SWFL 1st Division.
Dalkeith Ladies V Falkirk Ladies.
Sunday 2nd March 2008 @ 14:00pm.
“Dismal Display Leaves Coaches Fuming”
Due to the recent poor weather, today’s original fixture which was scheduled for Dunipace, was switched to Dalkeith as the Falkirk surface was a little waterlogged. The Bairns were due to travel east in 2 weeks anyway to face their opponents.
Keeper Fiona Melville was passed fit just prior to the game which was a bonus for the coaching team as skipper Clare Harris was automatically suspended after her red card against Cowdenbeath. Nicole Letford was also missing from the starting line-up. The ladies lined up in a 4-3-3 formation at the start of the game. Kerry Kennedy from the under 17’s was also drafted into the senior squad.
Kicking into a strong wind in the first half, the Ladies set about defending properly and trying to get the ball into wide areas for the pace of Alana Marshall and Ashley McDonald to try and cause some problems in the Dalkeith back line.
Right from the kick-off, Dalkeith pressed the Falkirk defence and forced a corner in the opening 60 seconds, however the Bairns defence cleared the danger. Due to the worsening conditions the ball spent a great deal of time in the air. The game was only 10 mins in when the heavens opened too. The hosts were making all the initial moves and were dominating the midfield area, much to the annoyance of Coaches Wilson and Thomson.
On 20min a strong run down the Falkirk left side from the Dalkeith striker presented a shooting opportunity, thankfully the shot sailed high and wide of Melville’s goal. There were periods in the game where the Bairns just could not keep possession of the ball and seemed quite happy to allow the hosts the space to pass the ball about.
With 30 min on the clock the best chance of the half fell to the Dalkeith striker on the edge of the box. A hopeful ball forward landed at the feet of the girl on the edge of the box but she pulled the shot wide of the post and the Bairns breathed a sigh of relief. Despite playing 3 players in the central midfield area, Shirley, Kirky and Ruadh were getting no change from their opponents and it seemed only a matter of time before the pressure would pay off. With half-time looming it would have been an ideal opportunity to get the players together and re-focused for the 2nd half with the score at 0-0.
On 43min the Falkirk defensive frailties was to prove fruitful for the home-side as they worked the ball down the left side and played a hopeful cross into the penalty area. Despite having defenders in numbers, the ball landed at the back post and an easy tap in for the striker (1-0).
Sub: Sarah MacLennan (ON) – Ruadh Houston (OFF) – 44min.
Half Time: - Dalkeith Ladies (1) V (0) Falkirk Ladies
I think that is was safe to say that Coach Wilson was far from impressed with his sides first 45 minutes and felt obliged to point this out during the half-time break. A distinct lack of effort and passion for the game was evident and improvements were required.
The opening minutes of the 2nd period saw the Bairns win a free-kick, 47min, some 30 yards from the Dalkeith goal. Skipper for the day, Shirley Martin fired a useful shot on goal however the keeper saved with ease. The swirling wind made playing any sort of passing game difficult however a cruel twist of fate saw the Bairns go from an attacking position, to losing the ball and conceding a 2nd goal, 59min.
Some nice inter-passing down the Falkirk left saw Ashley McDonald, Jenny Dick and Emma Lyons work the ball towards the Dalkeith goal. In the blink of an eye, possession was lost, players were out of position and the Dalkeith striker raced away towards keeper Melville. As Fiona tried to narrow the angle the ball was slipped past her and nestled in the back of the net via the inside of the post (2-0).
Sub: Kerry Kennedy (ON) – Shirley Martin (OFF) – 62 min.
The second goal seemed to knock the wind for the players and some of the heads appeared to drop. If the players could go back to the basics which they are good at, get the ball on the deck and into wide areas then they may create opportunities to hurt the Dalkeith defence.
Due to the lack of service being given to the front 3, club top scorer Kerry Graham was seldom in the game and it was no surprise that she made way for the sidelines on 74 min.
Sub: Natalie Stewart (ON) – Kerry Graham (OFF) – 74min.
The one time that the Bairns did the simple stuff produced their opening goal of the day. Jennifer Dick picked the ball up wide on the left side of the pitch, 85min, and her early cross into the penalty area was dispatched with some aplomb from Alana Marshall to the back of the net (2-1).
Could this have been the spur for the Bairns to press on and possibly sneak a point at the death with a 2nd goal, well no, as the home side took centre, 87min, and moved forward towards the Falkirk penalty area. Once again the rear guard was posted missing and the little striker gave keeper Melville no chance with a neat shot into the bottom corner of the net (3-1).
Full Time: - Dalkeith Ladies (3) V (1) Falkirk Ladies.
Coach Wilson Commented: - Today was a wake-up call to the entire squad that their below par performance is not good enough and that a fair few have to buck up their ideas and efforts over the entire 90 minutes. The real annoying thing from a coaching point of view is that I know the players have the ability to succeed, it’s their desire that I am not sure about.
I would normally wait until after training this week to see which players are up for the fight and which players are not, however I can guarantee that there will be changes for the home game next week against Dumfries. I am a born winner and I want the best for the squad and the club as a whole. The players will either be with me or not with me, only time will tell.
** Next Up **
SWFL 1st Division – Sunday 9th March.
Falkirk Ladies V Dumfries Ladies.
Dunipace Juniors Ground.
