Match reports for 8/9/07

ESMFP 1
Falkirk GHG 4

Falkirk opened their season with a tough away trip to last year's 4th placed team, but came away with the points after the sort of performance that could promise much for the season ahead. Falkirk started strongly and pinned ESM into their own half, with the pressure paying off as they opened the scoring after 5 minutes. The ball was worked from the left touchline into the path of Chris Anderson, and his burst into the box saw him round the keeper, before cutting back for Michael Watson to net the first of the season from 7 yards. ESM finally found their feet, and started to press into the Falkirk half, but were almost caught out when a quick break from Jonny Anderson found Douglas Nicol steaming into the box, and only a fine save from the ESM keeper prevented Nicol opening his account. Falkirk did get a second goal shortly afterwards, when James Moran threaded a pass to Craig Gove on the right, and his centre was gathered by Jonny Anderson, who scored with an exquisite reverse stick shot into the bottom corner. Falkirk increased their lead from a corner at the start of the second half as Watson and Chris Anderson combined to give Watson his second of the match. ESM rallied and were unfortunate not to pull a goal back when Arthur Robertson deflected a goal bound shot off the post. Robert Thomson kept Falkirk's goal intact with a good save low to his right from an ESM penalty corner, but from their next corner, ESM got off the mark, scoring from a well taken rebound. Before ESM had a chance to build on this though, Falkirk had re-established their 3 goal cushion, as Nicol and Moran combined to find Anderson in the middle of the box, and he slotted home from 9 yards for his second of the game. Despite the best efforts of ESM, the visitors were not in a mood to let this lead slip, and led by an inspirational performance from Moran, maintained their discipline to run out comfortable winners.

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