Match reports for 1/10/05

Falkirk GHG 6
Giffnock 3

Falkirk finally got off the mark on Saturday, registering their first points of the season in a high scoring encounter at Linlithgow. Falkirk had Robert Thomson to thank for preventing Giffnock from taking the lead, as he made a series of crucial blocks early in the game to keep the scoreline blank. Falkirk took the lead with a sublime goal from Chris Anderson, scoring from a tight angle after ghosting past the keeper and final defender. Falkirk's second arrived after good interplay between James Moran, Calum Taylor and Davie Ferguson left Anderson to shoot home with the keeper stranded. Just before half time Giffnock pulled a goal back from a penalty corner, and within 5 minutes of the restart, had levelled the match with another penalty corner goal. Robert Thomson was called upon again to prevent Falkirk going behind as the home side rode their luck, but when the next goal arrived, it came against the run of play. Scott Wylie's pinpoint pass from defence released Anderson, who passed to Watson at the top of the box, and continued his run to receive the return ball and slot into the empty net. Falkirk's fourth came minutes later, Iain Fraser's cross ball being converted from close range by Michael Watson. Falkirk were attacking at will at this point, and got their fifth from the stick of James Moran, after efforts from Arthur Robertson and Watson had been blocked. Giffnock pulled another goal back from a penalty stroke, but Falkirk completed the scoring when Taylor and Watson combined to set up Craig Gove to fire home from 8 yards.

Stirling Wanderers 1
Falkirk GHG III 1

For their first league fixture of the season, the 3rd XI faced a tough test against newly promoted Stirling Wanderers. The 3rds started slowly, not able to make the break through in the opening spell of the match. Dougie Smith and Chris Dyer continued the fine form they showed last season, winning all tackles. The first real chance fell to Johnny Anderson who sidestepped the keeper only to see his shot at goal catch on the pitch. A spell of continued pressure was applied by Falkirk and they were rewarded with the breakthrough when first Anderson and then Gibney were thwarted from close range by the defence Ross Drummond raced in to place the rebound beyond the Stirling keeper. The first half drew to a close with controversy when Stirling equalised from a disputed short corner award. In the second half Falkirk looked bright with Anderson hitting the post with a thunderous shot from the top of the D, and Danny Gibney coming close from a well worked short corner routine. The game was to turn when substitute John Russell was sent off by the Stirling umpire and as hard as Falkirk worked they weren't able to find the winner. On reflection a good performance and decent scoreline for the 3rds against a team who wont lose many points at home.

Kinross 2
Falkirk GHG V 3

This was the first league game for the new Fife Club as they entered the East League and they began strongly, forcing the award of a penalty corner but were unable to score. Craig MacDonald drove up field to find Chris Taylor but again there was no score. The hosts pressured again and forced Craig Malcolm in goal to pull off the first of some great inspiring saves, before they broke the deadlock in the 15th minute at a corner award, despite an initial block by keeper Malcolm. Falkirk quickly responded also from a penalty corner, levelling with a well-struck hit from the stick of Craig Harper. Again Kinross pressured, but were thwarted as, with the keeper committed, their goal bound shot was cleared off the line by William Simpson. Falkirk went in front thanks to a reverse-stick shot by Craig MacDonald and could have gone even further ahead had a scoring opportunity taken by David Ainsworth not been disallowed at a penalty corner award. This was the first league outing for Braes High Schoolboy Mark Slater, who showed some nice touches in midfield and who should feature in future outings with the team. Kinross levelled the game with a clever chip over a prostrate Craig Malcolm, but they were not to hold on to this slender lead for long. Ainsworth again tried a shot at goal before Craig MacDonald diagnosed the cause of the lack of scoring and made sure at the next penalty corner award to put Falkirk ahead. During the last three minutes, the Falkirk goal lead a charmed life. Kinross fought for a share of the league points, but as the final seconds drained away, Falkirk were again on the attack. Young Ross Dickson up front on his own, able to collect at long ball and take on the defence to be rewarded with a penalty corner which unfortunately was not converted.

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