Match reports for 14/1/06

Falkirk GHG IV 0
Braes High School 3

The Falkirk side depleted by work commitments and supported by Graeme High School pupils Martin Campbell (S1) and Michael Kay (S6) in his first game and his uncle, Andrew Dunbar, former pupil of Graeme High in his 1st game for eight years took on the Braes High team in their first competitive match. Taking full advantage of the good weather, both sides were able to produce a strong start. Falkirk were quick on the break until Scott McNeill worked magnificently to stop the oncoming entourage with a quick set down of his stick. The Braes boys were not to be shown up and a good connection between Luke Mcphee and John Russell set Blair Henderson up with a chance at goal, which was well stopped by Falkirk keeper Scott Usher, in his first game in goal, on the line. For an extended period, there was deadlock in midfield, with neither teams able to play the ball through Braes High's Bobby Morton, and Falkirk's Kenny Sharpe, who were both able to soak up the oncoming passes. Finally the deadlock was ended from a well worked triangle of play between Mark Slater and John Russell, resulting in the ball being fed to Craig Callahan who managed to hammer it into the bottom corner of the goal from the top of the D. The second half effort from Falkirk meant that their standard of play had increased enormously. Andrew Malcolm almost set Falkirk level with a mazy run through Braes defence. However, proving he was not one to be beaten, Thomas McGregor managed to provide a good interception. Alan Jenkins shown great initiative for Falkirk when he picked up the ball in his own defence and managed to round two Braes players to put a good pass through to Simon Tennent, who's cross was unlucky not to get to a striker to make contact on the back post. Braes high made it two after a perfectly placed long corner fell to the stick of Stuart McNeill, who shown good movement to beat the speedy footwork of his marker Kenny Sharpe, in order to rattle the ball into the back left hand side of the goalmouth. Finally the game was secured when Braes striker David Guthrie shown a combination of great control and hand-eye coordination, to control an aerial ball which had been played into the D, and provide a pass to Mark Slater who did a spectacular diving strike to drive the ball into the net.

Falkirk GHG V 1
Inverleith Juniors 1

Falkirk began this rearranged league game in determined form but it was some time before Stuart McNeill managed to put in the first chance at goal. Twenty-two minutes in, Scott McNeill had a ball deflected to David Humphreys whose shot was saved. One minute later, Simon Robertson picked up a cross, but could not turn this into a score. At the other end, John McPherson playing despite a back injury cleared a shot, deflecting off the line. A mazy run by Scott McNeill saw the ball fall to Simon Robertson but his shot at goal was saved. In the second half, Falkirk huffed and puffed but could not break the deadlock, until Craig Harper bulleted a free hit into the visitor’s circle, where it was deftly touched by a perfectly-positioned Per Dullforce, before it entered the goal to put Falkirk ahead. Inverleith were able to pull one back after a penalty corner award, despite two initial good blocks by the late stand-in keeper, 5th Year Graeme High pupil, Donald Nayer, making his debut between the uprights for the club. Falkirk tried like bears to break the deadlock, and went up the park only to wonder if they had entered a wood-choppers convention as stick tackle after stick tackle saw them chopped down and frustrated on the way to goal such that there was no further scoring.

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