Match reports for 12/2/05

Falkirk GHG II 2
Inverleith A 1

Falkirk’s return to their spiritual home of the slick surface of Bathgate’s Balbardie Sport Centre saw them face an Inverleith side that they drew with in the corresponding fixture at Currie High. This match saw a better quality of play than the previous match, and less cards being shown. Falkirk scored twice before half time firstly through James Robertson who was on hand to finish from close range following an initial effort saved by the Inverleith keeper. Gregor Maxwell doubled the Falkirk lead soon after, with a typical solo burst into the penalty area and calmly beat the keeper to round off a brilliant half of hockey, Falkirk showed many examples of slick passing, first class movement and fast thinking to keep Inverleith at bay in their own half. The second half was a closer affair due to Falkirk losing their attacking shape and reverting, by nature, to their more usual formation of filling the midfield, this left some unsure of their position and who they should be marking, thus allowing Inverleith to go forward and eventually pull a goal back. Following some scrappy play at the top of the Falkirk penalty area. There were many promising points to be taken from this game, Falkirk’s ability to pressure an opposition through their attacking formation being one of them, if only we could stay in shape, there will be no-one to fear in our division.

Falkirk GHG III 4
Inverleith B 3

Inverleith B provided the opposition for the 3rd XI, with both sides battling hard in a highly entertaining game of hockey. Two contrasting styles of play were on show, with neat passing of the surprisingly strong Inverleith B side in stark comparison to the power and aggression adopted by the Falkirk team. It was power and aggression that came out triumphant in the end, after a somewhat bizarre but highly entertaining game of hockey. After both sides had early shots at goal, it was Danny Gibney who opened the scoring. A long ball was played up field and looked to going out the backline, but Gibney chased it and from the tightest of angles added a sublime touch to redirect the ball into the far post. Soon after Falkirk made it 2-0 with Iain Cameron the scorer, a ball was played from the left hand side which found its way to Cameron who made no mistake with a good finish. Inverleith always looked dangerous and were awarded a penalty flick after Dougie Smith had bravely stopped a certain goal with his body, however the intimidating presence of Jamie Ballantine in the Falkirk goal was enough to put off the penalty taker as the ball sailed over the bar. Inverleith were causing problems and always looked dangerous and soon made it 2-1 scoring a bizarre goal which rose into the air off a Falkirk defender hit the underside of the crossbar and off the head of Dougie Smith who was on the line before falling into the net. Soon Inverleith equalised before going a goal ahead from a short corner. Yet the 3rd XI were not down and out and equalised themselves when Iain Cameron played in Danny Gibney who made no mistake for his second of the match. Into the second half and the match became more defensive with both sides working really hard to find the winner. Eventually it came Falkirk’s way with Danny Gibney sealing his hatrick. The ball broke to Gibney in the D and when his initial effort to flick the goalkeeper was saved, the rebound broke into his path which he slammed home to win the match for Falkirk. A very pleasing win for the 3rd XI who worked hard in a very competitive match.

MIM Colts 1
Falkirk GHG V 6

This was a game of two halves with the visitors laying siege on the MIM goals but their young keeper pulling of save after save to deny the Falkirk forwards and it was almost half time when MIM had one of their few sorties into the Falkirk D and slipped a ball past Malcolm in goals to take the lead. Falkirk then changed their set-up and Captain Chris Taylor took the centre forward position and within 5 minutes got the equaliser through a ball that was goal bound from Chris Brodie which Taylor made sure crossed the line to make it 1-1. The second came from another ball crossed in from the right which again was a Brodie Taylor combination and Taylor got the goal. The third came up to Brodie who finished it his way to make it 3-1. Taylor's hat trick came, same again from the right and Taylor at full stretch as usual slipped it past the home keeper. Brodie got the last two goals to complete his hat trick which was a first for the Falkirk side to have two hat tricks in the one game. This game was only possible as the visiting side had five regular players short and thanks has to go to the young trialists Robertson, Ferguson, Paton and Tam the goalie who played an excellent game outfield and showed like all the clubs goalkeepers that they are very versatile.

[Home Page] [Results Page]