The Bairns' News

The glorious Falkirk Bairns travelled west along the M8 today for an expected tough encounter against Paisley in a SWFL 1st Division match. Both sides had met a few weeks ago in Alloa with the Bairns running out comfortable winners on that occasion. Natalie Williamson was drafted in to play between the sticks from the under 17 squad to give her a flavour of senior football, Becky Robertson was kept on the bench due to a niggling ankle knock and skipper Clare Harris was unavailable due to a family engagement. Playing in a 3-5-2 formation the match kicked off.........

The Bairns singled their intentions within the first 60 seconds of the match as stand-in skipper Shirley Martin fired a powerful free-kick just over the bar with the Paisley keeper well beaten. Alana Marshall picked up some space on the left side of the field, 3min, and ran at the full back before delivering an excellent cross to the back post however there were no takers in red shirts. Paisley did create a shooting opportunity on 8min when they were awarded a free-kick some 30 yards from the Falkirk goal however the resulting shot sailed high and wide. Due to the excellent ability of Alana Marshall as an attacking player the Paisley squad decided to dish out some rather unsporting abuse which the referee was happy to let go, more on that later.

Despite enjoying the run of the play it was the hosts who struck the first blow, 26min, as a cross ball from the Falkirk right caught the defence napping and Claire Rae managed to react quickest and fire a shot across the front of keeper Williamson and into the back of the net (1-0). The Bairns reacted in a positive way by launching an attack on the Paisley goal on 32min as Shirley Martin fired a free kick towards the home-sides goal however again the ball sailed over the bar. Falkirk kept pressing and it took a rather late challenge by the Paisley centre half to stop the play on 36min and award another free-kick to the Bairns. Before the resulting free-kick could be taken, Alana Marshall was clearly struck by a home defender and in full view of the referee however as with most things in the game he took the stance that he didn’t see anything and the punishment was nothing.

Justice was served on 40min as the ball was played into the Paisley penalty area and Raudh Houston, playing in her final match of the season, controlled the ball and sent a hooked shot towards the goal and as the ball rebounded off the bar it fell to Kerry Graham to simply knock the ball home (1-1). The Bairns were lifted by this late goal in the first half and looked to regain possession before the break. Not happy with allowing the sticking of Alana Marshall to go un-punished, the man in the middle then proceeded, 44min, to show the yellow card to both Kelly Fullerton and Raudh Houston within the space off a minute for incidents that were laughable.

Apparently it is okay for talented, skilful players to beyond protection from other less fortunate skill-less individuals as both Alana Marshall and Ashley McDonald were singled out for some special treatment during the first 45 minutes. Alana was also visibly up-set at the half-time break.

Half-time:- Paisley Ladies (1) V (1) Falkirk Ladies.

A rather animated and vocal Coach Wilson at half-time insisted that his player’s battle against the 12 men in the second half and that they complete on a par with what they had received during the first 45. If there was a challenge to be had in a 50/50 ball then a challenge is was to be.

The 2nd half kicked off with the Bairns on the attack and again Ashley McDonalds skill and pace was to result in a rather harsh challenge from the Paisley centre half (6) and not before time the yellow card was shown. The resulting free-kick from Shirley Martin sailed high and wide of the goal. The Bairns were then hit with a sucked punch on 51min and 53min as two defensive errors were to result in 2 goals. Firstly a long ball over the top was allowed to bounce 3/4 times and with the defence sleeping the paisley striker fired a neat shot wide of the diving Williamson (2-1) and almost from the re-start the home side worked the ball down the Falkirk right before creating space to shoot past debutant keeper Williamson to extend the lead (3-1).

Falkirk Subs: - Becky Robertson (on) & Nicole Letford (on) - Sarah McLennan (off) & Shirley Martin (off) - 60min.

On 62min Falkirk were thrown a life-line when Kirky Lyons raced into the Paisley penalty area and was taken out by the defensive last player who happened to be the centre half who had been booked in the challenge on Ashley McDonald. The referee got a decision correct by pointing to the spot however despite being the last man and sitting on a yellow card, decided not to send the Paisley player off, much to the annoyance of both Coaches Wilson and Thomson. Kirky Lyons sent the keeper the wrong way and scored for the Bairns (3-2). Alana Marshall was then booked on 64min for asking the referee for protection from the home defence.

With time slipping away the Bairns kept searching for the levelling goal and penalty scorer Lyons had a chance on 75min but pulled her shot wide of the target and the chance was gone. Young keeper Natalie Williamson pulled off a top drawer save on 84min to keep the score line the same as she dived to her right and turned the ball round the post for save of the game.

With the match drawing to a close, 87min, and every 50/50 ball going in the favour of the home-side, coach Thomson asked the referee to explain a decision that had both sets of playing smiling such was the surprise and so the ref felt it right to send James to the dressing rooms for the remainder of the game. This just showed the way the entire game had went. Falkirk did have a chance to snatch a draw at the death, 90min, as Arlene Livingston played a free-kick to the Paisley back post where Kerry Graham flicked the ball across goal and just past the post.

Full-time:- Paisley Ladies (3) V (2) Falkirk Ladies

Coach Wilson: - Despite the disappointment at losing the match today and I am proud of my players for not reacting to the constant bombardment of physical and verbal abuse from the Paisley players. The physical level that they had to endure was shocking and married with the severe lack of protection didn’t help either. I don’t mind a hard fought encounter and a player myself I have had a few, however it was a surprise that nobody picked up an injury today. The players will always look to play a passing football game and today they were prevented from doing so by a group of individuals hell-bent on a rugby style match, this may have had something to do with their individual skill level or lack off as the case may be. I don’t mind accepting defeat when my side aren’t good enough however this did not apply today.

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