Match reports for 13/12/03

Falkirk GHG 4
MIM 10

In the last weekend of matches before the Xmas break, Falkirk faced former Scottish Champions MIM, who had recently been relegated from the top flight of indoor hockey. Falkirk took the lead through a Stafford Dickson shot from a penalty corner, but this was short lived as MIM replied with 2 corners of their own to take the lead. Falkirk fought back and equalised through Iain Fraser, netting his first goal of the season. The game in the first half swung from end to end, and although MIM knocked in 3 further scores, goals from Arthur Robertson and Douglas Nicol meant that the local side were only training by 1 goal at the break. The second half started out evenly matched, but as the half wore on, revolving substitutions and superior fitness began to give MIM the edge. As mistakes and tiredness crept into the Falkirk game, these were clinically punished by the MIM forwards, and despite a number of good saves by Robert Thomson, MIM kept adding to their score to eventually run out comfortable winners.

Falkirk GHG 1
Hillhead 9

In a tough weekend for Falkirk, they faced the undefeated league leaders in their last match before Christmas. Hillhead had only been promoted into the division this year, but with a strong team playing good hockey, had deservedly made their way to the top of the league. Falkirk struggled to break down the Hillhead defence, but had also managed to contain their attacks for a good part of the 1st half. Once Hillhead eventually made the breakthrough, more goals followed, but at 4 goals down, Falkirk finally managed to get on the board. Quick passing form Robertson and Chris Anderson carved open the Hillhead defence, and Iain Fraser was on hand to net his second goal of the day. the second half followed the same script as the first, with Falkirk defending solidly for large parts of the half, but lacking any real pressure in attack. Hillhead managed a further 5 goals without reply to secure the game and top spot over the festive break, while Falkirk will have to regroup if they are to avoid the dreaded drop in February.

Alloa 2
Falkirk GHG II 2

Falkirk travelled to Edinburgh to play Alloa on their 'home' pitch at Goldenacre, well-remembering the debacle last season when, with a three-goal lead under their belts, they allowed Alloa back into the game to trounce them 6 goals to 3! Alloa were certainly the stronger side in the first five minutes, pressuring the Falkirk back line, but denied anything by good clearances by Jason Park and Scott Coventry. Falkirk then seemed to waken up and switch onto the game with new life and went up the park. A William Simpson ball to Ross Crerar, then onto David Sharp, showing he can still play up front, saw him cut the ball to Gregor Maxwell who slammed it into the net, much to the unhappiness of the Alloa side. Four minutes later, James Robertson was first to react to a rebound off the keeper to send the ball into the goal. Falkirk knew they had to keep concentrated to avoid history repeating itself, and Park again proved his worth at the back, together with a great save off his outstretched hand, by Kevin Cummings in goal at a penalty corner in the last two minutes of the first half. Alloa were not long to claw one back after the break, but Falkirk tried to increase their lead to give a greater cushion behind them, with David Sharp having his shot saved by the keeper, and later just failing to get onto a good cross as he lurked at the far post. Alloa levelled in the 27th minute, but Falkirk tried like bears to nudge ahead again, with Neil McFadyen forcing a penalty corner award, but this could not be turned into the winning goal.

MIM III 1
Falkirk GHG III 4

The Edinburgh side could only field ten players at their home ground at Leith Academy, and Falkirk, after their punishment at the hands of Carnegie last week, were anxious to return to their good form of earlier in the season. The earlier settled team that saw success back in October has suffered from injury, unavailability, holidaying players and work commitments, and this week was no exception. However, the new faces brought in to augment numbers, Amrit Dhillon and Gordon Anderson, seemed only to have enhanced the team's performance as the result shows. Falkirk started the game well, and were all over the MIM side like a hot rash. Seventeen minutes in, the ball came down the park with the midfield passing well. John Russell and Mark Stewart passed the ball to see Gordon Anderson see to the first goal at the back post. Back into the team after renovating his house, Barry Warner scored a cracking goal from a short corner. The second half saw Johnathan Nugent and Craig Callahan spurning chances in front of goal, but Mark Stewart saw the chance and took it, expertly beating the keeper from the edge of the circle. MIM did claw a goal back, but there was no stopping Falkirk, as Amrit Dhillon took the ball up the park for John Russell to finish the game with a well-taken goal. Danny Gibney makes such a difference to the team when he is available and produced good defending throughout the game.

Falkirk GHG V 3
Grange VII 0

Falkirk came to this game unfortunately with only 10 players due to a mishap with venues and times. In the long run, if they had had a full team the score would have higher. This game was Falkirk's from the start with Iain Webster finding young Alex MacFadyen's stick in the goal circle to hit a Grange defender for a penalty flick to Falkirk. Young John MacPherson stepped up to score his first goal of the season putting the Grange keeper the wrong way. Although the young Falkirk team had all the pressure in the first half they were unable to capitalise due to the strong Grange defence and a few good saves from their keeper. The second half with a reversal of the previous half with Grange pounding the home sides goal for about 15 minutes, but the defence off Robert Russell, John Galloway, John MacPherson and Iain Webster held firm making sure the visitors did not get through. Captain Chris Taylor, in a reversal of his usual position was in goals for the home side and kept the score sheet clean with some unusual saves but saves they were. Ian Webster got the homes sides second with a well placed shot which left the Grange keeper stranded and young Chris Brodie got the third being on the end of a sure fire goal from young MacFadyen, but Brodie ensured that it did go over the line. Young Chris Thompson in midfield showed how much he has improved this season with some excellent timed defensive tackles to stop the Grange attack time after time and young Stewart Laing showed that on a good day he is very hard to get the ball from as the Grange defence found attack after attack. In all this was a game that was Falkirk's from the start with four adults and six under 18s this team will go far as they are pushing the league leaders with being fourth in the league, not bad for the youngest team in the league..

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