Match reports for 15/11/08

Stirling University II 3
Falkirk GHG IV 4

For this fixture Falkirk 4's travelled through to sunny Stirling for an encounter that was quite evenly matched on paper, Falkirk at the start made heavy weather of the game but stood firm at the back to deny the home team, midfield just couldn't find the gaps as Stirling hunted down the ball in packs closing all through balls out. Stirling opened the scoring with a penalty stroke for a foot in the D, Falkirk undeterred tried most every thing to get into Stirlings D with good play from the youngsters Alex Mason and Liam Witt, Ross Drummond making an appearance gave much needed stability in the centre of midfield and allowed Derry Barton to go off on his mazey runs front to back putting in some crucial tackles, and it paid off by getting a couple of short corners in quick succession, the keepers logging played right in Stevie Suttons hands to produce one of his finer flicks to goal that found the net to make it 1-1 at half time.

Falkirk started playing with more conviction and played some neat hockey and again Stevie Suttons flick at a short corner found the net. Stirling then made a few tactical substitutions and imediatley pulled level with a text book back stick pass across the goal for an on coming player. Ross Drummond pulled Falkirk ahead twice with rebounds from Suttons flicks at the keeper, more tactical subs were made by the uni team which made it harder for the defence but Usher, Hughes and Pitcaithly played out of their skins to thwart Stirling, with fitness telling late into the 2nd half and a crowded D saw a medium paced shot bypass 4 GHG and 3 Stirling players narrowly sliding under the leg of the keeper who minutes earlier had saved an absolute peach of a volley with his cricket box (ouch), the last 5 minutes of the game were played at a furious pace going from end to end with resolute defending and tackling from both sides. A good game of hockey played, and 100% commitment by all team members makes a Captains job a pleasure to do although he may not think it at times. Cheers Guys.

[Home Page] [Results Page]