Match reports for 2/9/06

Falkirk GHG 3
Carnegie 2

Falkirk completed their pre-season with a thoroughly deserved victory over their 2nd Division opponents. With 5 regulars out through work commitments and injury, Falkirk were happy to get 11 bodies on the field, giving full debuts to Stuart McNeill and Alex MacFadyen who both impressed at the recent Ayr tournament, and calling up Ross Drummond from the thirds. Carnegie have turned to their excellent youth programme this year to provide them with a squad to compete in Div 2, and had a full complement of substitutes to work with, but it was Falkirk that made the more promising start, constricting Carnegie's midfield play, and showing a willingness to keep possession and attack at pace. After weathering the early pressure, Carnegie stepped up their game and created two clear cut chances when sent through on Robert Thomson, but the Falkirk keeper did well to deny the visitors on both occasions. With both teams playing good attacking hockey, it was a surprise to all that it took until the last minute of the first half for a breakthrough, with Craig Gove scoring for the home side at a penalty corner. Falkirk started the second half strongly, but it was Carnegie that got the next goal, taking a quick free-hit and scoring from close range. This spurred the visitors on, and their ball retention kept Falkirk on the back foot for long periods, before the home side got their act together and started to pass their way back into the match. Falkirk retook the lead with a flowing passing move that start at the back with Arthur Robertson exchanging passes with Davie Ferguson who took the ball forward. He found Michael Watson on the 25, who went round his marker and played a pass inside the full back to the onrushing Gordon Anderson, whose cross found MacFadyen on the penalty spot, and a composed finish gave the Linlithgow youngster his first competitive goal for the 1sts. Falkirk doubled their lead minutes later, with a penalty corner routine that enabled Stuart McNeill to appear in the right place at the right time, and claim his first goal for the team as well. Carnegie hit back immediately with one of the best strikes seen at the Linlithgow park, a fierce shot from the top of the box that flew past Thomson into the top of the net, and almost grabbed a third on the final whistle, but a the shot from the corner was cleared off the line by Ferguson. This was certainly Falkirk 's best performance of the pre-season games, and the contributions of MacFadyen, McNeill and especially Drummond, vindicated the decision to call them up.

Strathclyde Uni II 3
Falkirk II 6

A strong first half performance from a new look Falkirk 2nd eleven saw them stroll into a five nil half time lead against the younger fitter Uni side. Falkirk deserved their lead with a hat trick from the hard working centre forward power house Danny Gibney and two penalty corner goals from Derek Morrison and James Robertson. It was not all one way in the first half however with Sam Hannah having a good save early on and Paul Paton clearing a shot of the line with the score only 1 to nil. In the second half the University team restored some pride as Falkirk experimented with formational changes to pull three goals back with only one more score for the Falkirk side from another Derek Morrison penalty corner.

Perthshire II 1
Falkirk GHG III 1

The 3rd XI’s build up to the new season was hampered as this “friendly” game descended into chaos amid scenes of fighting and arguments. The Falkirk outfit welcomed back some familiar faces for their first game of the new campaign, however it seemed to take some time to get going. The first half was a poor event for Falkirk, as they didn’t play anywhere near their capability and with an unfamiliar formation seemed to struggle to cope with the energy and pace of the Perthshire side. It was Perthshire who deservedly took the lead. A Ross Anderson effort was Falkirk’s only shot on target in the first half. The second half saw a vast improvement in Falkirk’s performance with a changed formation giving them more time and space in the midfield area. The improvement in passing and movement was vast with Luke McPhee playing extremely well, always looking to be involved upfront. Falkirk deservedly equalised when McPhee’s run into the box and shot at the keeper was saved and Ross Connell was on hand with an audacious chip of the ball which finished in the back of the net. The game was soon to take a turn for the worse when a series of heated incidents escalated into something more serious forcing the umpires called a halt to this hotly contested match.

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