SWFA 1st Division.
Falkirk Ladies V Dumfries Ladies.
Sunday 9th March 2008 @ 14:30pm.
“One Half Wonder For The Bairns”
The Falkirk Bairns looked to bounce back to winning ways today against visitors Dumfries Ladies after last weeks dismal performance against Dalkeith. Such was the poor display last week, Coach Wilson made no fewer than six (6) changes to the starting line-up.
Before the match started it became apparent that the visitors had only travelled with nine (9) fit players due to work commitments and illness throughout their squad. However given the miles they had driven to reach the pitch the match was always going to start, no matter how one sided it was always going to be.
The match started with the Bairns going on the offensive and taking control of proceedings in the midfield area. Kelly Fullerton was restored to the engine room after her recent holiday along with Nicole Letford and Arlene Livingston.
Within the first 8 minutes of the game, Ashley McDonald had excellent opportunities to bag 2 goals as twice she found herself through one on one with the keeper and had she shown a little more composure she would have opened the scoring. Young Laura Yuill, who has struggled to break into the starting 11 this season, found herself playing alongside Alana Marshall up-front and almost provided the break through as her neat shot in the penalty area, 9min, just crept by the post.
With the game flowing ever towards the Dumfries goal the opening goal was always going to arrive. Some neat play down the Falkirk left, 16min, with Alana and Ashley saw the ball being played into the penalty area and after some indecision Natalie Stewart pulled the trigger and fired the ball home (1-0). We didn’t have long to wait for the 2nd as Laura Yuill, 18min, played a delightful ball through the heart of the visitors defence for Alana Marshall to race away and finish neatly (2-0).
Ashley McDonald has created havoc throughout the season to most defences and today was no different as she picked the ball up on 25min and drove into the penalty area. After turning the full-back inside out she neatly fired home past the despairing keeper’s dive (3-0). Nicole Letford was enjoying plenty of space in the midfield area and it was no surprise that she found time on the edge of the Dumfries penalty area to riffle home number 4 on 30min (4-0).
Versatile player Sarah MacLennan started the match in the left-back position and her powerful run after 35min almost gifted the Bairns with their 5th goal. Sarah ran though the heart of the visitors defence and unleashed a powerful shot which narrowly went by the post.
Only 60 seconds later the 5th goal arrived and it was one that the coaching team had hoped for. Alana Marshall worked space inside the Dumfries penalty area, 36min, and unselfishly passed the ball right to the on-rushing Laura Yuill who dispatched the ball home (5-0). Dumfries did manage to break out of their own half on 38min and forced a corner. As the ball was crossed to the back-post it missed everyone and the danger was gone.
With the clock ticking down to the half-time break, 40min, Ashley McDonald and the Dumfries skipper clashed heads on the Falkirk left and subsequently the Dumfries player was unable to continue and the visitors were down to eight (8) players on the field. The game was descending into a total shambles and it was no surprise to see Nicole Letford score her 2nd and Falkirk’s 6th on 42min with a neat finish (6-0).
Half-Time: Falkirk Ladies (6) V (0) Dumfries Ladies.
During the half-time break both coaching teams and the referee discussed the point of the 2nd half being completed due to the fact that Dumfries were playing with only 8 players and the prospect of a totally embarrassing score-line after 90 minutes. As a result the match was abandoned and the final score-line reads:-
Full-Time: Falkirk Ladies (10) V (0) Dumfries Ladies.
Coach Wilson Commented:- It was a shame how things turned out today as I was hoping to see an excellent performance for the players and watching them trying to get back to winning ways. Given the circumstances of the Dumfries side it was the right decision to end the match at half-time. I am delighted at the 3 points and the 10-goal advantage.
It was pleasing to see Laura Yuilland Nicole Letford getting amongst the scorers today and the solid performance of Sarah MacLennan was encouraging. Alana Marshall made it five games in succession that she was on the score-sheet and with Clare Harris returning from suspension, the back-line was given a more solid look.
Next up for the Bairns is a home clash with Dalkeith Ladies – Sunday 16th March.
