Match reports for 11/10/08

Stepps 3
Falkirk GHG 2

Although on paper it looks like a narrow defeat, in reality, had it not been for a man of the match performance from Robert Thomson, the margin would have been greater. Stepps took the lead from an early corner, a switch back across goal getting knocked in from close range at the far post. Falkirk had a great chance to level as Chris Gray was sent through on goal by Ross Maybury, but Gray chose to shoot when a square pass would have resulted in a tap in, and his weak effort was easily saved. Stepps passed up the chance to extend their lead from the penalty spot, shooting high over the bar, before a quick break from Iain Fraser gave Michael Watson a great chance to score, but the Stepps keeper got across to block the shot. The home side doubled their lead just before half time, and at this point were well in control. Falkirk pulled a goal back just after the break when Watson drilled a shot through the keepers legs, but Stepps restored their 2 goal cushion immediately from a second penalty flick. Thomson kept Stepps within reach with a series of fine saves, including a point blank effort when he looked to be heading the wrong way, and despite a number of promising breaks orchestrated by Douglas Nicol, the visitors were unable to create any clear efforts on goal. Falkirk finally got some consolation in the last minute, when Gordon Anderson converted a sublime drag flick penalty corner into the top left hand corner of the net, but it was too little too late.

Falkirk GHG III 5
Alloa 2

After an impressive win in their first league game of the season, the 3rd XI welcomed Alloa to their temporary home at Bathgate Academy expecting a hard match against a side that always provide tough opposition.

With both sides playing attacking hockey from the start, it was Falkirk who were to make the breakthrough after 10 minutes, when a Scott McNeill long corner was volleyed towards goal by Iain Cameron. The Alloa goalkeeper produced a good save, but Danny Gibney was on hand to slot home the rebound. Alloa were to hit back almost immediately however, when a Falkirk injury allowed a striker to ghost unmarked to the back post to make it 1-1. However, Falkirk were to take the lead again, when Danny Gibney flicked his penalty corner effort over the head of the on-rushing goalkeeper and into the net. It was soon 3-1 to the hosts, when a well worked moved from back to front saw the ball find its way to Iain Cameron in the D, who unleashed a shot at goal. As the ball sailed towards the bottom corner, spectators were reminded of the famous scene from “Dambusters”, as the shot bounced off the sandy surface, over the stick of the defender on the goal-line and into the back of the net. As the half wore on Alloa lifted the tempo of their attacks, but found Dougie Smith and Chris Dyer at the heart of the defence in excellent form. On the few occasions the defence was breached, Kevin Cummings in goal produced a goalkeeping clinic as he thwarted the visitors efforts. As the half time whistle approached, Falkirk won a short corner after good play from Spekman and Dickson. The corner was cleverly worked to John Russell who’s goalbound shot was stopped on the line by an Alloa foot and from the resulting penalty flick Danny Gibney sent the keeper the wrong way, slotting the ball coolly home for his hatrick.

At the start of the second half, Alloa commited more players forward and started to cause Falkirk problems. The visitors won a series of penalty corners and only some truly brilliant low saves from Cummings in goal prevented the Falkirk lead being reduced. Falkirk needed another goal to make sure of the win, which they duly delivered: an Alloa freehit broke down and young Paul Keane, who had been very impressive the whole match, broke away with the ball. He moved quickly upfield before linking well with Robert Spekman. Spekman managed to thread an inch perfect pass into the feet of Ross Dickson, who was unmarked in the D. Dickson showed brilliant composure to bring the ball under control, before unselfishly taking the goalkeeper out of play by squaring it across goal to give Iain Cameron an open goal from 2 metres out. The Falkirk striker demonstrated to Chris Iwelumo how it should be done, when he calmly slotted home to make it 5-1. The game should have been out of Alloa’s reach, but to their credit they battled back and disaster was to strike Falkirk when John Russell was hit in the head with a mishit cross. With treatment provided by the surgeon playing on Alloa’s team, Russell showed the famous never-say-die attitude of the 3rd XI, when he returned to the field of play with a blood stained bandage reminiscent of the iconic images of Terry Butcher playing for England. Falkirk’s woes were to continue when they were temporarily reduced to 10 players and the defence needed to stand strong. The home side marked tightly and tackled strongly and goalkeeper Kevin Cummings was to produce the game of his life with a series of truly remarkable saves, one in particular when he demonstrated amazing reactions to tip a shot around the post before anyone else on the pitch had even had even realised it had been hit! Alloa were to pull a goal back from the penalty spot but Falkirk held firm to record an exceptional 5-2 victory.

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