Match reports for 15/11/03

Granite City Wanderers 4
Falkirk GHG 0

Due to injury, suspension, and a televised Euro qualifier, Falkirk were forced to send a weakened 11 to Aberdeen in the hope of getting a result that would keep them in touch with the league leaders. Both sides started well with an open, attacking game as the play flowed from end to end. With Falkirk pressing forward, Granite City were able to counter quickly, and would have opened the scoring had it not be for the alertness of Robert Thomson in the visiting goal. Falkirk had a chance to open the scoring from a penalty corner, but Douglas Nicol's flick was pushed wide by the Granite City keeper. Another penalty corner 2 minutes later gave Andy Easton a chance to score, but again his shot was well saved by the home keeper. When Robert Thomson produced another fine save from the Granite City forwards, it appeared as if Falkirk would make it to half time with their goal intact, but their luck ran out. Midfielder Scott Wylie was forced out of the game with a hamstring injury 2 minutes before half-time, and Granite City took advantage to earn a penalty corner and score from it at the 2nd attempt. Without time even to restart, it was a disappointed local side that left the field for a well earned break. Unfortunately, the injury to Wylie was to force him out of the game, and with no substitutes, the clubs top side was forced to play the entire 2nd half with only 10 men. With Aberdeen proved to be a difficult enough place to earn a result with a full team, the second half quickly became a damage limitation exercise. Granite City scored a second from a penalty corner, and a 3rd quickly followed with a rasping shot from a narrow angle. Despite a succession of fine saves from Thomson in the Falkirk goal, a fourth strike did arrive mid way through the 2nd half, although it did carry a bit of good fortune, with neither Aberdonian umpire spotting that a hand was used to control the ball before scoring. With Falkirk posting little in an attacking sense in the 2nd half, they were grateful for the final whistle, which brought their winning run to an end, and left the 3 points to a deserving Granite City side.

Hillhead III 2
Falkirk GHG III 1

Falkirk travelled to the new Donald Dewar Sports Centre in Drumchapel to meet this District team from the equivalent West District division above them. The hosts opened strongly but found William Simpson in good form making many useful clearances from the circle and Jamie Ballantine kicking many shots clear of the circle. Hillhead opened in the fifteenth minute when a ball into the circle was picked up by a forward and crisply struck into the goal. The second half started with Hillhead pushing hard, and the game at times became more towsy. Falkirk pushed for the equaliser and Jonny Reid, Joe Trodden, Danny Gibney and Barry Warner pressed hard and were working their hosts, and it was such bad luck when with just fifty-five seconds left on the clock, Hillhead broke upfield and pulled off a second score to put the equaliser out of Falkirk's reach.

Falkirk GHG IV 2
Dundee Wanderers IV 3

With a slightly changed team from that which lost to the Club's fifth team last week, the fours were hoping for an improvement in their fortunes in this Reserve Cup-tie at Linlithgow Academy. Falkirk fought well against their stronger opposition and contested for every ball, with Amrit Dhillon proving he has strength in defending as well as in attack. If not for a well worked, but lucky penalty corner, Falkirk would have been level at the break. Restarting the game, Falkirk went forward, with Ross and Gordon Anderson doing the stickwork, and Ross laying the ball off to Derek Morrison to strike in the equaliser. This was a valiant effort from the home side, but all this promise did little else but stir the sleeping giants as Dundee responded with two quick-fire goals showing Falkirk could do to learn to defend better. But for the heroics of Kevin Cumming in goal, and some last-ditch defending by Scott Usher and Iain Forbes, the scoreline in this cup-tie would have been embarrassing for Falkirk. Stuart Taylor and Alan Jenkins worked hard and through them Falkirk claimed a second with Scott Coventry propelling the ball in at the back post.

Watsonians IV 3
Falkirk GHG V 1

This late game started with Falkirk almost grabbing the first goal through captain Chris Taylor in his usual prone challenge on the home keeper to see him just reach the ball that split second earlier to push it away. Watson's replied with two well taken penalty corners to go in 2-0 at the break. The return seen Falkirk step up the challenge to have several shots on goals to have them saved on the line or deflected past the posts. Eventually the home side made the fatal error of leaving old man Taylor free to receive a well passed ball from Jonathon Nugent to sweep the ball past the home keeper. Falkirk kept up the pressure and should have had another two but to no avail. Watson's added a third and even when young 10 year old Andrew Malcolm came on for the last 15 minutes and pressurised the home keeper to pull of a spectacular save from his shot on goals, Falkirk could not get any more goals. The one good thing about this game was the basic tackling and passing from the young members of the Falkirk side really showed that they are learning hockey at an incredible rate and will have to be watched in the future.

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