Match reports for 3/9/05

Harris II 0
Falkirk GHG 4

Falkirk managed to secure a comprehensive victory in their final friendly before the start of the league season, although it wasn't as comfortable as the scoreline suggests. For the first 10 minutes, Falkirk were content to play a containing game, allowing Harris to spread the play across the park, without placing the Falkirk defence under pressure. As Falkirk started to push forward, the game opened up, and this enabled Falkirk to take the lead. An intercepted pass from the Harris defence allowed Craig Gove to burst into the circle, and after committing the keeper, he squared to allow Michael Watson to score with a flick into the unguarded net. Gove almost added a second shortly after, but his goal bound shot was spectacularly cleared over the bar by a back-tracking defender. At the other end, Stafford Dickson had to be on his toes to thwart a quick break from Harris, but that was as close as the home side came to getting an equaliser. Harris started the second half strongly, and although they forced Falkirk into some hurried clearances, there were no clear cut chances. Falkirk grabbed a second with the best move of the match after Stafford Dickson broke up another Harris attack on the edge of the box. His clearance found Watson, who beat his marker on the halfway line, and set off for goal. With one defender to beat, the ball was passed to Douglas Nicol, who unselfishly placed a pass to the back post to give Gordon Anderson a tap in. Falkirk were now starting to create chances almost at will, and although Michael Watson saw his lob pushed over the bar by the keeper, he eventually got his second with a strike into the bottom corner after good work by James Robertson. The final goal came with a few minutes to go, Douglas Nicol going on a strong run to the byeline, and after drawing the keeper, his cut-back was deflected into the net by Watson to complete his hat-trick.

Strathclyde Univ II 1
Falkirk GHG II 3

With the Falkirk Captain umpiring the first part of this friendly, Derek Morrison, assisted by the young striker David Sharp, managed to put the Falkirk side one ahead after 15 minutes had been clocked. Maxwell, not to be outdone, came off the bench to assist Morrison to bag his brace, and to add the third himself before half time. The Uni pulled one back in the second half, and could have done more but for Craig Macdonald, recently playing up front, but today in goal and playing absolutely brilliantly to keep the young Uni forwards from further scoring, Doctor Craig’s imminent departure for Australia a big loss to the Club and to this country’s NHS!


Falkirk GHG V 3
Kinross 0

The newest team to join the East League this year visited the astro pitch at Bathgate and initially had the Falkirk side on the defensive, but found Douglas Smith and John McPherson keeping it safe at the back. David Humphreys was to threaten at the other end, but it was from the stick of Jonathon Anderson that Falkirk eventually broke the deadlock. The second score was a brilliantly executed piece of stick work by Liam Robertson, helped with good advantage being played by Umpire Gow, which saw Robertson beating several players before his shot into goal. Graeme High schoolboy Gordon Forbes came close to finding the net on this his first game with the team, before Braes High schoolboy Stuart McNeill made it three after Anderson had tried to beat the Kinross keeper, picking up the loose ball to slot home for his first goal for the Club. The young Kinross keeper played a blinder after the break and ensured no further scoring was possible, while at the Falkirk goal, keeper Craig Malcolm did what he had to do with his usual efficiency to maintain a clean sheet.

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