Match reports for 18/3/06

Falkirk GHG III 4
Carnegie V 2

With the league leaders slipping up earlier in the day, the 3rd XI needed to take maximum points from a very difficult encounter against Carnegie, one of the best teams in the division. The Carnegie side had already beaten Falkirk in both the league and cup earlier in the season and so this encounter was always going to be tough for the home side. Midweek preparations were not aided by call offs from Iain Cameron and Danny Gibney, both of whom were injured and so Johnny Anderson, the clubs second top scorer, was left to lead the line himself. The game started brightly with Falkirk in the ascendancy for much of the opening spell, without really creating a real chance until Gordon Anderson was cynically fouled on the goal line and Falkirk were awarded a penalty flick. James Moran stepped up but was disappointed to see his flick saved by the Carnegie keeper. Falkirk continued to press and were rewarded when, from a short corner, the Carnegie defender stopped the ball on the line with a foot. From the resulting penalty flick, Johnny Anderson made no mistake, placing the perfect flick into the top left corner to give Falkirk a deserved lead. Carnegie always looked quick on the break and Craig Malcolm in goal produced an excellent diving save to deny a certain goal. The home side slowed the tempo with too many players attempting to dribble when a pass was on and were duly punished when Carnegie equalised from a short corner routine. On the stroke of half time Carnegie took the lead from another short corner. After some stern halftime words Falkirk came out very quickly and Johnny Anderson was unlucky, when his glancing touch narrowly skimmed the crossbar. Despite playing some very nice passing hockey, the 3rd XI couldn't’t find a way past the Carnegie keeper who was having a fine game. Dougie Smith in defence put in his usual composed, strong performance and Carnegie could find no way past him to the goal. After a sustained period of pressure Falkirk deservedly took the lead, from a very familiar right-hand side long corner routine, when Scott McNeill blasted the ball across the face of goal for Anderson to score his second of the game. The game was set to change when Carnegie were reduced to 10 players and Falkirk pushed forward and deservedly took the lead. A right hand side long corner found its way to Gordon Anderson who placed his shot into the corner giving the keeper no chance. Chris Dyer who had moved to the heart of the defence was having an immense game, removing the threat of the quick break Carnegie always posed. Falkirk were to wrap up the game when a well worked moved saw Johnny Anderson complete his hatrick, before unluckily hitting the post. A great win for the 3rd XI who face Inverleith next week in the crucial final run-in.

Carnegie VI 5
Falkirk GHG IV 1

Falkirk travelled to Fife to see off the last league game of the season, hoping to finish with a win. Both sides started well with some excellent pieces of play, however it was the Carnegie side who were given the first opportunity with a PF which beat the Falkirk GHG goalkeeper but remarkably struck off the post, rolled behind the goalkeeper and out the other side. Stunned but relieved Falkirk battled on looking for the opening goal which unfortunately came from the Fife side. The Falkirk side kept there heads high and continued to play an outstanding game of hockey and were soon rewarded when Ian Forbes ran onto a well placed ball by Simon Tenant and beat one defender then reverse sticked the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and into the goals. Regenerated by this, Falkirk had a new lease of life. Chris Brodie and Derry Barton playing well in mid field to help put the pressure on the Fife side. Carnegie fought back but were met by the Falkirk Defence, Malcolm Taylor and Robert Russell making some crucial tackles to keep Falkirk in the game. As Half time approached saw Carnegie go 2-1 up. Falkirk were unable to break through in the second half which went mostly in Carnegie's favour.

Falkirk GHG V 1
Carnegie Colts 1

Falkirk opened this last of the scheduled league fixtures in a rather shaky form, and while missing the steady influence of certain of their older heads at the back took time to settle. However, they rallied, and went forward to pressure as a good cross from Craig Harper saw David Humphreys try unsuccessfully to score with a reverse-stick shot. After further periods of pressure, it was good to see Alex McFadyen carry off a practiced routine, with a neat reverse-stick flick which saw a sea of red shirts seem to part before him for his flick to sail into the goal. Opening the second half, Per Dullforce saw his shot fly just wide of the post, while Michael Kay was there to try to net from a ball from Stuart McNeill. Stuart Brown also had a scoring chance with a shot at goal which rebounded off the keeper. It looked as though Falkirk, who were holding on with tenacity to their slender, lead might pull of a win. However, despite the best efforts of Chris Taylor in goal, Chris Thompson soaking up pressure, and an attempt to clear off the line by Mathews Morley, Carnegie snatched the equaliser in the last two minutes of the game.

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