Falkirk gave the champions-elect a shock when Michael Watson opened the scoring with a reverse stick shot early in the match, and despite MIM getting an equaliser from a penalty corner minutes later, Ally Wilson restored Falkirk's advantage. Stafford Dickson increased the lead with a penalty flick midway through the first half, and Robert Thomson was in inspired form to keep Falkirk ahead. MIM pulled a goal back from another penalty corner, but Ally Wilson restored the 2 goal advantage with his second of the match. A defensive mistake in the final minute of the half allowed MIM to close the gap, but Falkirk managed to get to the break still holding a slender advantage. Unfortunately for Falkirk, MIM raised their game a gear or 2 in the second half, and the local side struggled to find the form that had caused the league leaders so many problems in the first half. MIM chalked up 5 unanswered goals in the second period, the majority from powerful penalty corner efforts, that eventually proved to be the difference between the sides. Robert Thomson's excellent display between the sticks did not go unnoticed by the coaches in the hall, and just about got him a call up to the national under-21 squad. Unfortunately for the Falkirk keeper, it came 6 years too late !
Falkirk GHG 8
Chapman Motherwell 3
Falkirk's best display of the season secured their position in division 2 for another season, with a comfortable win over bottom team Motherwell. In a one-sided first half, Falkirk opened the scoring from a Stafford Dickson penalty corner, and doubled their advantage with another strike from Ally Wilson. Wilson got his second after sweeping a long pass from Douglas Nicol low past the keeper, and Nicol then set up Michael Watson for Falkirk's fourth. Nicol eventually got on the scoresheet himself, before Ally Wilson completed his hat-trick to give Falkirk a commanding lead. Robert Thomson was finally beaten from a penalty corner in the final minute of the half, but Falkirk still held a sizeable lead at the break. The second half was a more even affair, and despite Motherwell pulling a goal back at the start of the half, Chris Anderson netted to keep a sizeable gap between the sides. With time in division 2 running out for Motherwell, Ally Wilson got his final goal of a productive season, and despite a late consolation strike from Motherwell, Falkirk held on to avoid the drop for the 4th consecutive year.
Falkirk GHG 2
Dundee Wanderers II 8
With no Olympians in the opposition this time, Falkirk thought they would have a chance to exact some revenge for the season's earlier defeat, but a poor display, coupled with the earlier result against Motherwell, saw the local side fail to make any impression on Wanderers. With 4 unanswered goals in the first half, and 4 more in the second, it was looking like an embarrassing 'granny' for Falkirk until Iain Fraser netted from close range after Michael Watson's shot had came back off the post. Chris Anderson added a second after a good run from Nicol, but it was merely a consolation for Falkirk as they ended their campaign with a defeat.
Falkirk GHG II 1
Edinburgh Uni III 2
Falkirk hosted the Edinburgh University 3rd eleven and got off to a flyer when Uni had a man sent off after 15 minutes for abusive language toward the umpire. Despite being pinned back, the home side went in at half time 1 goal up after Gregor Maxwell calmly rounded the Uni keeper and hit a venomous shot with calm precision. Even though the Uni side had only 10 men they continued to pressure the home side bringing out a few instinctive saves from the Falkirk keeper, Kevin Cummings, eventually earning a penalty stroke when David sharp stopped a goal bound close range flick after an initial save. This gave Uni the edge and they continued to pass and move taking advantage of Falkirk being unable to clear the ball from their own half and scoring the winner 5 minutes from full time. This was a gilt edged opportunity to do the double over Uni 3, squandered due to poor Falkirk passing putting themselves under unnecessary pressure, a lesson to be learned.
Waverley Inveresk III 2
Falkirk GHG III 1
After their impressive win last week, the 3rd XI were quickly brought back down to earth with this disappointing defeat to the hands of Waverley Inveresk. It had started so brightly for Falkirk with Danny Gibney, Iain Cameron and Jonathan Anderson harassing up front, and Dougie Smith defending well at the back. For most of the first half the match was very level, with both teams having a series of short corners from which neither could score. John Russell came close at the post on two occasions and Anderson shot just wide. Falkirk made the breakthrough as the first half drew to a close, with Danny Gibney firing home from a short corner to give Falkirk a slightly deserved lead at half time. The second half, however, was one to forget. The 3's were immediately on the back foot, requiring Jamie Ballantine in goals to make several saves. However, some slack defending allowed Waverley Inveresk to equalise, and then within 5 minutes pull in front. Try as they might the 3rd XI could not score, and despite creating several excellent opportunities, a combination of good goalkeeping and poor finishing condemned Falkirk to their first defeat since the Christmas restart.
This was going to be a hard game as the home side had never beaten Peebles as they were always too strong in the tackles and passing the ball. True to form Peebles took the lead and it was only just before half time that a through ball found young Alec MacFadyen in the D to slot it past the visiting keeper. The second half went from end to end with both teams looking for the winner and it was only minutes from the end that a ball hit into the D deflected off young Chris Bodie's stick into the top right corner of the net to beat the keeper, a hard earned victory for the home side.
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