with thanks to Andy Burns for the photos !!!!!
Falkirk 1 Saints 4
Team ::
Robertson,McQuillan,Bowman,Tosh,Weir,McCluskey,Scott,O'Halloran,Grant,
Colquhoun,Preston
Subs :: Davison,Brown,McAnespie
Well given the publicity Tottens mob have had all week since they beat a certain Wegie team (and black marks to Radio Scotland whos post-match interview was with Bairns chairman George 'What ground' Fulston), and also given that the Saints 11 were missing 8 first choice players through injury rest or international duty (Main,Davison,Jenko,Georgio,ONeill,Dino,Dasovic and Danny) and also given the incredibly inept and crap piece of homer refereeing from Rowbotham (O how the mighty have fallen), I suppose gubbing the Bairns 4-1 on their own turf, humiliating their 'massive' support (where did the 15,000 Ibrox faithful go?) and bagging the First Division points record makes for not too bad an afternoons work.
It actually all started off really well when after only 2 mins Colquhoun broke on the right, and rounded the goalie to square to Phizzy who slotted it home - that shut the Brockville Bandwaggoners up. It didnt last though and a corner in the 5th minute allowed their cheating Austrian diver with the 70s retro afro hairstyle to head home. I reckoned Robertson was possibly at fault with this one but given his performance for the rest of the game it was more due to nerves than anything else. The first 15 mins also saw 4 bookings - 2 on each side - as Rowbotham decided that punishing Falkirk defenders (one of whom should have been off for a red-card offence when he scythed the Legend when he was last man) should be fairly balanced by booking Scott and McCluskey for being the nearest Saints player when the Austrian did his Quitongo impressions.
The game finally started to settle down in the first half with Falkirk failing to capitalise on the 18-20yd free kicks they were donated by the officials and Saints being caught out by the offside trap several times (although in the second half this was due more to the blindness of the linesman). Saints defence looked solid enough with Bowman at left-back looking a much improved player over the signing a few months ago. McCluskey looked slightly dodgy in the middle of the park but I reckon that was due more to the lack of familiarity with playing alongside Weir. In midfield all 4 players put on a good show with O'Halloran looking more and more impressive with each game - he's even learnt to walk away when a decision goes against him, a trait which may prove useful at Hunville next season. Up front the Legend did his usual running about and Colquhoun looked a more settled player although I still dont think he'll be a Saintee next season.
Second half was all Saintees and the score would have been greater if not for the Legend and Scott losing out to some dodgy offsides - it got to the stage later on where they didnt really bother chasing the borderline balls since the decision was bound to go Falkirks way. Still Legend put us in front on the 54 min mark with a run onto a long ball from midfield and a chipped lob over Nelsons head. For some strange reason some of the Brockville 15000 horde decided to leave at this point - I mean 2-1 down with half an hour to go - hardly worth showing your support by staying is it?
The third came from the Legend when he got free on the left inside the box and slotted home - this was only 80 mins gone. He tried for the hat-trick a minute later when Tosh sent him free on the right but his shot was deflected into the side netting when perhaps he could have squared to Phizzy. Still Scot got his 6th goal in 3 games when he headed in the resulting corner to make it 4-1. Blackley brought on McAnespie for Colquhoun (who had also come close along with Preston) and debut boy Gordon Brown replaced O'Halloran (thats another one for the youth team) but there was no further score.
It was good to see all the players come over to salute the fans at the final whistle - a nice touch and they didnt need prompting by Attila this time either. My MoM were Legend and OHalloran. Mentions to for Bowman at left-back and Tosh who did a lot of running in midfield. Chant of the day was 'Scotlands No. 2' directed at Robertson in the first half. Strangely enough the ones of 'Totten,Totten whats the score' went unanswered. I wonder if Geoff Brown feels justified now ?