Falkirk Ladies V Bo 'ness Ladies
Sunday 20th April 2008 –
2:00pm kick-off.
Dunipace Juniors Ground.
“Quick Double Enough For The Bairns”
After the 10 goal draw feast last weekend against Inverness, coach Wilson decided to stay with the more attacking 3-3-4 formation for today’s SWFL 1st division clash with Bo 'ness at the Pace. Changes were kept to a minimum with Natalie Stewart gaining a rare start on the right of a 4-man attack in place of Laura Yuill and the experienced Shirley Martin slotting into the midfield for Nicole Letford. Kicking into a strong wind in the first half the match began............................
Due to the windy conditions the ladies were encouraged to keep the ball on the deck and use the wide areas of the pitch as much as possible as that is where the strengths in the team are with the attacking options of Alana Marshall and Ashley McDonald. It didn't take the Bairns long to get into their stride as the opening goal arrived on 3mins. Ashley McDonald picked up possession midway inside the Bo ness half and played a fantastic pass for Alana Marshall to take in her stride and plant the ball past the advancing keeper to give the Falkirk Ladies the perfect start (1-0). This was the start that both Coaches Wilson and Thomson wanted and better was to follow some 2 minutes later. Falkirk were awarded a free-kick on the half-way line on 5 min and Arlene Livingston quickly caught the visiting defence sleeping with a ball over the top for the pacey Ashley McDonald to draw the keeper and slide home number 2 (2-0).
The Falkirk ladies defence was looking far stronger today as they were winning a higher percentage of ball and in doing so providing more possession to the midfield three and attacking four. Some wing play from Ashley McDonald on 15min saw her deliver an excellent ball into the penalty area for wee Kerry Graham however the keeper was alert to the situation and the chance was gone. The visitors had their first real attack on 17min as they won a corner on the Falkirk right however the delivery was poor and the home defence cleared their line. Skipper Clare Harris found herself in the ref's book on 19min for leaving her boot into the Bo ness striker’s leg after the ball had been cleared.
The visitors were lucky not to be reduced to 10-men on 22min as Ashley McDonald raced in on goal, only for the keeper to bring her down and so prevent a scoring opportunity however the ref only felt a yellow card was needed much to the annoyance of the coaching team at Falkirk. A long hopeful ball over the Falkirk defence on 28min found full back Jennifer Dick caught in 2 minds and foolishly she touched the ball back to keeper Renny who instantly dived on the ball to give away an indirect free-kick. Thankfully the resulting kick ended miles over the Falkirk cross bar.
Stand-in keeper Susan Renny pulled off a fantastic save on 32min as she turned away a neat shot inside the Falkirk penalty area and the loose ball was cleared to safety by the home defence. Leading scorer Kerry Graham thought that she had scored Falkirk's 3rd goal on 38min as her neat control and resulting shot rattled the post, ran along the line and hit the other post and was then cleared to safety.
Half-Time: Falkirk Ladies (2) v (0) Bo'ness Ladies.
The half time chat in the home dressing room was one of satisfaction from the coaching team and the need for the players to start the 2nd period the same as the first and knowing that a 3rd goal would kill the game as a contest.
The game started at a much slower tempo and subsequently got worse at the half went on to be fair. The first shot of note in the 2nd period came from Bo’ness on 60min however the ball rose high, wide and handsome from the Falkirk goal. The final ball in the final 1/3 of the pitch was letting Falkirk down as wave after wave off attacks saw the Bairns spoil their high percentage of possession.
Subs - 65min - Laura Yuill, Nicole Letford, Becky Robertson (on) - Kerry Graham, Emma Lyons, Arlene Livingston (off)
Natalie Stewart had an opportunity to get a shot away on 67min but her lack of game time may have contributed to her shot which sailed over the bar. Falkirk were enjoying the bulk of the play and Ashley McDoanld fired a neat shot, 72min, across the keeper but just wide of the far post. A Falkirk corner on 82min found Becky Robertson and she fired a powerful header towards goal however the ref awarded a free kick for pushing in the penalty area.
Due to the lack of action in the 2nd period from both sides the ref brought the match to an end, not before time really.
Full-Time: Falkirk Ladies (2) v (0) Bo'ness Ladies.
SWFL 1st Division game:-
Paisley Ladies V Falkirk Ladies
Sunday 27th April – 2:00pm kick-off.
Paisley.
