished clinically, firing across Alan Bokas in the Helmsdale goal. United got back on level terms when Andrew Cairns rose above everybody to head home from a free kick. Billy Cowie then fired Helmsdale ahead when he rifled home free kick from 20 yards. But within minutes Lairg were back on level terms, the beat move of the game saw Kenny Fraser receive a pas out on the right and his pace took him past marker and deliver a inch perfect cross for Jamie Morrison who duly headed home from 8 yards, to send the teams in all level at half time. The second started with a sending off, when Kenny MacNab received his marching orders for a late tackle from behind, with the man advantage Helmsdale went 3-2 ahead a Sandy Macaulay shot was expertly diverted by Martin Sutherland, as lobbed the ball over the Lairg keeper. As the game wore it was the ten men of Lairg who had the best chances as the battled bravely to save a point, But there was no more scoring and the game ended 3-2 to Helmsdale United.

This was a game of two half’s with Helmsdale having the best off the first and Lairg having the best chances in the second, as the ten men fought to the last whistle.

Helmsdale Manager Hector Mackay later commented “ we created a few chances in the first half but failed to convert them, and Lairg were dangerous on the break, in the second half we had the man advantage and got the early goal but Lairg made it a very tough second half”.

No Match Reports Available

LEAGUE MATCH 13/04/2002   EMBO 2:3 HELMSDALE UTD

LEAGUE MATCH 07/04/2002   HELMSDALE UTD 3:0 DORNOCH CITY

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