Match reports for 3/12/05

Waverley Inveresk Trinity III 3
Falkirk GHG III 2

Traveling to Pinkie for this East District Division two clash, the 3rd XI were forced to field a largely unfamiliar line up with 4 regular players not available for this fixture. Michael Watson and Craig Gove, were drafted into the squad with Duncan Service continuing his welcome comeback in goals. The game started quickly, with Waverley Inveresk dictating the pace of play in the opening minutes and only some sharp stops from Service in goal kept the scoreline blank. However the Inveresk side, who were playing the better hockey, took the lead from a well hit penalty corner which deceived the defence. At the other end Danny Gibney came close with a near post effort which the keeper saved. The thirds were producing a lackluster performance, missing the work rate which has so marked their performances this season and it was inevitable they were to concede a second goal. The Falkirk side may have cause to feel aggrieved when Dougie Smith was judged to have pulled down the Inveresk striker in the D and a penalty flick was awarded and duly converted to give the home side a two goal lead. At half time a tactical switch was made and this was to have an instant effect with Falkirk having a series of penalty corners, which they weren’t able to convert. On one such occasion Inveresk broke quickly, catching Falkirk’s defence unaware and a skirmish in the goalmouth saw a Inveresk player poke home to make it 3-0. After this Falkirk lifted their performance up a gear and a much improved performance saw the thirds pull a goal back, when a nice touch from Michael Watson set up Johny Anderson with a simple finish. Soon after a mistake from the Inveresk defence allowed Danny Gibney to make it 3-2. Falkirk were to search in vain for an equaliser with chance after chance missed from penalty corners. In the end, only a fine save from Duncan Service kept the gap from widening and Falkirk were left to rue their missed chances in a game they could have taken something from. A decent performance in the second half and a valuable learning experience should give the thirds something to build on next week.

Waverley Inveresk Trinity Colts 1
Falkirk GHG V 1

Before this league fixture even began, Falkirk remarked on the inclusion of the home side's first team captain in the host's side, which was in breach of league rules, but regardless of this, the game went ahead with Falkirk struggling to find the fluency they usually produce in their play. Chances to open the scoring were spurned partly by poor finishing, and partly by the one player who seemed to be able to be everywhere on the park, and to stop every ball in his vicinity. Simon Robertson, David Humphreys and Alex McFadyen all came close to scoring, but it was against the run of play when the WITs sneaked in a goal. Falkirk had to pull out all the stops to chase the equaliser, which was a long time in coming. Humphreys had the ball over the bar, while McFadyen and Jonny Anderson had shots saved. Eventually their persistance paid off when a Mark Slater ball to Per Dullforce was directed to Anderson at the top of the 'D' for him to round two defenders to score the leveller. Trying to break the deadlock, McFadyen had his shot saved while 14 year old Ross Dickson's efforts befell the same fate.

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