Simmy Seals Win For Fica

Bairnfica 2 v 1 Well Trust

Bairnfica looked to continue their winning ways with a home tie against Well Trust.  The last encounter between these two resulted in a 1-1 draw, so both teams knew to expect a tight match.  Fica began the match on top and created a few chances early on.  The breakthrough came after 20 minutes when Nicolson played Simpson down the left hand side, who then played a superb ball round the back of the Well defence for Morrison to slot the ball in through the keepers legs.  Well Trust looked for an immediate comeback, however Fica managed to hold out.  The away team weren't to be denied though, as the equaliser came when a long freekick into the box was unfortunately diverted by Todd over the helpless Sharp into the Fica goal.  With the teams level at the break, Fica came out of the blocks fastest in the second half and began to play some great football.  After creating a few chances early on the game had become fairly even until just past the hour mark.  A great piece of play saw Callander play Nicolson down the wing, who crossed in for Simpson at the back post to fire home his first goal for the club.  The Bairns then took the incentive from this and could have scored a couple more after shots from Baty and Simpson went wide.  Well piled on the pressure for the last 5 minutes but Fica held out for their 3rd win on the spin

Line-up:  Sharp, Brown, McCartney, Jardine, Todd (S. Hoggan), Simpson, Cowan, Baty, Morrison, Nicolson, Callander (L. Hoggan)

Sub Not Used: Colborn
Goals: Morrison, Simpson
MotM: Simpson

Bairnfica Win Derby Day

Bairnfica 5 v 2 FC Braes04

Bairnfica kicked off their league campaign with a local derby against FC Braes04.  Having never beaten Braes before, Fica were looking to achieve the first win and, in turn, set themselves up in the best possible fashion for the season ahead.  One change was made to the starting eleven that ran riot over Cadzow Hamilton, with Steven Hoggan returning in defence for Calum Simpson

From the off, Bairnfica were in control of the game.  Slick passing split open a Braes side who struggled to get a foothold on the game.  With the game only minutes old, Bairnfica broke the deadlock.  A corner whipped in by Risk was met by right boot of “dangerman” Lapsley, with the shot finding the net through the keepers legs.

Although a goal up, Fica continued to press and soon doubled their advantage with Risk again the architect, beating three men before sending the ball in for Morrison to slot away in the corner.  With only twelve minutes on the clock, Bairnfica had again extended their advantage.  Good work by Nicolson on the right resulted in a cross in for Cowan to nip in ahead of the Braes defender and send the ball past the helpless goalkeeper.

As the half progressed, Bairnfica comfortably dealt with the few attacks Braes had, with the defence and Bell in goals rarely tested.  With only five minutes remaining of the first half, Bairnfica added their fourth, Morrison the quickest to react to Nicolson’s shot which rebounded off the post.

The second half began much the same way as the first ended.  Chances time and again fell to Fica, and on another day Morrison and Nicolson could both have had hat tricks.  Braes, to their credit, did start to create a few chances and got their rewards when McGarry knocked in a rebound from an excellent save by Bell.

This goal gave Braes the added impetus to try and salvage something from the match.  However Bairnfica had other ideas as second half substitute Callander finished low into the corner after a neat one-two with Risk and ending the game as a contest.  With only ten minutes remaining Braes pulled another goal back through Grainger, who rose highest to powerfully head home.

Manager Steven Hoggan’s tactics lead to the downfall of derby rivals FC Braes04, with yet again everyone performing excellently.  More importantly, Bairnfica pick up their first 3 points of the season, with an away trip to Airdrie Thistle looming on 13th September.

Line-up: Bell, MacDonald, McCartney (Todd), Jardine, Lapsley, S. Hoggan (Taylor), Cowan, Baty, Nicolson, Morrison (Callander), Risk

Goals: Lapsley, Morrison (2), Cowan, Callander
MotM: Risk

Bairnfica Dominate in Group Finale

Cadzow Hamilton 0 v 9 Bairnfica

The final round of ID Cup fixtures for Bairnfica saw them face Cadzow Hamilton, a team recently relegated from the Premier Division. With the slim hopes of qualifying to the knock-out stage of the Cup, Bairnfica would need to win with a healthy margin to overturn a 5 goal deficit. Three changes were made from the last game, with MacDonald, Simpson and Morrison replacing Taylor, S. Hoggan and Colborn respectively.

The game was heavily one sided throughout the 90 minutes, with Bairnfica cutting Cadzow apart with their slick passing and movement. It wasn’t long for the deadlock to be broken when a shot by Simpson, making his debut, was parried by the goalkeeper only to be followed up by Baty.

Within minutes of the restart, the Falkirk side extended their lead when Simpson again had a shot parried, this time for Morrison to follow up. This was a sign of things to come as Bairnfica went FIVE goals up with only half an hour played, Morrison scoring the other three goals. For his second, and Bairnfica’s third, Morrison beat the offside trap before showing composure to lob the goalkeeper. The other two goals scored were also well executed lobs, leaving the keeper helpless.

The game was not only about the goalscorers though, as the tireless working throughout the team had contributed to this first half rout. Even the few and far between chances Cadzow created were shored up by the solid defensive line and Bell in goals. The first half drew to a close with the score remaining 5-0.

Only one minute of the second half had been played when ‘Fica extended their lead further. MacDonald, on a marauding run from right back, received the ball at the edge of the box before firing the precise shot into the bottom corner.

This was not to be the end of the scoring as Baty and Morrison extended the lead with a bullet header from Simpsons corner and composed finish respectively. In fighting between the Cadzow players did not help their cause as they conceded the ninth goal of the game, Risk slotting a cut back into an empty net. Other chances were created for Bairnfica though there were no other goals as the game drew to a close.

