DAFC FFIT v Falkirk Seniors-22 Sep 24

Third Game- Top of the league. looking down on the Falkirk

Match day 3 of the new CSS SOFFA League set up a derby match with our great rivals Falkirk. The Falkirk FFIT team play in the Warriors league so this was a matchup with their Seniors team who were last minute replacements for Rangers who pulled out of the league altogether. Who says they don’t do walking away? The hosts secured the Community pitch just outside the Falkirk Stadium.
The playing conditions were almost ideal, with only a slight breeze stopping it from being perfect. Both teams had large squads available to them with 17 suited up for the Pars FFIT team. The Dunfermline FFIT side started with a back three that totalled 151 years between them. That, together with two other just under 50 year olds in our keeper and our captain meant we had an experienced side. Four of those played the full 90 minutes and the other played 75 minutes, so they turned back the clock with their outstanding performances on the day.
The Pars team started the game strongly, with an attack-minded formation. For much of the half we were on the front foot and limited the hosts to a few long range shots and a header or two in the box. Other than that, our experienced defence strolled through the half. Our only concerns were that our forward play was creating half chances but not capitalising enough while on top. Being a Derby game, it certainly got heated at times. One flash point led to a player on either side getting booked for the challenge and reaction to it. Both shook hands and made up afterwards. There were some strong challenges and the referee did a really good job keeping a lid on things. As the half neared the end, we were left wondering if we would rue our many missed chances. Only time would tell. The half ended 0-0.

The second half started like the first half ended with the Dunfermline team taking the game to the hosts. Again, chances for the Pars team were forthcoming but not enough to trouble the keeper. Just as we neared the three-quarter point of the game, the breakthrough did eventually come when excellent play through the middle and an perfectly weighted pass from Craig found Scotty in space and he fired a powerful shot past the keeper to put the Pars FFIT team deservedly 1 up. At last some reward for the way we had played the game. However the lead did not last too long and a resilient Falkirk team got behind our defence to fire a shot across goal and into the far corner of the net. The Dunfermline team felt that the player was in an offside position but their appeals fell on deaf ears and the referee awarded the goal. The Pars side were back in the game and kept creating chances. An excellent through ball found Ryan at the back post but his over-stretched shot went over the bar from close range. Now both teams were up for it and things got even more boisterous in the challenges from the hosts. A second booking for their defensive player following a robust challenge. From the resulting free kick, Scotty rattled the crossbar with a fierce shot and in the ensuing scramble within the 6 yard box, Lee was quickest to react with an initial touch, but as he was about to strike the ball into the net, the defender lunged into the challenge resulting in the ball ending up in the roof of the net and the Dunfermline side again took the lead, 2-1 up (see video below).

The game continued to be fiercely contested and the Falkirk side rallied trying to find the equaliser. They had a lot of possession in our half in the final 10 mins and did strike the outside of the post with one of their efforts. The Dunfermline side had chances too. In stoppage time there was another wild tackle from a Falkirk attacking player and he too ended up in the book. The Pars team held on for a valuable 2-1 victory in what was always going to be a difficult game for us.
Today was an excellent all round performance from Dunfermline FFIT team and also those that came off of the bench to make a valuable contribution. The heads could have easily gone down when the hosts equalised but they rallied and played well throughout. There were many excellent performances, but the defence were magnificent today and deserve a special mention. Especially considering the age of our backline.

Falkirk Seniors 1 Dunfermline FFIT 2
Goals: Scotty, Falkirk OG
Assists: Craig