FALKIRK LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB
Match Report – SWFA 1st Division
Falkirk Ladies V Dumfries Ladies
Sunday 7th September 2008
2:00pm KO
“A Tale Of Two Halves.”
After weeks of frustration for the players and coaching staff at Falkirk Ladies Football Club the new 2008/2009 season finally got underway today with a home fixture against Dumfries Ladies. The visitors arrived at the Pace with only 10 players available for selection however it was clear to the coaching team that the job in hand would still be a tough one as Dumfries would lift their game.
With a full squad to choose from it was difficult to decide who would start the game as all the players have been putting in a shift over the last few weeks.
With a familiar 4-4-2 formation the game kicked off.............
Minute by Minute Report >>>>>>>>>> (Falkirk in BLUE)
2 min - Nicky Docherty and Ashley combine down the left flank and the resulting cross is whipped into the penalty area but misses everyone in box and the chance was gone.
4 min - A neat run from Ashley McDonald down the Falkirk left saw her slip the ball into the path of Laura Yuill and with the whole goal to choose from she shot straight at the keeper.
7 min - GOAL - A corner on the left was fired into the box from Kirky and Kelly Fullerton met the ball with a clean header that beat the keeper and into the back of the visitors net (1-0).
10 min - SUB - Nicky Docherty (Off) - Kerry Graham (On)
13 min - Despite just being on the park Kerry Graham tried her luck from just inside the penalty area but her wild right foot shot went wide of the target.
20 min - Falkirk were enjoying the bulk of the play up to this point and Ashley McDonald found herself racing through on goal with just the keeper to beat but a touch too many before she finally released the shot found the keeper in top form as she pulled off a good save.
27 min - Both Dumfries full backs were having a nightmare half with Jennifer Godfrey and Ashley McDonald tormenting them down both flanks and it was Ashley's cross into the box that found Kelly Fullerton unmarked inside the 6-yard box but her header went over the bar.
38 min - The Falkirk central midfield pairing of Fullerton and Lyons were working hard and it was Fullerton who sent Jennifer Godfrey racing down the right flank. As she cut inside and sized a shot on goal she only managed to pull the ball wide of the target.
42 min - A kirky free-kick just before the break was saved by the Dumfries keeper.
44 min - Time and time again the Falkirk players were pressing froward and the coaching team were sure that it was a 2nd goal as Ashley McDoanld raced through the visitors defence and placed a fine shot past the keeper......and past the post.
Half-Time: - Falkirk Ladies (1) V (0) Dumfries Ladies.
With the players back in the home dressing room coaches Wilson and Thomson were scratching their heads to find a reason why it was only a one goal lead in a game that had it been a boxing match, would have been stopped such was the one-way advantage to the Falkirk Ladies. Some encouraging words were the order of the day as a little more composure in front of goal would have resulted in a greater lead. The players were told to keep the tempo high and a quick early goal in the 2nd period would calm the nerves and more would follow.
47 min - GOAL - A quickly taken free-kick from Arlene Livingston set Ashley McDonald racing through on goal and as the keeper advanced from her line a neat finish past her into the back of the net saw the lead doubled and not before time (2-0).
50 min - GOAL - The Falkirk left side has always been a strong link in the side as it was to prove the case again as Ashley McDonald powered down the flank and delivered an excellent cross for Kerry Graham to drive the ball home (3-0).
52 min - GOAL - Despite starting on the bench today Kerry Graham staked her claim for a starting role next week with a 2nd goal two minutes later with a neat touch and finish inside the penalty area (4-0).
58 min - Jennifer Godfrey was working hard down the right flank and her neat shot from just inside the penalty area was well saved by the visiting keeper.
60 min - GOAL - In a game where the flow of traffic was continually travelling towards the Dumfries goal Laura Yuill was next to get on the score sheet with a blistering shot from the edge of the penalty area that went in off the cross bar to make it number 5 (5-0).
62 min - SUBS - Kerry Kennedy, Sarah Quiletti, Laura Yuill (Off) - Jennifer Dick, Maxine Thornton, Sheryl Gallagher (On).
70 min - With all the players looking to get involved it was the skipper's chance, Clare Harris, to get forward and cross come shot made it's way to the back off the goal and bounced off the post and away to safety.
72 min - GOAL - The pace off Sheryl Gallagher in attack will cause most defenses a problem and it was her link play with Kerry Graham that allowed wee Kerry the opportunity to grab her hat-trick as she dispatched the ball past the keeper to make it six (6-0).
82 min - GOAL - The ball was played forward to the Dumfries penalty area and as it broke free it found Emma "Kirky" Lyons on the edge of the penalty area and her blistering right foot shot sailed high and into the back of the net (7-0).
84 min - GOAL - The most bizzare effort on goal that managed to touch around 4 different players before finding the back of the net and still be claimed by the original passer arrived in the closing minutes. Skipper Clare Harris played a cross into the penalty area which bounced of several heads before finding the back of the Dumfries net, yet the referee still awarded Clare with the strike (8-0). I am sure that money changed hands between the player and referee for that to stand.
Half-Time: - Falkirk Ladies (8) V (0) Dumfries Ladies.
Coach Wilson’s Synopsis: - To get the league campaign off to a winning start was the most important aspect of todays game however having 100% control of the match and creating numerous chances during the 90 minutes the score line should really be more emphatic that the finally tally of eight. The way in which the ball was switched from side to side, particulary from a defensive point of view was encouraging to see and something that we will continue to work on in training. Kerry Graham picked up where she left off last season with a hat-trick of goals and Sarah Quiletti looked calm and assured in the heart of the Falkirk defence. More of the same from Ashley and Jennifer is also the order of the day.
Next week sees the Falkirk Ladies travel to Bo 'ness for a 3rd round League Cup Tie.
COME ON THE BAIRNS !!!!!!
