The Bairns' News

A long drive down the M74 to Dumfries was the order of the day for the Falkirk Bairns today as they went in search of another valuable 3 points in the SWFA 1st division.

Coach Wilson was again left with some injury worries before the match as he was still without the services of Kerry Graham, Clare Harris, Katie Sheppard, Natalie Stewart, Stacey Devine and Fiona Kane.

It was the hosts who made the most of the early exchanges as they came close to opening the scoring within 2 min. The Dumfries striker made some space on the edge of the penalty area before firing just wide. The opening corner of the game, 6 min, also went to the hosts but on this occasion the Falkirk side dealt with this comfortably and the chance was cleared.

The ladies did manage to threaten the Dumfries goal after 10 min with a Shirley Martin free-kick. The ball was played into the penalty area but with no Falkirk shirt getting on the end of it. The opening goal arrived on 16 min as the Dumfries midfield play was allowed to advance some 60 yards through the heart of the Falkirk midfield and defence before placing a shot past keeper Renny (1-0).

If this was infuriating for Coach Wilson then worse was to follow 3 minutes later as a corner from the right by the Dumfries midfielder was played into the penalty area and after a game on “pin-ball” with the Falkirk back-line, the ball was steered into the net (2-0).

This was now a test of the resolve of this Falkirk side and Coach Wilson was looking for an instant response to which Ruadh Houston obliged. A loose ball on the edge of the Dumfries penalty area, 26 min, found Roy wide on the right side of the box and her fierce right foot shot sailed high into the roof of the net (2-1).

It was hoped that this would be the encouragement the ladies required to kick on and search for a 2nd goal to get back on level terms. This was obviously too much to ask as no sooner had they reduced the 2-goal deficit they some how managed to press the self-distruct button and allow Dumfries to get their noses in front again.

A ball played in from the right, 30 min, found Becky Robertson isolated with 2 players to mark with her team mates no where to be found. With time to pick a spot in the penalty area the Dumfries striker made no mistake (3-1).

With the play flowing from end to end, Falkirk were awarded a life-line after 35 min as the home defence were adjudged to have handled in the area and Shirley Martin dispatched the ball home to make the score (3-2).

Dumfries were unlucky not to score a 4th before the break as a free-kick was fired towards the Falkirk goal which keeper Susan Renny saved comfortably. A worrying moment for the Falkirk ladies was a head knock to Arlene Livingston, 43 min, which resulted in her leaving the field. Thankfully she looks okay.

Half-Time:
Dumfries Ladies (3) V (2) Falkirk Ladies.

A little more concentration and a higher work rate was the orders at half-time from Coach Wilson as he felt that the ladies still had a few gears to go through.

The game started with a quicker pace as the ladies went in search of an equalising goal. As a result of petulance from Alana Marshall after 47 minutes she found herself in the referee’s book. Despite warnings before the game to avoid confrontation with the official this seemed to matter not as Alana disputed a decision.

Both Ashley McDonald and Nicole Letford had chances in quick succession, 55 min & 59 min, but both fired wide of the goal. After a fine run from Nicole Letford on 68 min her resulting shot hit the back of the net (3-3). If this was to brighten Coach Wilson’s day then it was beaming 2 minutes later as Ruadh Houston burst forward from the midfield area and produced a delightful lob over the keeper to give the Bairns the lead for the first time (3-4).

Could the ladies hold this valuable lead with 20 minutes to go……………..not a chance!!!!.

The home side were playing a long ball game and on 72 minutes some slack defending by the Falkirk side allowed the Dumfries striker the time and space to fire a shot past keeper Renny
(4-4). Due to a thigh strain Alana Marshall was withdrawn and replaced with Sarah MacLennan.

A great opportunity presented itself to Nicole Letford on 80 minutes but she pulled her shot wide of the target. Again the Falkirk Ladies were to be undone by a hopeful long ball from the Dumfries back line. A long ball over the top caught the Bairns on the hop and with an abundance of time and no defenders near by, the striker produced a delightful lob over keeper Renny and into the back of the net to give the home side the lead again (5-4).

A moment of madness from Ruadh Houston, 84 min, saw her also enter the referee’s book for foul and abusive language towards the official. After deciding to continue in communication with the referee after this booking she was instantly withdrawn and replaced by Kelly Fullerton.

The home side managed to hold out for a victory and so bring to an end Falkirk’s unbeaten start to the 2007/2008 campaign.

Full-Time:
Dumfries Ladies (5) V (4) Falkirk Ladies.

Coach Wilson Commented:

After scoring 4 goals away from home you would think that this would be enough to win any game however, once again, the inability to defend properly raised its ugly head. We were fortunate in the last 2 league games however we did enough to get the points. I hope that this will act as a wake up call for the squad as we can’t afford many slip-ups in the league this season.

I am hopeful that the injuries will start to ease and that some of the players will return to training for next weeks game. There are a few players needing to take a good look at them selves and start to produce the goods. Only time will tell……………………………….