Match reports for 28/10/06

Falkirk GHG II 1
Edinburgh Uni III 1

The second eleven picked up only their second point of the season on Saturday with a hard fought game against a tough tackling Edinburgh Uni 3rd eleven. Both teams started well although Uni had the better of the chances in the first half, and but for a sensational penalty save from Craig Malcolm would have ended the half a goal up. The second half followed the same pattern, with a neat touch in the D from Gregor Maxwell from a powerful Paul Paton strike equalising after Uni had went ahead earlier in the half. Both teams struggled to break the other down from there, although Falkirk could have picked up all three points if Derek Morrison's effort from a penalty corner in the last minute had found the corner instead of the sprawling Uni keeper's big toe.

Falkirk GHG III 3
Edinburgh Uni V 1

After last weekends disastrous result, Captain Scott McNeill made 5 changes to his side for this East District match against Edinburgh University. Youngsters Alan McDonald and Craig Harper added some much needed energy to the side and the thirds were pleased to have Stephen Macdonald’s experience back at the centre of their defence. The match started at a very high tempo and it was Falkirk who had the early pressure, with Liam Robertson coming close on two occasions. However Edinburgh Uni looked dangerous and Robert Thomson in goals had to be sharp to save well at his post with the scores locked at 0-0. Midway through the half Falkirk took the lead. John Russell started the move, taking a quick free hit which found its way to Iain Cameron. Cameron took one touch before cleverly sliding it onto the onrushing Liam Robertson just beyond the half way line. Robertson ran half the length of the park before showing tremendous composure by sliding the ball under the goalkeeper. However as the half came to an end Edinburgh Univerity equalised from the penalty spot. The second half started as lively as the first and again it was Falkirk who were in the ascendancy, playing some lovely one touch passing hockey. Joe Trodden was at the heart of the Falkirk midfield and showed great battling qualities by winning every midfield battle and getting the ball on its way again. Edinburgh Uni were reduced to 10 players early in the second half when a player was shown a straight red card for a move more suited to a kung fu film. Falkirk made their numerical advantage count and soon took the lead. Robert Speckman saw his short corner effort stopped by the goalkeeper who committed a foul in the process and from the resulting penalty flick, Speckman perfectly dispatched the ball into the back of the net for his first of the season. Falkirk had other chances and in the final minutes of the match young Alan McDonald was played in and made no mistake with a lovely placed shot for his first ever goal in adult hockey. An excellent result for the 3rd XI who played some impressive passing hockey and can be pleased with this 3 points.

Falkirk GHG V 4
Waverley Inveresk Trinity V 3

For this league game, Falkirk took their visitors from Edinburgh to the astro facility at Bathgate Sports Centre and found a determined side came out against them. Not a surprise, as this was almost to a man, the same team as had played against the Falkirk fourths in the previous game. Had both games not been at the same venue, it was clear Edinburgh would not, for the 3rd year in a row, have fulfilled this away fixture. The hosts took the initiative when Chris Brodie struck in the opener at a penalty corner scoring opportunity, and then a shot from him was narrowly wide of target denying him a second. The visitors levelled with a hit from the top of the circle at a short corner, before Falkirk set about breaking the deadlock. Another short corner saw James Moran’s shot saved by the keeper, and then Alex McFadyen crossed the ball to Brodie who bulleted the ball into the bottom corner for goal two. Edinburgh soon hit back at another corner with a shot at goal first saved by keeper David Connell, before the rebound was picked up and slotted home. Turning round, James Moran made absolutely no mistake with his precision flick at the next short corner to again break the deadlock. Soon, Jonathan Nugent sent a good ball to Stuart McNeill who hit in from the top of the circle for goal four. That should have been it for the game but in the dying 30 seconds, the visitors netted a breakaway goal as one of the two umpires supplied by Falkirk drew breath to blow the final whistle.

[Home Page] [Results Page]