SWFA 1st Division.
Bo’ness Ladies V Falkirk Ladies.
Sunday 18th November @ 2:00pm.
“Bairns Bash Bo’ness”
On the back off last weeks fantastic home victory against the league leaders, Inverness, Falkirk travelled the short distance to Bo’ness for a local derby match and in search of another vital win.
Only one change in the starting line-up from last week saw Sarah MacLernan replace the missing Becky Robertson in defence.
Confidence was high going into the game and this was very evident from the first whistle as the Falkirk Bairns went on the attack. Ashleigh McDonald was set free down the left flank (1 min) and her cross was half cleared by the home defence. The resulting clearance fell to Shirley Martin on the edge of the box and her shot rattled the cross-bar and bounced to safety.
The Bairns were making all the early moves and a fantastic surging run from Roy Houston down the right flank, (4 min) saw her whip an excellent cross into the box but unfortunately there were no takers in a red shirt. The Bairns go closer to the opening goal on 10 min as Alana Marshall worked her way down the left flank before whipping in a cross ball. Kelly Fullerton linked well with Shirley Martin and her resulting shot was blocked by the home defence.
On 12 min the opening goal arrived. Roy Houston took control of the ball inside her own half and her inch perfect ball over the home defence set Ashley McDonald racing through on goal and as the keeper narrowed the angle her well place shot hit the back of the net (0-1).
Falkirk continued to press forward with Ashleigh McDonald and Alana Marshall continuing to threaten the home defence. Bo’ness did manage to press forward and on 24 min their first real opening should have produced a goal however their striker managed to fire wide of the left hand post.
On 35 min Alana Marshall should have extended the Falkirk lead as she only had the keeper to beat but her well struck shot narrowly went past the post. Falkirk did have the ball in the back of the net on 40 min as Emma Lyons picked up in a loose ball in the penalty area to drive home. However the referee had adjudged that a foul had been committed on the keeper.
On a rare attack forward Bo’ness were wrongly awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Falkirk penalty area. Clare Harris was adjudged to have fouled a Bo’ness attacker. As the ball was played into the penalty area the striker rose unchallenged to head the ball over keeper Melville and into the net for the equaliser (1-1).
Half-Time: Bo’ness Ladies (1) V (1) Falkirk Ladies.
Despite having the bulk of the play in the first half and creating a few good few chances, Coach Wilson could not believe that his side were still on equal terms with the hosts.
At half time he demanded that his players find their killer touch in front of goal and assured them that the chances would come in the 2nd period. It took his players all of 3 second half minutes to put the game to bed and beyond Bo’ness.
Ashley McDonald was proving to be a real handful for the Bo’ness right back (who tried to resort to other methods to make her) and her surging run, 47 min, down the left flank and resulting shot fired the Bairns into the lead (1-2). All of 60 seconds later it was goal number three as Alana Marshall worked space down the left flank, 48 min, and her inviting cross was met by the head of Ashley McDonald who steered the ball past the diving keeper for her hat-trick (1-3).
The home side were shell shocked by the start to the second half from the Falkirk Bairns and their heads quickly dropped as the game started to slip away from them.
On 62 min – Kerry Graham replaced Emma Lyons.
Coach Wilson kept driving his side on and after 70 min Roy Houston provided a moment of sublime attacking play. A surging run from the half-way line saw her weave in and out the home defence and then she unleashed a cracking shot past the home keeper for goal number four
(1-4).
Two minutes later and the Bairns extended their lead with a neat move down the left flank. Ashley McDonald broke free from the home defence, 72 min, and her low cross was met by Kerry ‘Sebo’ Graham who’s lofted shot went up and over the keeper and into the back of the net (1-5).
The home side looked a well beaten team by this point and Alana Marshall had a great chance on 75 min to add to their misery after a pass from Roy Houston, but her shot was saved by the home keeper.
The sixth goal arrived on 78 min as Alana Marshall go on the end of a delightful pass from Shirley Martin to sprint free from the home defence. As she made her way into the penalty area she unleashed an unstoppable shot past the sorry keeper and into the back of the net (1-6).
On 79 min – Nicole Letford replaced Alana Marshall.
With 5 minutes to go the seventh and final goal arrived for the rampant Bairns. Pint size striker Kerry Graham found space in the Bo’ness penalty area and her quick thinking saw her lay the ball off to Roy Houston and her neat shot found the back of the net (1-7).
Full-Time: Bo’ness Ladies (1) V (7) Falkirk Ladies.
Coach Wilson Commented:- The half time score did not reflect our percentage of possession as we created chances in the first 45 minutes to effectively kill the game. The second half performance that the ladies presented me with was nothing short of sensational and I was totally delighted.
It was a whole team performance with the back line and midfield players working extremely hard to create the chances for the front two. Both full-backs, Sarah and Jennifer, played very well and got forward to support the attacks at every opportunity.
Next up - SWFA 1st Division – Buchan Ladies V Falkirk Ladies
Sunday 25th November 2007 @ 2:00pm.
