Match reports for 18/11/06

Falkirk GHG 2
Waverley Inveresk Trinity 0

On the final weekend prior to the break for indoor, Falkirk got themselves back into the promotion pack with victory over the league leaders. In what is traditionally a keenly contested match, Falkirk took the initiative from the start, and had a lot of possession without really threatening the visitors goal, until Jonny Anderson forced a smart safe from the Waverley keeper with a deflection. After being on the back foot for the opening 10 minutes, Waverley gradually asserted themselves, but despite considerable pressure on the Falkirk defence, Robert Thomson wasn't called into action. Falkirk took the lead when Craig Gove's strong run took him into the box, and his effort was deflected into the net by a Waverley defender. Falkirk doubled their lead shortly after, when James Moran's ball into the box was gathered by Anderson and despatched under the keeper from 5 yards. At the start of the second half, Waverley took the game to the home side, but all of their play seemed to break down with the delivery of the final pass. Jonny Anderson almost got his second with a looping deflection, but the Waverley keeper somehow clawed the ball out from under the bar. Robert Thomson was in equally fine form when called into action at the other end, making a series of crucial blocks, and Graham Miller made a telling contribution on his return to the side, the pick of the bunch being a mid air block of a shot that was fired at him from 5 yards. Michael Watson should have scored when sent through on the visitors goal, but he was unable to take the ball past the keeper as he came out to the top of the box, and the chance was lost. The game finished with Waverley trying to find a consolation goal, but the Falkirk defence stood firm to record their 4th clean sheet of the season.

Grange III 5
Falkirk GHG II 2

Falkirks 2nd eleven travelled to St Georges on Saturday looking to record their first victory of the season against Grange 3rds. Both teams started well, and looked to get on the attack, and following an earlier strike from the Edinburgh team, Gregor Maxwell was on hand to finish off a fine strike into the D by Derek Morrison, to level the game. The first half followed this theme throughout, with the same pair again combining to cancel out goal from the home side, which resulted in a 2 - 2 half time scoreline. Following half time discussions about the light, or lack of it, Falkirk came out for the second half with their mind on other things it appeared, and lost 3 quick goals to a more focussed Grange team. There was no further scoring in the second half with the home team running out 5 - 2 victors leaving Falkirk to wait another week to notch their first win.

Falkirk GHG III 0
Grange V 2

With last weekend’s game called off late on the Friday night, the 3rd XI were keen to get back to action. However, they knew they would face a tough test against a Grange side who had finished near the top of the table for the last two seasons and in their last two games had scored 25 goals without conceding any. With 5 regulars missing for the squad, including 3 centre midfielders the 3rd XI fielded an unfamiliar line-up. Sam Hannah took over in goals with Simon Tennant and Derry Barton both called up from the 4th XI. The game started brightly for the home side with Liam Robertson, who had been in fine form since the start of the season, causing all sorts of problems for the Grange defence. However Grange always looked a strong side and were winning much of the possession in the midfield area despite the best efforts of Craig Harper. The 3rd XI had a series of penalty corners they failed to convert and with the last hit of the Grange scored to give them a single goal lead into the interval. The second half got off to a terrible start for the Falkirk outfit, immediately conceding a second goal following a lack of communication in defence. However, the 3rd XI had always been known for their battling qualities and can be proud of the way they lifted their game and didn’t give in. Falkirk continued to pound the Grange goal, with short corner after short corner not being converted. The home side did get the ball into the goal, only for the umpires whistle to go just as the ball was crossing the line to award a short corner. The angry protests of the entire Falkirk squad saw them reduced to 10 players and effectively killed off any chance of finding a way back into the game. Sam Hannah in goals made a good save at the end of the game to prevent further scoring. Although any defeat is hard to take, Falkirk can be proud of the way they battled and never gave in. These two sides have served up 3 highly entertaining games in the last 2 years and both teams deserve credit for the standard of hockey played in yet another good, fair match. Although Falkirk were defeated on the day, if they had managed to convert even 25% of their short corner chances they would have won the game comfortably. The 3rd XI will play much poorer and win.

Falkirk GHG IV 3
Grange VI 1

Falkirk hosted a talented Grange side at the Bathgate venue which after the recent weather was actually playing rather well. Trying a new tactic in midfield was nearly very costly early on with a determined Grange side pressuring everything forward knowing that the last time they played the 4th team they had a very comfortable 7 - 1 win against them. Resolute defending and immense midfield pressure denied the visitors until half way through the half when a slightly lifted ball into the D was slotted in at the back post. Falkirk did not like the scoreline and immediately pushed forward time and again and just before the whistle got a penalty corner and with the rare appearance of Ross Anderson making no doubt about the strike hitting it hard and getting the top of the back boards. The second half began with Grange side playing some lovely hockey but Derry Barton in the middle was just every where not wanting them to have any time on the ball, young Luke McPhee again with the legs to outpace men gave the width and the openings to Ross Dickson who had some lovely stick work. The Falkirk second goal came from a penalty flick after a foot on the line denied a certain goal and Anderson although not his best effort managed to squeeze it past a diving keeper. Now with the time ticking and Grange pressuring it was a time when every one dug deep and all on the park seemed to be more than individuals but a team and interlinked well, passions started to run high and the tackling became robust to say the least. A tracer bullet pass from Sharp snr from outside the D saw Anderson again in the right place to slot the 3rd goal past Grange. Sharp seemed to be every where on the park soaking up the ball so much in various places on the park you would have thought there were 2 of them, a experienced Jason Park at the back also made a difference to the centre. All in all a great performance from Falkirk with absolutely no passengers in the team, all had a strong work ethic and a determined spirit.

Grange VII 3
Falkirk GHG V 3

Despite all the rain which fell last week, the grass pitch at Raeburn Place was in quite remarkable condition for this league outing, and Falkirk went out and dominated the early part of the game, but were quite unable to put the ball in the net. Breaking out from this harassment of their goal, and against the run of play, the Edinburgh side fired up the park only to find keeper David Connell in top form on several one to ones, but inevitably Grange did break through, after an initial Connell save. Connell could not be blamed for their second as he could have hoped the defence would have dealt with it before it reached him. In the second half, Falkirk showed a fighting spirit. Initially Grange came at them, but some long hits upfield by Captain John Galloway eventually were picked up, and Johnathan Nugent, did the spade work for Chris Brodie to claw the first back. Brodie levelled the game from a penalty corner award, before Grange again went in front. Simon Robertson and Stuart Taylor fought hard in the midfield where Paul Johnson was showing some lovely stickwork, as though he had never been away from the game. At the back, David Craig, Mathew Morley and John McPherson steadied the back line, where Alastair Kerr, making a guest appearance, was called upon to clear off the line. Youngster Jon Patrick had a chance of scoring, but it was to be from a penalty flick, awarded after Nugent was impeded on his way to goal, that Nugent made no mistake with his flick to level the game, and salvage a league point from the trip.

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