Line-up: Bell, MacDonald, McCartney, Jardine, Lapsley, Simpson (Hoggan), Cowan, Baty, Nicolson (Callender), Morrison (Leishman), Risk

Goals: Morrison (5), Baty (2), MacDonald, Risk
MotM: Morrison

Zetland Edge Out Bairnfica

Zetland Amateurs 1 v 0 Bairnfica

Bairnfica faced Zetland Amateurs with yet another threadbare squad as they looked to improve on their performance from last season, where they lost 6-2 to the Zetland side in their previous carnation, Dynamo Fargo. With an undefeated preseason under their belt, confidence was high that something could be taken out of the game.

Fica stuck with the 4-4-2 formation that has worked so well for them in their previous games. Notable replacements were Jardine, Lapsley and Callander coming in for the missing S. Hoggan, Nicholson and MacDonald. Leishman, returning after his 3 months out in exile, was the only sub for the Falkirk side.
Both teams were looking to control the game through the early period of the match. As they fought for possession, chances were few and far between and it Fica who almost took the lead when a drilled cross was directed goalwards by Baty, only to see the ball trickle past the post. Zetland created a couple of half chances for themselves, but this was dealt with comfortably by the defence and, ultimately, Sharp in goals. Bairnfica then created another great chance, with a cross from the right headed on by Baty for Jardine to glance on, only to see the goalkeeper tip the ball over the bar. An encouraging start for Bairnfica, but that’s all it was as the they went behind when a ball was failed to be cleared out of the box, only for the Zetland midfielder to stroke home the opener.
Zetland gained confidence from this goal and looked to build upon their advantage, however their struggle to watch the offside line was their main problem as Fica dealt with any attack that was posed against them. The first half drew to a close with Bairnfica trailing by a solitary goal.

As Bairnfica only had one substitute, they remained the same as they returned to the field. Zetland however made a number of changes as they looked to freshen up their approach to the game. The second half started as scrappy as the first, with neither side able to command the proceedings. Eventually, it was the Grangemouth side that created wave upon wave of attacks, although Bairnfica were more than a match for each and every one of them. Bairnfica weren’t without their chances to bring the game level, as they hit Zetland with counter attacks hoping to provide a sucker punch. A slack backpass was picked up by Hoggan who then proceeded to drive towards the goal. With only the keeper to beat his drilled shot to the corner was expertly saved by the goalkeeper, leaving Hoggan looking on in despair as the defender cleared the ball away. Minutes later Callander rounded the goalkeeper but unfortunately the angle was shut down and the ball eventually went out for a corner. One final chance well to Bairnfica as Cowan raced through on goal he managed to lob the goalkeeper only for the ball to eventually fall agonisingly wide. The game ended with the single goal being the difference between the two sides, as Bairnfica walked off proud of their efforts.

Line-up: Sharp, Lawson, McCartney, Jardine, Todd, Lapsley, Callander, Taylor (Leishman), Baty, Hoggan L., Cowan
 
MotM: L. Hoggan

Bairnfica Earn Their Spurs

Bairnfica 3 v 1 ScotSpurs

Following their previous challenge cup success and comfortable wins against Raith Rovers and last years division champions, St Mirrenoff, respectively, Bairnfica faced Scotspurs, a match that could see them pick up more silverware in the form of the John White Memorial Trophy. These two sides had only encountered each other once before, with the Falkirk side coming away with a comfortable 4-1 victory.

Bairnfica lined up in their usual 4-4-2 formation, with S. Hoggan coming in for Callander, who was taken off injured in the previous win against St Mirrenoff. It was Fica who got the game underway, and from the off they immediately took the game to the Spurs supporters. Bairnfica were running the defence ragged with some intricate passing moves creating space and chances, which were dealt with expertly by the impressive ScotSpurs keeper. Few chances were created at the other end as the back four and Sharp in goals handled any attacks with ease. With the first half nearing a close, Bairnfica broke the deadlock. A neat passing play resulted in Cowan taking control of the ball at the edge of the box, before steadying himself to drill the ball low into the corner. This was no more than the Falkirk side deserved as they walked off the park with the one goal advantage.

The second half began much similar to that of the first, with Bairnfica controlling the game throughout the park. ScotSpurs were struggling to deal with attacks down the flanks, and had it not been for the goalkeeper, the advantage would have been extended further with chances falling to Nicolson, S. Hoggan, Risk, L. Hoggan, Baty and Taylor. One notable chance saw Cowan coolly lift the ball over the onrushing keeper, for the ball only to be cleared sensationally off the line. Bairnfica were not to be denied a second goal though, as Nicolson rushed in to deflect a clearance into the back of the net, from an initial shot from Baty. This goal seemed to have wrapped things up, though straight from kick off, Taylor intercepted the ball before being unceremoniously fouled by the ScotSpurs player who then played the ball through for the striker to finish. To the astonishment of the Bairnfica players the foul was not given and the goal stood. This, however, did not deter Fica and they yet again doubled their lead when McCartney was brought down in the box. Up stepped S. Hoggan to slot away the spot kick and end the game as a contest. Bairnfica picked up their second piece of silverware in 3 games and with a display like this, confidence is high as they move towards their final pre-season friendly against Zetland Amateurs.

Line-up: Sharp, Lawson (Risk), McCartney, Todd, S. Hoggan, Taylor, Cowan, Baty, Nicolson, L. Hoggan (Lawson), MacDonald (Callander)

Goals: Cowan, Nicolson, S. Hoggan (pen)
MotM: Cowan