Match reports for 1/2/03

Falkirk GHG 5
Aberdeen Bon Accord MBC 3

Falkirk met bottom club MBC in the first game of the day knowing that a victory would go a long way to ensuring that they stayed in division 2 for another season. In the first half, the local side put together their best 20 minutes of the season so far, taking a deserved 4 goal lead into the break. The first goal came from the stick of Iain Fraser, converting Douglas Nicol's pass, before Fraser set up Michael Watson to score from the edge of the box. A Stafford Dickson penalty and Andy Easton's first goal of the season completed the scoring. Despite a half time team talk stressing the importance of defending the lead, it only took MBC 20 seconds to pull a goal back, and the deficit was further reduced when they netted a second after a period of pressure on the Falkirk goal. Falkirk increased their lead again after fine play from Chris Anderson set up Stafford Dickson to score his second and Falkirk's 5th, and should have put the game beyond MBC as a number of chances were squandered through a poor final pass. MBC scored a third goal near the end to make the final few minutes less comfortable than they should have been, but experienced goal tending from Stephen Egan saw Falkirk run the clock down for a deserved victory.

Falkirk GHG 2
Inverleith 8

Having completed the hard work in the morning, Falkirk could afford to "enjoy" the afternoon game against Champions-Elect Inverleith. A determined and committed first half performance from Falkirk made the Edinburgh squad of ex and future Scotland players work hard for their breakthrough. After losing 2 goals in quick succession, Falkirk pulled one back from a Watson penalty corner, but 3 more strikes from Inverleith stretched their lead again. Iain Fraser scored before half-time, reacting quickest to a rebound from the post, and this gave Falkirk hope for the second half. Taking the game to the league leaders in the second half, Falkirk had a number of chances, but a combination of narrow misses and fine goalkeeping stopped them from putting Inverleith under any pressure. Ally Wilson had a strong game in attack on his return to action for Falkirk and it was his play that earned a penalty flick. Wilson opted to take the flick himself, but was denied a goal by the goalkeepers save. As the half wore on, tiredness and lack of concentration allowed Inverleith to pass around the Falkirk defence, and despite a number of fine blocks from Stephen Egan, 3 more goals gave the Edinburgh side a comfortable victory.

Falkirk GHG II 2
Heriot-Watt University 0

Bouncing back from their treatment at the hands of Strathclyde University last week, Falkirk started strongly in this Regional League match played at their home pitch of Forresters High School in Edinburgh, and forced the award of several corners but without a score. Mid-way through the half, Robert Sutton converted a penalty corner award to give the home side a deserved lead. As half time approached, Falkirk were reduced to ten men when team captain, Jamie Stoddart, only returned last week from injury, was forced to retire again injured. In the second half, Falkirk controlled the game and increased their lead when David Jewell reacted quickest to slot home from eight yards. At the end of the day, the fact that Robert Thomson in the Falkirk goal never touched the ball, tells its own tale.

MIM III 1
Falkirk GHG III 2

The first half was a fairly even game on the astro at Leith Academy until Derek Morrison opened the scoring at a penalty corner from a Willie Simpson ball. Later shots by Ross Connell did not increase the tally, and a good save by Kevin Cummings in goal kept his team in front. Ten minutes in the second half MIM started putting Falkirk under pressure and eventually levelled. Jason Park and Willie Simpson cleared off the line at short corner attempts, while Joe Trodden and Ross Crerar had a good game in midfield. With two minutes left on the clock, Scott Coventry was stick-tackled whilst in the act of shooting into goal from very close in, and Gregor Maxwell made no mistake in the resultant penalty flick, sending the ball into goal.

Grange Vl 2
Falkirk GHG V 0

Grange opened the scoring on the pitch at St George's school in Edinburgh, with a good strike from a corner penalty corner award. Following good play in the mid-field by Craig Callahan, Stuart Gardner hit the post, and Stuart Taylor saw his shot go wide of target. Alistair Mitchell was tremendous in goal, but his best efforts while initially blocking Grange's shot, saw them score their second goal from the rebound. Disappointing for the fifths who have gathered themselves together under the leadership of their new captain, Malcolm Taylor.

Falkirk GHG VI 1
MIM IV 2

Jonathan Anderson and Barry Warner had shots at goal, but it was newcomer-to-the club Stuart Brown who heralded his arrival by pouncing on the ball after a defensive blunder to direct it into goal. Brown had another chance with a shot, which hit the roof of the net, but unfortunately outside of the goal. Jonny Anderson tried like a bear, and Duncan Kehoe also put a shot in. MIM sneaked a second to pull ahead, and Falkirk threw all they had forward, with Brown and Anderson thwarted in their scoring attempts. Special mention of the work of Callum Waterson who, with Kehoe showed great determination in midfield.

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