Halliburton went into this afternoons Association Cup Tie with confidence gained from a victory achieved in midweek. This afternoon we faced Div One North side FC Geldie at Lawsondale. Out were Wood, R.Fulton, S.Duncan and K.Jaques all injured, Vaughan working. We had 14 available and went 4-4-2 with Sct Marlow in goal, Stuart, Simpson, G.Fulton & N.Duncan in defence. Mutch, Mair, Young & S.Jaques in midfield with Webster moved back up front to partner Laing. On the bench were Marlow, N.McDonald & C.McDonald. Geldie have not had the best opening period this season and would be looking to kick start their campaign with a decent cup run.

A beautiful morning had turned on us as play commenced with a gusting wind aiding the visitors. Rain was not far away as both sides jostled for supremacy early doors. The initial 10 minue opening period was very evenly contested with if anything Geldie shading it. Then however Halli took control. We opened the scoring in 12 when Young was put through one on one. Initially he sent a poor effort goalwards which the keeper saved. The ball broke wide right to Mutch who slammed a low ball back across the face of goal. Young this time clipped it into the net. In 15 Mutch was set clear by Mair, he galloped off goalwards and as Mair and S.Jaques positioned themselves for a square ball the club physio selfishly blazed it high and wide. Neat play from G.Fulton in 18 when he intercepted on the half way line, beat two men then released Laing, who on this occasion was adjudged to be offside. In 22 we doubled our lead. Webster had been switched with S.Jaques and sent a searching ball across field. It found Mutch who calmly took it on before hammering it past the keeper. Only 2 minutes later we grabbed a 3rd. Young won it in the air and nodded on towards S.Jaques, who won a throw. He took it quickly to Mutch who in turn fed Laing, crisp shot home 3-0. Geldie mounted an attack in 28 which Mair nicely tided up with a 40 yard header back to his keeper. The keeper was in the spotlight in 35 when Geldie pulled one back. A corner was sent in from the left a header knocked it straight into the air. The big keeper dithered, instead of coming to claim it and the ball fell to a visitor who knocked it home. Almost from the restart Halli could have reclaimed the 3 goal advantage. An amazing passage of play saw Laing storm up the right then cut a great ball low across the 6 yard box. In came Young to slam a powerful shot off the underside of the bar. As it bounced high back into play it appeared to hang in the air allowing the keeper time to get back up and save Youngs second effort, a header which was blocked out. Laing then got onto it but he too could only fire against a defender it broke loose to Mutch but he also struck it against a defender before the ball was hacked to safety. (H.T. 3-1).

We had been all over the visitors however slackness had let them back in with the door still open just enough for them to have a chance. Webster despite not relishing the wide left role, was doing a great job in there and this had definitely been a worthwhile switch. If we could get another early goal then the game would be pretty much over. Little did we know that the flood gates were well and truly about to open as Geldie quite literally disintegrated as the second half progressed. Straight from the whistle Halli went in search of the killer goal Laing slashed one wide but the hitman was simply warming up the pale blue boots in readiness for a goal fest. In 55 Mair chased after a ball across the box and was stupidly bundled down from behind as he made his way back out of the box! Webster confidently deposited the spot kick in the visitors net. Game over. We went nap on the hour mark with what could arguably be our goal of the season. G.Fulton cleared forward and Laing brilliantly controlled with one touch. He turned on the spot and drilled an unstoppable missile into the top corner. N.McDonald took over from S.Jaques and immediately chased down a defender to win a thrown in. We were now swarming all over Geldie and got a 6th in 70. Young showing an abundance of class as he moved in on goal to delicately lob the advancing keeper from 25 yards. C.McDonald came on for Mutch and Marlow replaced G.Fulton as the goals continued to flow. Geldie were now like rabbits caught in headlights as Halli refused to take the foot off the gas. Number 7 was scored in 80 as Laing secured his hat-trick taking a header down from C.McDonald to turn and shoot home on the half volley. Number 8 came in 83 this time Young claiming a hat-trick. A deep cross met by Mair who headed back across goal to Young who dived in to head home. Our 9th was achieved after Marlow intercepted, fed Webster who passed it onto N.McDonald. He did well to cut inside before slipping Laing into space, he curled a low drive past the now despairing keeper. Still we continued the onslaught. A neat moved saw Laing control to roll a ball back to Webster, he squared inside to Marlow who angled a good ball into the path of C.McDonald who was beaten to it by a shell shocked defender. Finally our scoring was complete as Halli hit the perfect 10 in 88. That man Laing yet again firing in his 5th to drive the final nail in the coffin after a huge kick out from Sct Marlow. Amazingly he almost grabbed another in the dying seconds when he took a ball on his chest then turned to shoot just wide. (F.T.10-1)

10 goals are not scored too often in a grown ups game, however it appears to be a regular occurrence in the AAFA this season with at least another 3 10 plus scores being recorded so far. Without being unfair to Geldie this game was complete when the penalty was pretty needlessly conceded. Hopefully they can regroup after a couple of 10’s going past them lately and in fairness it could have been very different if they had got another at 3-1. Halli can’t take too much from this other than shooting practice against a side that capitulated The Hallitopman was given to five goal Andrew Laing, but credit also to Young for a decent hat – trick. Halliburton have not scored 10 in a game since 2000 – 2001 season when we recorded a 0- 12 victory away to Rapid Aberdeen in an August league encounter .

For the record here are some more high scoring Halli facts over the years:

Players to score 5 in a game :-
Craig Robertson v Crown & Anchor 1992/93
Barry Somers v Theologians 1996/97
Nicol Webster v Fintray 2006/07
Andrew Laing v Geldie 2010/11

High scoring victories :
1992-93 Crown & Anchor 3-8 Halliburton.
1996-97 Halliburton 10-1 Theologians
1997-98 Postal ALC 1-8 Halliburton
1998-99 Halliburton 8-1 St Drostans
1999-00 Halliburton 8-0 Postal ALC
2001-02 Rapid Aberdeen 0-12 Halliburton
2004-05 Charlotte FC 1-8 Halliburton
2007-08 Halliburton 8-1 Kittybrewster
2008-09 Halliburton 8-0 Bankhead
2009-10 Fintray 0-8 Halliburton
2010-11 Halliburton 10-1 FC Geldie