Dryburgh Athletic Women traveled to the Falkirk Stadium on Sunday to take on the SWF Championship leaders. With the early spring sun making an appearance conditions were perfect for football and both sets of players didn’t disappoint, producing a fine spectacle for what was a healthy crowd inside the ground.
Falkirk came into the game 5 points clear at the top of the table and showed why this was the case early on, coming out of the blocks the quicker as they looked to get the ball wide and take advantage of the sizeable playing surface. Dryburgh did start to get to grips with the game but were caught cold on 10 minutes when Falkirk’s centre back stepped in with the ball and when the Burgh midfield failed to close her down she unleashed a ferocious strike from fully 30 yards that rattled the frame of Zoe MacLean’s goal. The danger however was not yet over and from the rebound Murphy was quickest to react and dispatched a fine header past MacLean to give Falkirk the lead.
Falkirk continued to look a threat, particularly from set pieces, and enjoyed the lions share of possession in the first half. Dryburgh however continued to grow into the game and arguably created the better chances of the half, with Clara Laing, Amilie Martindale and Becca Scobie twice going close to an equaliser following some fine play from the visitors.
The home side also continued to threaten to extend their lead at the other end and Burgh had MacLean to thank when she tipped over a dangerous looking cross-come-shot. The Burgh stopper then produced another sensational stop late in the half, with the Falkirk player in an offside position the goal wouldn’t have counted but MacLean didn’t know that and her quick reflexes that have earned plaudits this season were again on show.
The Bairns took their 1-goal lead into the break and despite the encouraging first half display by the visitors which would have given them confidence of getting back into the game in the second half they got off to the worst possible start. A floated corner evaded the grasp of MacLean and Townsend was on hand to extend the Falkirk lead from close range.
Dryburgh continued to show the fine spirit that they had throughout the opening period and always looked a threat on the counter attack with the pacy front 3 of Laing, Christie and Scobie, along with the guile and artistry of Robbie, Coutts and Fraser in midfield.
On 70 minutes Fraser threaded a fine ball through to her fellow Aberdonian Christie who showed the composure beyond her years with an exquisite chip beyond the Bairns keeper for her first senior goal that reduced the deficit to 2-1 for Dryburgh.
Burgh shuffled the pack with Layla Dailly coming into midfield and Deon Cruickshank replaced Emily Burns at left back who, like Gabby Watt on the other side had done a great job defensively to stifle the talented Falkirk wide players in the opening hour.
The substitutes brought a renewed vigour to Dryburgh who had put so much into the game up until that point with Dailly’s fight and calmness on the ball giving Dryburgh a level of control at a key time in the game.
With 10 minutes left to play the irrepressible Scobie got the goal her play had deserved. Fraser was again the provider, finding the forward with a fine through ball, and she took her opportunity in style with a fine left footed finish in to the corner of the net to get her side back level.
Burgh again freshened things up with the clock ticking down with the long serving Abi Bennett and Rebecca Lonie bringing energy and quality from the bench as they looked to ensure at least a point headed back down the road to Dundee with them.
Good work by Laing on the left almost produced another opportunity for Dryburgh, but her cross just evaded Fraser and Bennett in the box.
Falkirk looked the most likely to get a winner as the game entered that closing stages, with the young Defensive pairing of Abbie Telford and Amilie Martindale producing some fine blocks and tackles to keep the score level. Burgh Captain Robbie also produced a fine goal line clearance, following a string a dangerous looking corners that the visitors had to defend in the last few minutes.
As the whistle blew on a now dusky floodlit Falkirk Stadium Dryburgh will have been very pleased with the point, which on the balance of play was deserved, and also the character that was shown from such a young side at a tough venue.
Final Score:
Falkirk 2-2 Dryburgh Athletic
Dryburgh now welcome Forfar to New Beechwood Park next week for what should be another exciting game. KO 12noon.
POTM - Rebecca Scobie - It was a tireless display from the Burgh forward who put so much into the game and was a constant threat, scoring the all important equalising goal.
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