Match reports for 1/11/03

Perthshire Gowrie Growers 1
Falkirk GHG 3

Falkirk travelled to Perth in search of their 4th league win in a row after last weeks disappointing defeat in the cup. With defence, midfield and forward lines all being shuffled from previous weeks, and taking time to adjust, it came as no surprise that they were on the back foot from the first whistle as Perthshire pushed forward strongly. With Stafford Dickson and Stevie Sutton forming a strong partnership in the centre of the defence, Falkirk started to play their way into the game, and opened the scoring with their first real attack of the match. Dickson broke up another Perth attack on his own 25 yard line, before pushing into midfield, and sending a long pass to Michael Watson, who stopped at the top of the box as the keeper came out. His pass found Chris Anderson, who unleased a shot high into the net. Perth pushed forward again and equalised from a penalty corner rebound after Scott Morrison had saved the first effort.

Another sweeping move down the Falkirk right almost brought a goal for David Ferguson, but his shot went narrowly wide, before Arthur Robertson saw another effort go wide a minute before half time. Falkirk started the 2nd half a lot better than they had the first, and regained the lead within 5 minutes of the restart. Douglas Nicol gathered the ball outside the box and set off on a run that eventually saw him on the goalline having passed 3 Perthshire defenders. With everyone, including the home keeper, expecting a cut back to his waiting team mates, the Falkirk captain slid the ball home at the near post from a near impossible angle. Falkirk's third goal came shortly after this, although it was very fortuitous. Good play from Nicol saw his first shot saved by the Perth keeper, and the rebound squeeze through to stop a yard off the line. It was a home defender that got to the ball first, but his rash clearance flew into the air and struck Watson on the shoulder, before dropping into the net. With advantage being given to the attackers, the goal was awarded, much to the annoyance of the Perthshire defence. This was taken out on Andy Easton, who was felled by a challenge after playing a pass, which led to a straight red card and the home side reduced to 10 men. Falkirk should have increased their tally, but a combination of poor finishing and final passes prevented the score from increasing. Perthshire kept going till the very end and had Falkirk under pressure with a series of chances, but solid defending from Graham Miller, Paul Paton and saves from Morrison meant Falkirk held on for all three points.

Falkirk GHG II 2
Grange III 4

Twelve minutes into the game on the Bathgate astroturf, Grange had their first chance to open, but two minutes later made sure from a penalty corner award, with a shot which eluded keeper Kevin Cumming. It took ten minutes for Falkirk to draw level adding another seven minutes later. At the beginning of the second half, Falkirk were rampant, with Crerar and Maxwell looking dangerous with their build-ups. Grange had the odd flurry, and went on to capitalise on short corner opportunities to put three more away to give them victory.

Falkirk GHG III 0
Grange V 4

It took twenty-six minutes before the visitors from Edinburgh found their way to the net. Falkirk had struggled with this game from the start, and Jamie Ballantine in goal had saved their bacon after a string of suicidal free hits were picked up by Grange, putting unnecessary pressure on the Falkirk goal. Stephen Macdonald helped by clearing off the line. Grange added a second soon after the interval, but Falkirk spurned the chance to pull one back from a corner award. Their third goal came despite the attentions of Stephen Macdonald again on the line. Chances were there for Falkirk, with Iain Cameron, John Russell, and Russell Heron, but pressure couldn't be turned into scores.

MIM IV 3
Falkirk GHG V 1

Although this score looked as if MIM had the upper hand it was the very young Falkirk team that actually had 75% of the play with pushing the home side into their own half for most of the game. It was only the experience of the MIM defence that kept the score down while at the other end when the Edinburgh side had their breakaways and the young Falkirk side were caught on the hop, it was only through the excellent recovery's from young John Galloway, Iain Webster, Ian MacFadyen and the acrobatics from Captain Chris Taylor in goals that kept the score at this level. MIM opened the scoring through an excellent penalty corner routine which was put away from one of their ex-International players which screamed past Taylor and David Humphreys to the back of the net. Not to be outdone Falkirk kept up the pressure and equalised just before half-time through a well hit shot into the goal area which saw Humphreys push the ball through the home keepers legs, hit his heel then the post to rest over the goal line by at least an inch, 1-1. The second half started with MIM pushing for a winner but Taylor defied them especially with the one to ones, winning every one which did upset a few of their forwards. Unfortunately the light of the day was going and even after frequent requests for the floodlight to be put on and ignored, MIM took the lead through another well-hit penalty corner. They got another through failing light and players unable to see the ball to make it 3-1.

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