26/01/2026
Boroughmuir 2s vs Dunfermline Carnegie 2s Match Report
PARTY RING
Another year and another sweet bite to analyse and find a winning metaphor to draw out our best play. Coach Carole brought out a wee, rather battered packet (perhaps in the bag since last week’s cancelled game?) of mini party rings, a delicious reminder of childhood parties and of a time when a sugar high and a load of e-numbers was the only self respecting way to mark the passing of the years. We tried to work out Carole’s metaphoric angle, and there were a couple of comments about partying when we win, but the key theme here was circle, and consistency (the circle being the most stable shape in 2 dimensions).
RING IN THE NEW YEAR
First game of 2026, and we were keen for another win against the team that we had defeated at home way back in 2025. We were determined to be pacy, quick to apply pressure, circle back and mark when required. Lorna (clear man of the match) was brilliant at keeping us right, and attracted admiring comments from the opposition on her skill and communication as she parried rapid fire attempts on goal.
ALARM BELLS RINGING
We thought we would have the run on them, however Dunfermline turned out to be pretty speedy themselves. Despite Amy matching their speed head on (in an awe inspiring comeback), and making some magnificent tackles, passing to Emma R who sent balls wide to wing-footed Sharon (acceleration 2nd to none), Dunfermline brought the fight back to us and wore us down. Guttingly they managed to sneak the ball past the defence and at the end of the quarter it was 1-0 Dunfermline.
RINGS A BELL
we often concede a goal just before the end of a quarter, and so it was a familiar if disheartening feeling. We did not however let our heads go down and we fought. The defence were brilliant, Carole C sure and strong in the middle, Heather and Beth in the wings outmanoeuvring the Dunfermline attack, and feeding the midfield valiantly. We were a little rusty with first touches, but we kept going back and the second and third touches weren’t too shabby at all. Lovely to see some moves practised at training, driving, passing and running and long shots across the D. Emma R and Carole T had some beautiful one twos up the pitch, opening up to Isla and Emma C who drove forward powerfully,
never giving up and leaving Dunfermline spinning.
RUN RINGS AROUND
The pressure was definitely building against the Dunfermline defence, however pressure does not equal points. We were starting to win some short corners and Kirsty took aim and fired her deadly hit towards the goal, unfortunately the goalie pulled it out of the bag and saved our attempts. Boroughmuir kept at it, and Emily took her chance in open play, again, in an elegant echo of our training exercise she sent the ball into the D, ignoring the plethora of players who dived to scuff it, Sam coolly sent it goalwards, 1-1
THROWING OUR HAT IN THE RING
We were not here for a draw, and despite Dunfermline turning up the heat (the ring on the hob springs to mind) we did not boil over or combust. The midfield marked, and despite our depleted Christmas fitness, we dug deep and drew on Boroughmuir grittiness. It paid off, the ball turned over and Phoebe fired the ball up the field, it was turned over, but back to Carole T, she hit it into the D (the set piece from training but not Carole’s typical manoeuvre), mayhem ensued and fast forwards swarmed. We were in the ring and Dunfermline were on the ropes. Carole T again a fabulous feint, out to me, back into the D and Sam caught the perfect touch and knocked it into the goal. 2-1 to Boroughmuir.
RING FENCE
Final minutes were fraught. Dunfermline now had everything to play for and nothing to lose. We maintained our concentration. Beth’s composure at the end was as focussed as Gollum’s as he muttered “my precious” to the one ring to rule them all. She and Amy passed back and forth drawing the attackers in such a way to get the ball out and back in attack. A short corner for us in the last 90 seconds did not unfortunately yield another goal, rather it was a final sprint down the pitch as Dunfermline went hard for a last gasp attempt. We held them off. 2-1 full time. Partaaayyy 🎉
POST MATCH ANALYSIS
We kept up the good fight and were close to winning another goal at the end. However this game’s result could have been very different if Lorna (saving all the goals) and Sam (scoring the 2 goals) had not been on epic form. I also think that this week’s training exercises put us in a strong position, it was great practise for both defence and attackers and I saw this shine through in everyone’s play. Let’s hope that this win will ring the changes for Boroughmuir 2s current form and we can push up the table in the 2nd half of the season. Please note the team photo below is a nod to The Traitors on finale week, rather than the horror film The Ring!
