Match reports for 29/11/03

Falkirk GHG 9
Clydesdale 7

Falkirk's first game of the season was delayed as their opponents were waiting on their goalkeeper to turn up, but got underway with Clydesdale forced to field a kicking back. Falkirk took advantage of this to open the scoring when Stafford Dickson's court length pass was deflected into the empty net by Michael Watson. With the arrival of the Clydesdale keeper giving the game more balance, the game swung from end to end as both teams went all out for goals. Clydesdale equalised from a slick penalty corner routine, and added 2 more in a similar fashion that were cancelled out by 2 goals from Ally Wilson. Falkirk took a lead into half time after Dickson's strong run down the right hand board was converted by Arthur Robertson. Clydesdale tied the game again at the start of the second half, and Robert Thomson in goal made a series of good saves to keep the tie even. Falkirk then put together a 10 minute spell that saw then score 5 more and put the game beyond Clydesdale who could only mange a single score in reply. Ally Wilson chipped in a penalty, penalty corner and reverse stick trundler to take his tally to 5, and Watson and Chris Anderson added one apiece as Falkirk took a 4 goal lead into the closing minutes. Clydesdale managed to cause a few flutters as they pulled 2 back late on, but Falkirk held on comfortably to win.

Falkirk GHG 3
MGM 6

Falkirk succumbed in the second match of the day to a strong MGM side, but the manner of the defeat was as much to do with Falkirk mistakes as it was to do with good finishing by the opposition. Falkirk started well and opened the scoring from an Ally Wilson penalty corner, before MGM replied with a shot that Robert Thomson was unlucky not to put over the bar. Falkirk retook the lead from another Wilson corner effort, but again MGM equalised, this time from a corner of their own. Slack defensive play by the local side gave MGM a golden opportunity, which they converted to take a single goal lead into the break. Falkirk were still very much in the game at this point and into the second half, were thwarted on multiple occasions by the MGM goalkeeper. With chances going a begging a one end, MGM were converting at the other, and gradually worked their way to a 4 goal lead. Wilson eventually managed to get the better of the MGM keeper to complete his hat-trick, but it was too little as Falkirk ended the day with a defeat.

Falkirk GHG II 3
Inverleith 'A' 1

A wet afternoon at Bathgate might have put a premature end to this league fixture but the game went ahead and Falkirk were to take the initiative. Some puddles in the half Falkirk were attacking slowed down the ball, and Gregor Maxwell caught up with a long ball from David Sharp, for a pass to James Robertson, and then back to Maxwell to slam it into the net for the opener. Defending the wet end in the second half, Falkirk went up the dry end and two quick goals should have killed the game dead, the first from Ross Crerar, and then by James Robertson. Despite some heroics from the Falkirk defence, Falkirk conceded a penalty flick award to their visitors from Edinburgh after the ball came off the stick of Jason Park onto his foot on the line, and Inverleith converted the resultant penalty flick to gain a solitary consolation score.

Inverleith 'B' 2
Falkirk GHG III 2

After a recent run of disappointing scores, the thirds began this league game at Currie High School quickly notching up a two goal lead. The first came from a short corner award with John Russell hitting the ball out to Danny Gibney, then back to Russell to see him put the ball into the net at the nearside post. The second came from open play and saw Danny Gibney flick the ball into goal over the keeper. Inverleith came back to claim a goal in the latter stages of the first half after a melee in front of the post. Scott McNeill had a good save off the line at a corner award but Inverleith managed to level the game from a penalty flick awarded after a near-save by David Craig.

Inverleith Juniors 0
Falkirk GHG IV 3

If last weeks performance was the Mr Hyde of hockey then this weeks was the Dr Jeckyl. From the offset Falkirk new this would be a tough game, as Inverleith were topping the table by one point and weren't about to lie down and give up. Falkirk took this to heart and set about a very business like game, defending and attacking as a unit and proving the quality they failed to unveil the previous week. Come the break all honours were even at 0-0 despite the best efforts of Gordon Anderson, Stuart Taylor and Stuart Lang who were frustrated by some mercurial goalkeeping and back to the wall defending by the composed Inverleith. With a quick turn around Falkirk returned to work and set about turning the screw on Inverleith. Stuart Taylor hit the post while Amrit Dhillon forced another fine save from the in form keeper. Iain Webster and David Humphries harried the defence to despair with intelligent runs and precision passes. Yet it was Stuart Gardener who broke the deadlock with a classic goal driven beyond Inverleith's seemingly impenetrable goal-line. Inverleith started to counter attack but Falkirk's defence stood firm and took the fizz out of their efforts with a champagne goal from the stick of David Humphries. It went all the way to the wire at 2-0 then came a goal that summed up the entire teams performance. A half chance for a third goal and a lot of effort from Gordon Anderson gave rise to the third and final goal right on the whistle.

Congratulations from the whole team to Simon Tennant the fourth team vice captain, for completing his umpiring qualification on Saturday and gaining his 'C' badge.

Falkirk GHG V 3
Livingston II 4

The young Falkirk side decimated through illness, late arrivals and no shows due to other events started the game with nine players and one of them, young Chris Thompson got out of his sick bed to attend, played some excellent hockey against the visiting team from Livingston with a full complement of players and subs totalling sixteen players and although the played the rolling subs to its full advantage they could only go ahead after twenty minutes and twenty five. Falkirk replied with young Stewart Laing connecting with a well passed ball to bounce it off the visiting keeper and round him to push it over the line. The second half started with Falkirk now being up to a full compliment of eleven and one sub and although Livingston scored to make it 3-1 one of the players was sin-binned and in that five minutes Stewart Laing got his second through dribbling through four defenders to hammer the ball past the visiting keeper and Alex MacFadyen was on the end of a ball brought from the Falkirk defence by young Paul Paton who lost the ball twice, regained it twice and expertly found young MacFadyen clear in the goal area to sweep it past the unsuspecting defence, 3-3. Unfortunately two minutes from the end Livingston got their fourth through a mazy run from one of their more skilful, 2nd XI players who finished his run with the ball hitting off the post into the goals. Although Livingston had a penalty corner in the last second, which has to be played out, the Falkirk side again defended it well and cleared the ball off the line to narrowly loose this game with the smallest of margins. Thanks must go to the Taylor brothers from the 4th XI who stepped in at the last minute to help produce an excellent game of hockey.

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