The Bairns' News

The final home league game of the season at the Pace saw the glorious Falkirk Ladies entertain promotion chasing Dalkeith Ladies in a Scottish Womens Football 1st division encounter. The pitch was looking more like pre-season than end of season and no excuses would be accepted by the coaching team as the surface looked like a bowling green. Only 2 changes to the starting line-up from last Sunday saw Nicole Letford start in the midfield engine room and debutant centre half Maxine Thornton make her opening appearance for the seniors.

Playing in a 4-1-3-2 formation, the Bairns kicked off.........

The Bairns knew that they would have to take the game to their opponents and so it was no surprise to see the Falkirk Ladies make their way towards the Dalkeith penalty area in the opening minutes. Top scorer Kerry Graham picked the ball up midway into the Dalkeith half, 3min, and played a delightful pass into the on-rushing Ashley McDonald whose shot was well saved by the keeper and away for a corner. Young Nicole Letford was next to test the keeper with a well struck shot on 6min but her handling was excellent. The Bairns were enjoying a great deal of possession in the opening quarter and almost broke the deadlock on 14min as Arlene Livingston found space on the edge of the penalty area and fired a cracking effort which the keeper touched on to the bar and over for a corner.

The first real pressure from the visitors came on 20min as they won their first corner of the match however the home defence cleared the danger and the chance was gone. A rather harsh decision by the referee on 27min saw Emma 'Kirky' Lyons enter the book after a challenge on her midfield counterpart. He seemed to have reacted to the persistent wailing from the Dalkeith player and also ignored the foul and abusive language which was directed at Kirky.

Falkirk did open the scoring on 30min with a spot of delightful cross/shot from Nicole Letford. Nicole found herself wide on the right side of the penalty area and her cross come shot eluded the visiting keeper and drifted in at the back post to open the scoring (1-0). It could have been 2-0 for the home side, 33min, as Arlene Livingston fired a free-kick off the bar with the keeper flapping however nobody was on hand to take advantage of the rebound.

Against the run of play Dalkeith found themselves on level terms after 40min. A long hopeful ball into the Falkirk penalty area was missed by the home defence and Keeper Renny, leaving the Dalkeith skipper to ghost in at the back post to head into the empty net (1-1). How would the Bairns react to this, well it took all off 2 minutes? Falkirk Keeper Susan Renny played a long ball forward, 42min, which bounced over the Dalkeith central defence and fell kindly for striker Kerry Graham to run forward and lob the advancing keeper to restore the home-sides lead (2-1).

Half-Time: Falkirk Ladies (2) V (1) Dalkeith Ladies.

The home dressing room was a buzzing one as the players were clearly delighted at their opening 45 minute display. The fight and determination was clear for all to see and the coaching team emphasised the point that they must maintain their concentration and start the 2nd half in the same fashion. The job was only half done.

Subs: - No changes at the break.

The coaching team knew that Dalkeith would come out the blocks in the 2nd half and so were looking for the defence to maintain that solid look. No sooner had the ref blown for the restart, did Falkirk press the self destruct button, 46min. A long simple ball from the Dalkeith defence towards the Falkirk penalty area saw the home back-line get into all sorts of bother and left between the choice of clearing for a corner or a throw-in, chose neither and allowed the striker to toe poke the ball past keeper Renny and into the net for the equaliser (2-2). Total disbelief in the Falkirk dug-out !!!!!

Despite this early shocker the Bairns continued to press forward and seemed to be matching their opponents across the pitch. Falkirk forced a corner on 60min however the presence of Becky Robertson, Maxine Thornton and Arlene Livingston, all a threat in the air, couldn’t snatch a 3rd goal for the home side.

As with previous games this season Alana Marshall was being her usual pain for the opposition defence and on 70min her quick feet set Ashley McDonald racing in to the Dalkeith penalty area. The full-back had to time the challenge and did so with a fantastic sliding tackle to clear the danger. As the match entered the final 10 minutes Falkirk managed to force 3 corners in quick succession however the delivery could have been better and chances were gone.

The good old counter attack was to give Dalkeith the lead in the match on 82min. They managed to work the ball down the Falkirk left side with pace and as the ball was played across the penalty area a striker arrived at the back post, unchallenged, to steer the ball past the diving Falkirk keeper and into the back of the net (2-3). This really deflated the home side as they had put so much effort into the game but defending in the final third has been a problem all season and this was highlighted again with this attack.

With time running out against the Bairns, they went looking to salvage a point which their effort warranted today.

The dreaded long ball from defence was to seal Falkirk's fait in the final minutes of the game. Young centre half, Maxine Thornton (OG) had played fantastically well throughout the game, adding a new solid look to the heart of the Falkirk defence. As she attempted to header the ball back to Keeper Renny, 87min, and the ball managed to wrong foot Susan and agonisingly roll over the line to increase the Dalkeith advantage (2-4).

There was still time for the Bairns to launch a final attack and Ashley McDonald attempted a lob over the Dalkeith keeper in the final minute, 89min, however the ball cleared the bar and the chance was gone.

Full-Time: Falkirk Ladies (2) V (4) Dalkeith Ladies

Coach Wilson Commented:- I was totally gutted for my players at the end of the game as they worked their socks off and deserved much more from the game than the final score line shows. They need to learn to do the defensive basics well and on a consistent basis to avoid the mishaps that allowed Dalkeith back into the game. The battling qualities were clear for all to see and based on chances created in the first half this game should have been over by half-time. Arlene Livingston was immense in her midfield role, Nicole Letford covered almost every blade of grass on the pitch, Ashley and Alana caused mayhem down the Dalkeith right throughout the game and young Maxine looked very comfortable in defence.

With 3 games to go this season it is important that the players remain focused and concentrate on securing 3 victories to end the season on a high.

Next up -

SWFA 1st Division -

Sunday 18th May

Clyde Ladies V Falkirk Ladies

Broadwood, Cumbernauld.

4pmkick-off

Come on the Bairns.

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