The Bairns' News

Loch Lomond Cup 2010

Loch Lomond Cup 2010

This 'Bairns News' will be updated as the weekend progresses - latest reports/news will be in blue.

Sunday 8th August saw a very early star for the Falkirk Ladies when they faced Jeanfield Saints in a 9.00am kick-off.  Having lost a few players through illness and injury the team was very glad to have brought a big squad to the event as they needed all players as the game went on.  This was a good test for both sides who face each other in the league in the coming weeks.

  Falkirk got off to the better start as Kirsten made good runs down the left wing and putting immediate pressure on the Jeanfield defence.  But an early thigh injury caused Nicole to come on as s ubstitution.  Soon after right-back Lyndsay had to be subbed after receiving a face-knock!

Jeanfield had one good chance in the first half when the striker broke through and all she had to do was shoot - but her shot was well wide.  Falkirk had most of the running and Nicole had a double chance near half-time but the opposition goalkeeper made a good block before her defender got back and cleared off the line!  Falkirk even had the ball in the net from striker Susie before the referee called it back for a questionable offside!

The second half saw more of the same with the Falkirk side dominating and Jeanfield only looking dangerous from a fast break.  Allana had a couple of chances in front of goal but the keeper stayed strong and the game looked to be about to end 0-0.  But in a last-ditch effort to get a goal Lyndsay was pushed into midfield and Falkirk went to 3 at the back.  With more strength in midfield Gillian broke on the left and cut the ball back along the byline to a waiting Lyndsay who passed the ball into the net from 3 yards.  Finally a goal 1-0!

This was a deserved lead and with only injury time remainig it looked like a win was on the way.  But in the dying seconds the ball broke to the Jeanfield striker who took it into the box, Falkirk goalie Rebecca came out and dived at the ball as the Jeanfield striker knocked it past her.  The ball looked goalbound but Jillian made it back and cleared it off the line just as the referee blew for a penalty!  After only booking Rebecca for the 'foul' the Jeanfield striker put away a strong penalty to level the game at 1-1.

As Falkirk restarted the game the referee blew his final whistle.  Feeling a little robbed the Falkirk players were a bit down-hearted but have taken much from this game and look forward to their two teams' league game soon.

It was a frustrating competition - only playing two games but there were moments in both matches that the team can build on and there were some very strong performances that pleased the coaches very much.

Saturday 7th August saw disappointment for the team when Tayside Celtic withdrew from the event given the organisers no notice (they did not show up on the Friday to play their first fixture).  Unable to arrange any other match the tournament organisers had no choice but to cancel Falkirk's second fixture against the Perth team.

MSC Bulls beat Jeanfield Saints 7-0 to see them progress to the finals on Sunday.  falkirk will still face Jeanfield Saints tomorrow morning with a 9.00am kick-off.

Friday 6th August saw the Falkirk 17's travel to Stirling University to play in this summer's Loch Lomond Cup.  With many of the team members of last season's 15's team that won the younger age group, the girls were looking forward to putting in another good performance.  But with all the players being at least one year younger than the actual age grouping they all knew that the competition was going to be tough.

Drawn in Group 2, Falkirk faced the MSC Bulls who had travelled from Washington in the US to play at the event.

 Like many other teams from America the opposition looked very athletic and strong and as the match started this proved to be the case.  The Washington team had very quick reactions and chased every ball, whereas Falkirk were caught on the backfoot a few times causing goalkeeper Rebecca to be on her toes.

The first half was a very clse affair with both sides not really settling into the game and struggling with the slippy surface that the constant rain was causing.  Falkirk had a couple of half chances, Lyndsay played in a fantastic corner but Susie could only guide the ball over the crossbar from her head, and late in the first half Kirsten broke free of the right-back but could not put her shot on target.  The Americans also had a couple of chances that came from chasing down the defenders but they held fast and Rebecca dived at the feet of attackers from through balls.  It was 0-0 at half-time.

Unfortunately the MSC Bulls capitalised on the Falkirk defenders not attacking the ball straight from the centre after half-time and the striker put away a great finish.  Frustrated but still in the game, Falkirk kept trying to make something happen but again the Americans were just a little bit faster in their reactions and were getting to many balls first.  Up front Susie and Allana were given no time on the ball from the US defenders and the few times they managed to start an attack the opposition got back in numbers and cleared the ball. 

It seemed that the Bulls were going to have the break of the game as their left-winger went past the right-back and was one-on-one with Rebecca in goals, but diving to her left Rebecca pulled off a great save putting the ball out for a corner that was then cleared.  Just on full-time there was a scramble in the Falkirk penalty box and a shot went past the goalkeeper, but Jillian was on the line to clear.  However the ball fell to a MSC Bulls player who put the second chance away in the far bottom corner.  2-0!

Almost as soon as the ball was re-started from the centre the referee blew for full time.  Overall the game was very evenly matched although the opposition took their goels very well.  Falkirk did not have much of the ball up front most of the game making it very frustrating for the strikers.  It was overall a good performance that showed the two teams cancel each other for most of the game.

Falkirk now face Celtic Girls Tayside in their second game of the group on Saturday at 1.30pm kick-off.

 More pictures here ...

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