By Lois Smillie
Falkirk hosted Airdrie on Sunday in their most recent SWF League One fixture.
The first half saw Falkirk score four of their five goals, with the first coming in the second minute of the match. Kirsty Gilbert played the ball through to new signing Helen Templeton, who found Vicky Wood with a sliding cross and the striker tapped the ball into the net.
It would take just four minutes for Falkirk to double their lead. Goalkeeper Rachel Pirie’s goal kick found the head of Suzanne Wyatt, who was able to knock the ball on to Kirsty Gilbert who was running through on goal. Gilbert took the ball round the Airdrie goalkeeper with ease before hitting a shot in off the post.
Kirsty wasn’t happy with just the one goal though and six minutes later she scored her second, with the help of Claudia Stewart. Stewart drove the ball down the right-hand side of the pitch before crossing it into the box. The ball deflected off an Airdrie defender towards Kirsty, whose left-footed shot found the top left corner of the net.
The fourth and final goal of the first half came in the 21st minute. Following a throw in for Falkirk, Gilbert latched onto a searching pass from outside the box and sent a strike into the bottom right corner to complete her hat-trick.
It could have been five for the Bairns just before the break when Kirsty Gilbert broke through, finding herself one-on-one. It wasn’t to be though as the Airdrie goalkeeper came off her line to smother the ball at Gilbert’s feet. The save caused Gilbert to take a tumble, falling on top of the opposition goalkeeper who was unfortunately forced off the pitch due to injury.
The second half did not have nearly as much excitement as the first. Airdrie seemed keen to fight back with multiple attempts to drive the ball forward, however, Pirie denied them any real chances to keep a clean sheet.
Goal number five came from Eva Rule in the 83rd minute. Rachel Pirie got the assist with her goal kick finding Rule, who ran clear of the defence and sent the ball past the substitute goalkeeper to complete the scoring.
The win means Falkirk sit third in the league table, just two points behind league leaders, Forfar Farmington.
Next week sees a break from league action as Falkirk host Glenrothes Strollers in the Scottish Cup second round. The match kicks off at 2:30pm on the Community Pitch.
LINE-UP: Rachel Pirie, Lauren Shaw, Iona Bridges, Claudia Stewart (sub Katelyn Devine), Vicky Wood, Suzanne Wyatt (sub Eva Rule), Ellie Roberts (sub Kirsty McLeod), Kirsty Gilbert (sub Ella Stewart), Daisie Donegan, Erin Sludden, Helen Templeton (sub Robyn O’Neill)
UNUSED SUBS: Aimee Lenathen, Taylor Johnston
