Match reports for 19/8/06

 

Perthshire II 2
Falkirk GHG II 1

Falkirk began with the players from the various club teams settling into their rhythm as they accustomed themselves to playing with different players around them. Fortunately the mix worked well and while the hosts were strong, Falkirk soon settled and pushed up the park. However, after eleven minutes, Perthshire were to open the scoring. Undeterred, Falkirk renewed their efforts, and eight minutes later, a Scott Coventry drive upfield, saw him cross the ball to a waiting Alex McFadyen, who neatly sent the ball into the back of the net. Perthshire came back, but their shot at goal was saved by Chris Thomson, while McFadyen, and Ross Dickson and Chris Brodie harried at the other end. The second half saw Falkirk in a more positive attacking mood, gaining in confidence as the half went on. With Paul Paton in control at the back bring a stability to the back line, he broke up numerous attacks, and Sam Hannah in goal having some good saves. David Humphreys and Craig Harper worked in midfield to feed the young forwards, and Macfadyen was unlucky, as was Coventry not to score. Captain David Sharp had to retire briefly for a period with an injured ankle, but his return to the pitch helped to instil a confidence to go forward. Regretably with around two minutes on the clock, and after a series of penalty corners, Perthshire managed to find the net with what was not the most spectacular of goals. Undeterred, Falkirk went back up the park, and as the final whistle blew, were agonising over a penalty corner scoring opportunity which they spurned. All in all, those present enjoyed their day out and were glad of the opportunity given to them to play at this higher level. Chairman David Sharp thanked them all for stepping up the Club and for helping out at short notice, acknowledging the wealth of talent in the lower XIs.

Falkirk GHG III 3
Uddingston II/III 1

The 3rd XI started their pre-season fixtures with a friendly match against Uddingston 2/3 at Linlithgow. Hoping to shake the summer cobwebs and ease the stiff muscles into action, this game was more about fitness than the result, however the squad can be pleased with their performance. The game started poorly for the Falkirk side, with Uddingston commanding the opening spell of the match and it was the visitors from Glasgow who made the early breakthrough when they scored from a well worked penalty corner routine. However Falkirk can be pleased with the battling qualities they showed as they worked incredibly hard to fight their way back into the game. Danny Gibney, the clubs top scorer last season, came close to equalising with only excellent goalkeeping preventing him from opening his account for this season. In defence Simon Tennant and Chris Dyer both looked composed, winning every tackle. It was Falkirk who created most chances with the pacey John Russell running at the Uddingston defence only for this cross to go screaming across the face of goal. At the end of the first half Stuart McNeill came close to equalising when he rounded the keeper but his back stick slap narrowly sailed past the post.
Falkirk looked in control at the start of the second half and it wasn’t long before they equalised. After a melee in the D, the ball hit an Uddingston players foot on the goalline and from the subsequent penalty flick, Danny Gibney made no mistake slotting past the keeper with confidence. It was soon to be 2-1 when Stuart McNeill started a quick break and played an excellent pass to Iain Cameron. Cameron ran at the Uddingston defence before lashing the perfect cross to Danny Gibney who forced the ball home from 8 yards out. Uddingston came back into the match, winning a series of short corners which forced Duncan Service in Falkirk goal to produce a series of first-class stops to keep Falkirk’s lead intact. Jonathon Nuggent had looked lively all afternoon and after good play involving him, Joe Trodden and Ross Connell Falkirk won a penalty corner from which the impressive Robert Speckleman scored with a sensational flick with sailed over the keepers head and into the back of the net. In the dying seconds Uddingston forced another penalty corner but Duncan Service in goal capped an excellent performance by preventing any further scoring. An excellent result for the new 3rd XI, with the standard of passing hockey impressive for the first game of the season.

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