By Lois Smillie
Falkirk hosted St. Mirren on Sunday in what had originally looked to be a difficult fixture. Falkirk came out on top, though, in what was an action packed match.
Falkirk started the game strongly, creating two clear-cut chances within the opening few minutes. The first fell to Suzanne Wyatt, whose headed attempt went narrowly over the bar. The second came from Vicky Wood, who received the ball from Wyatt and hit a powerful strike that was stopped by the St. Mirren goalkeeper.
Falkirk’s quick start out the traps proved too much for St. Mirren to handle, and they took the lead in the 11th minute. Wyatt again played Wood through on goal and this time she found the back of the net, hitting a low shot past the helpless keeper.
St. Mirren responded by creating a few chances of their own and putting some pressure on the Falkirk back-line. Despite their efforts, though, Falkirk managed to double their lead in the 24th minute when a St. Mirren player was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. Iona Bridges stepped up and made no mistake from the spot to extend the lead.
St. Mirren still didn’t appear down and out though as they pushed for a way back into the game. Their efforts nearly paid off when a headed effort was sent goal-wards from a St. Mirren corner, but Daisie Donegan was there to make a goal-line clearance. The resulting corner kick again found a St. Mirren head but Rachel Pirie did well to beat the ball away.
It was end-to-end stuff and Falkirk wasted no time in creating more chances of their own at the other end of the park. It should have been three for Falkirk when Kirsty Gilbert was played through on goal, but hit her shot straight at the keeper. Gilbert saw another chance go begging soon after her first when Wyatt again played through an excellent final ball but, again, Gilbert’s effort went straight into the ‘keeper’s arms.
The second half did not see nearly as much action as the first but St. Mirren’s goalkeeper was still called to action on a couple of occasions, doing well to deny both Gilbert and Ella Stewart in one-on-one situations. St. Mirren saw most of the possession in the second-half but created few chances and were unable to find a way back into the game, with it ending two-nil to the hosts.
This Sunday, Falkirk travel to Bonnyrigg Rose for their next fixture. Kick-off is at 1:30pm.
LINE-UP: Rachel Pirie, Alexandra Strike, Lauren Shaw, Daisie Donegan, Vicky Wood, Eva Rule, Suzanne Wyatt (sub Ella Stewart), Iona Bridges, Erin Sludden (sub Robyn O’Neill), Kirsty McLeod, Kirsty Gilbert.
UNUSED SUBS: Lauren Simmons, Kirsten Treanor, Taylor Johnston, Aimee Lenathen.
