Match reports for 9/3/08

Grange VI 4
Falkirk GHG III 6

After yesterday’s disappointment in the league, the 3rd XI turned their attention to the cup clash with Grange 6th XI at St Georges. In cup hockey anything can happen and this game will be remembered fondly in minds for a long-time, as a truly engrossing reserve plate encounter. Falkirk began the match with much of the early possession. Stuart McNeill and Alan McDonald on the wings were looking dangerous with their pace and Robert Spekman and Joe Trodden in the centre of midfield were winning many tackles in crucial positions. Paul Paton was to come close to scoring early on, but couldn’t quite find the target. It wasn’t long however until Falkirk did get the ball into the back of the net. A good break from Ewan Jeffrey saw the ball fall into the D and after a scrimash on the goal-line, Robert Spekman was on hand to flick the ball into the net with his new stick. Falkirk didn’t lower the tempo they were playing at and a series of penalty corners saw Robert Spekman and then Paul Paton both come close to doubling the lead. The visitors didn’t have to wait much longer however when a Stuart McNeill mishit found its way into the path of onrushing Alan McDonald in the D, who slipped the ball past the keeper with aplomb. Grange then broke up the pitch and a cross from the right was met by a deft-flick by the Grange player. As the ball flew towards the top corner of the post, it looked a certain goal, but somehow the keeper produced a spectacular reaction stop to turn the ball over the bar, to the applause of everyone on the pitch. Grange were to continue to press and they won a series of penalty corners, which produced top-drawer saves from the keeper, but eventually Grange did pull a goal back from a well-struck penalty corner to make it 2-1.

Falkirk however were keen to re-establish their 2 goal lead and young Ewan Jeffrey, who had been causing all kinds of problems with his brilliant skills started a move at the edge of his own D. Stuart McNeill picked up Jeffrey’s pass before laying it off to Iain Cameron. He played the pass into the path of Jeffrey, who had run the length of the pitch and Jeffrey slotted the ball under the goalkeeper for a marvellous goal to make it 3-1. At the start of the second half, Falkirk didn’t start well and Grange were in control. It was no surprise when Grange pulled a goal back from a penalty corner to make it 3-2, before scoring another penalty corner to make it 3-3. This seemed to give Grange a huge lift and they scored again to make it 4-3, although the Falkirk defence were incensed as they believed the goal had come off the defenders stick and not the attacker who claimed the goal. This seemed to give Falkirk a second wind and a lung-bursting run by Scott McNeill into the D, saw him fire the ball across the face off goal and onto the stick of Iain Cameron who equalised for Falkirk to make it 4-4. Grange then went straight up the park and won another series of penalty corners, however, when they failed to make these count, the pacey trio of Stuart McNeill, Alan McDonald and Ewan Jeffrey burst up the park on the quick break. McNeill’s run into the box looked strong and composed however he mishit his shot which found its way to Ewan Jeffrey, although the Jeffrey could only get the softest of touches to the ball it was enough to squirm past the goalkeeper to make it 5-4 to Falkirk. With the next goal absolutely crucial to deciding this engrossing encounter Falkirk again broke up the park and Iain Cameron crossed the ball across the face of goal and onto the stick of the Scott McNeill, who’s first touch deftly chipped the ball into the air, which lifted it past the diving goalkeeper, before he volleyed the ball into the net. As this was Scott McNeills first goal in almost 3 seasons, it would be fairly safe to assume Ladbrokes would have offered very long odds of him scoring the deciding goal. With only minutes left on the clock, Dougie Smith, who had been a rock in defence all day, organised and berated his defence to ensure a Falkirk victory. An absolutely excellent game of hockey, played in the best of spirit which ensures the 3rd XI’s progress into the quarter finals of the plate. It was commented by some (well one) that Falkirk’s 6th goal was also a contender for goal of the season.

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