Match reports for 17/2/07

Falkirk GHG 2
Glasgow University 2

The outdoor campaign restarted with Falkirk holding the league leaders to a deserved draw, but one which may have signalled an end to any lingering title hopes. The home side made a solid start, and for the opening 25 minutes it was difficult to see how GU were top of the league, as Falkirk pinned them into their own half. Falkirk opened the scoring when Michael Watson's strike from a corner was illegally kicked off the line, and Stafford Dickson made no mistake from the penalty spot. Dickson almost got his second from another corner minutes later, but his flick was well saved by the students keeper. Despite their territorial advantage, Falkirk hadn't created too many clear cut chances, and this cost them dear as GU equalised 3 minutes from the break. A strong run down the Falkirk left took them into the box, and the cross was deflected off a defenders stick to leave Thomson wrong footed. As much as the goal deflated Falkirk, it seemed to lift GU, and at the start of the second half, they upped their game to put the home side under considerable pressure. A well worked corner routine saw the students take the lead, and only some inspired defending from Dickson, Miller and Rennie kept Falkirk in contention. With 10 minutes to go, Falkirk got their equaliser from another set play, when James Moran topped off an excellent performance with a shot which rifled past the keeper from the top of the box. GU tried to hit back, but Douglas Nicol made a series of telling tackles to prevent them advancing on the home goal, and although half chances fell to both teams in the closing stages, a draw was probably the right result.

Edinburgh University III 2
Falkirk GHG II 2

Falkirk travelled to Peffermill to take on Edinburgh Uni's 3rd team. Following the sides 7 - 3 victory against the Uni 4th team the previous weekend confidence was high. Despite a solid first half performance, which saw the long awaited return of Iain Forbes, and some excellent work in the middle of the park from Joe Trodden and David Jewell, Falkirk found themselves a goal down at half time. It wasn't long into the 2nd half that Uni doubled their advantage. However, backed with the belief gained from last weeks victory, Falkirk managed a late rally which saw captain Derek Morrison make amends for some of the misses from the previous week to get the first goal before Gregor Maxwell slotted home the equaliser after a stramash in the D. Despite some good attacks by both teams that was the way the game finished.

Edinburgh Uni V 4
Falkirk GHG III 1

The first twenty minutes saw a keenly faught but ultimately stifling performance from both sides, with very little to interest the spectator by way of goal chances. This changed with a speculative foray by the Uni side down the right wing, the Falkirk defence failed io deal with the pass into the circle and a sharp cutback and shot on goals was initially saved by Kevin Cummings, but the rebound was bundled in by the Uni left winger. Falkirk equlaised when a hit out from the back to the right wing found its way to Alex McFadyen who drove up the right wing and presented an excellent ball to Danny Gibney in the middle who sat the keeper on his backside before rounding him and slotting it home for the equaliser. The joy was short lived with some more suspect tackling in midfield allowing a horde of Uni players to advance into the goal area in a move reminiscent of a scene from the film Zulu and again the ball was bundled home after a save, where the pads of the goalkeeper should have been swept more effectively by the defence. The second half saw Falkirk losing an early goal from a penalty corner. Uni added a third shortly after from the conversion of one of a series of penalty corner awards. Falkirk then attempted to regain composure and start to use their by passed midfield. Unfortunately a loss of the ball in a dangerous position allowed Uni to score a magnificent goal, all one-touch hockey with a clinical finish. It was at this point that Falkirk played the best hockey of the game but were only able to force a late penalty flick which Alex NcFayden was unlucky not to convert.

Waverley Inveresk Trinity IV 0
Falkirk GHG IV 1

Falkirk travelled to Pinkie for this encounter which is always a close fought game, and this was no exception. The first half saw no goals but lots of inter passing and good exchange work between the whole team. Chances were abundent in the 2nd half but narrowly missed. On only his second outing for the club young Ewan Jeffrey played some very nice hockey alongside Ross Dickson. A tracer bullet pass into the D from Ross Crerar found the stick of Alan McDonald and by either pure luck, or sheer genius he slotted it between the diving keepers legs. It was then down to a stalwart defence and some excellent midfield intervention that Falkirk managed to hold out for a well worked win. It was nice to see John Hughes make a return to action after being sidelined for eight weeks through injury.

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