Match Report
Match Report - 23 Apr 2022, Dunfermline City Hockey Club Dunfermline City First Team lost to Stirling Wanderers 2
Dunfermline City hosted Stirling Wanderers twos on Saturday in the penultimate game of the season.
Wanderers needed a win to seal the league title.
City had a squad of 14 for the game and started with their now usual 3.4.3 formation.
Brown returned in goals with Cunniffe RB Mitchell CB and Buchanan LB. Midfield of Edwards and Buttercase in the middle with Ryan Green wide right, Kinnear wide left and Spreng, Waddington and Santi up front.
Miller, Luff and Al Green started on the bench.
City were set up to defend from the front. However within 90 seconds were one down as Stirling sped through the middle and scored with relative ease.
It looked like it could be a rout at this point. However City gradually got into the game deserved to get back on level terms mid way through the half when some good passing in the D led to Waddington forcing the ball home.
City then took the lead as Kinnear blasted home with a cracking effort a yard inside the D.
Half time came and City held on to their two one lead.
Second half started pretty even but Stirling managed to get even from a short corner.
Then what should have been City free hit at the edge of the D for feet saw a short corner given to Stirling from which they scored from again to take the lead.
Kinnear was shown a Green for a rash tackle.
City had some opportunities from short corners but failed to convert. Santi with a shot blocked for another short. Then the next short Wanderers blocked well as Miller shot on goal.
As the game drew on Stirling managed to score again from yet another short corner then again from another to make it 5.2.
There was two yellow cards shown as Ryan Green retaliated by complaining after an international trip on him which saw City gain a short corner. Green yellow carded as well as the Stirling player. City couldn’t make anything of the short.
The game drew to a close. Stirling sealed the title with a deserved 5.2 victory however the score line was probably a bit flattering as City were in front for a large portion of the game. Stirling were extremely clinical from short corners while City were wasteful.
This was a far cleaner game than the previous match between the sides despite the two cards shown.
The whole team can be proud of the way they played as Stirling were a really good side with a lot of pace and skill. City matched them for large portions of the game but unfortunately fell short.
Next up a trip to Edinburgh on Sunday to finish the season in what will be another tough encounter against third placed ESM.
Dunfermline City Hockey Club Dunfermline City First Team 2 - 5 Stirling Wanderers 2