Falkirk travelled to Eastwood Park on Sunday to take on Giffnock SC in their final League One fixture before the league split in April.
Giffnock started the game on top, seeing most of the possession in the first 10 minutes and going on to create several opportunities to open the scoring. Their first chance went just over the bar, with Rachel Docherty doing well to save two more efforts from outside the box.
Despite a slow start, it was Falkirk who broke the deadlock. In the 20th minute, Falkirk’s Kirsty Gilbert delivered a corner into the box which deflected to Suzanne Wyatt. She found Aimee Lenathen within the sea of players, who managed to get a shot away, finding the bottom corner for her first Falkirk goal.
Falkirk kept their momentum going immediately after play restarted. Eva Rule was free to race down the right side of the pitch, creating a chance with her cross into the box. The cross unfortunately hit off the post, much to the relief of the Giffnock goalkeeper.
The remainder of the first half saw two more goals for Falkirk, both of which were assisted by Wyatt. The second goal of the game came from Vicky Wood. Wyatt was able to Wood in the box with an accurate pass and Wood made no mistake, sending an unstoppable strike into the top right corner, doubling Falkirk’s advantage.
It was Gilbert who scored Falkirk’s third just four minutes later. Wyatt played a perfectly weighted pass from the midfield for Gilbert to latch on to. She wasted no time in hitting an effort towards goal, beating the keeper to extend Falkirk’s lead going into half-time.
The second half did not see as much action as the first, though the lack of goals wasn’t for lack of trying with both teams putting dangerous attacks together throughout the half. Falkirk Goalkeeper Rachel Docherty denied the opposition on a number of occasions while, at the other end, Falkirk had multiple chances courtesy of Wyatt, Gilbert and Rule, however none were able to increase Falkirk’s lead.
The final 15 was full of action, with both teams trying their hardest to score. The Giffnock ‘keeper, despite conceding three, was the home team’s best player, denying Falkirk numerous clear cut chances and making sure her side didn’t concede more before the full-time whistle.
With no league action next week, Falkirk can take a breather before they face the strongest teams in the league following the split next month. Falkirk finish this part of the season in third, tied for points with second placed Westdyke.
LINE-UP: Rachel Docherty, Amy Rafferty (sub Megan Black), Lauren Shaw, Aimee Lenathen, Teri-Louise Deegan, Mhari Smith, Iona Bridges (sub Kirsty McLeod), Eva Rule, Suzanne Wyatt, Kirsty Gilbert, Vicky Wood.
UNUSED SUBS: Sarah-Louise Waugh.
Written by Lois Smillie
