FALKIRK LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB

Match Report – League Match

Written by Bic Nic Docherty – Reporter for the Day

Falkirk Ladies V Bo ‘ness Ladies

Sunday 19^th October 2008

2:00pm Kick Off

“Rampant Bairns Batter Bo’ ness”

The good auld Scottish weather rained down on the Pace pitch yesterday as the glorious Falkirk Bairns took to the field to play bottom side Bo’ ness United.  Due to their participation in the league cup this was only the ladies 2^nd league game of the season, the first being the 8-0 humiliation of Dumfries.

Coaches Wilson and Thomson were forced to make changes from last weeks cup win in Buchan with Maxine Thornton suspended and Nicky Docherty away on international duty.

On a very wet and windy pitch the ladies kicked off:-

Ø       5min - The visitors made the most of the strong wind behind them in the first half and forced two early corners in the opening minutes which the strong Falkirk defence dealt with easily.

Ø       7min – Falkirk regain possession in the midfield and as the ball was played forward, Nicole Letford’s first time shot sailed high over the bar.

Ø       14min – GOAL – Bo’ness failed to deal with a harmless ball at the edge of the penalty area and Kelly Fullerton made no mistake from 12 yards to give the Bairns the lead (1-0).

Ø       20min – With Falkirk enjoying most of the possession, wee Kerry Graham was next to try her luck but her right foot shot fired past the post and the chance was gone.

Ø       28min – After some neat play down the Falkirk left, a snap shot from the edge of the box beat keeper Williamson but rebounded off the post and away to safety, a let off for the Bairns.

Ø       36min – GOAL - A strong run into the box from the ever busy Ashley McDonald resulted in a neat shot which gave the Boness keeper no chance and nestled into the corner of the net (2-0).

Ø       37min – GOAL – Some excellent link play between Nicole Letford and Ashley McDonald resulted in a first time cross into the box and wee Kerry Graham, lurking at the back post, slotted the ball home from a tight angle (3-0).

Ø       40min – GOAL – The left side of the pitch was proving troublesome for the Bo’ ness backline to deal with and it was no surprise when goal number 4 arrived.  Ashley McDonald raced away from the full back and played an excellent cross to the edge of the penalty area where Kelly Fullerton was lurking and her neat shot from 18 yards beat the keeper and nestled in the back of the net (4-0).

Half-Time Score:- 

Falkirk Ladies (4) V (0) Bo’ ness Ladies.

Coaches Wilson and Thomson were delighted at the performance of the squad during the opening 45 minutes and to be 4-0 up at this point was fantastic.  Despite playing into a stiff breeze and driving rain, the ladies were running riot against a poor Bo’ ness side who were offering very little in resistance.  The players were encouraged to press on in the 2^nd half.

Ø       55min – Bo’ ness were really trying to survive at this point as it was wave after wave off attacks for the Bairns.  Kerry Graham picked up a loose ball on the edge of the box and her fierce shot was tipped over the bar for a corner.

Ø       60min – GOAL – Continued pressure for the Bairns resulted in yet another goal as Emma ‘Kirky’ Lyons played a corner from the left to the near post and Ashley McDonald’s glancing header beat the keeper and defender on the post (5-0). 

Ø       65min – A quickly taken corner from Falkirk saw the ball played to the edge of the box where Shirley Martin was lurking and her fierce shot was deflected by for another corner.

Ø       67min – Skipper Clare Harris found herself in the ref’s book for a rather rash challenge on the Bo’ ness midfield player.  A little frustration maybe as Clare had been on the end of a tough encounter some 2 minutes before.

Ø       72min – GOAL – A strong surging run from the hard working Ashley McDonald caused mayhem to the Bo ‘ness rear-guard and her short cross found sub Laura Yuill in the 6-yard box and she managed to steer the ball home for number six (6-0).

Ø       80min – GOAL – Shirley Martin found herself out wide at the corner flag and with seemingly limited options, she turned the full-back inside out and made an extra yard to send a cross come shot to the back post which beat the keeper and nestled in the corner of the net (7-0).  An excellent individual strike.

Ø       83min – Striker Kerry Graham was lucky to avoid further action from the referee as she lashed out with a kick aimed at the central defender from Bo ‘ness.  Thankfully for her, the ref missed the incident.

Half-Time Score:- 

Falkirk Ladies (7) V (0) Bo’ ness Ladies.

Coach Wilson’s Synopsis: A good performance by the whole squad today and it was also pleasing to see a more ‘killer instinct’ amongst the players by ensuring the match was over as a contest early on.  Individual performances of note were from Ashley McDonald in an attacking sense and the ever busy Kelly Fullerton in the midfield area. Kerry Kennedy seems to be getting better and better by the passing game at left back.

The coaching team are now left with a dilemma for the away game at Hutchie Vale next week as skipper Clare Harris is only one booking away from a suspension having picked up 3 yellow cards in the last 4 games.  With the Cup semi-final looming it may be time for a change.

The coaching team will certainly be looking for a similar performance next week as we have had in the previous 2 games.