Greetin Bairns 0 Average Saints 1
Team :: Main,McQuillan,Il
Biscotti,Dods,Griffin,Dasovic,McMahon,O'Neil, Legend,Georgio,Kane
Subs :: Whiteford,O'Halloran,Kane
90 minutes can seem like a very long time when your team is unable to find the net. Saints left it late but suffice to say it was a rather joyous last 30 seconds of the match for the fairly large away support as they finally got revenge over the Bairns. El Luggino's infinite wisdom brought some experience back into the side with Main taking up position between the posts (and playing dropsie a few times early doors), Kane in the midfield and the return of the Legend up front.
The opening exchanges were fairly even with a plainly nervous Saints side making several basic errors which allowed Falkirk several runs thru on goal although nothing came near. At the other end Saints had the better chances but found Slavers Mathers in good form and referee McCluskey in refusal mode, especially towards the end of the first half when McMahon was sent tumbling in the box. By then Georgio had seen a shot just tipped over the bar and Saints had hit the post and seen Mathers pull off a wonder save from the Legend who when he got the ball was causing all sorts of trouble.
The main problem was a lack of support on the wings and although McMahon had an OK first half he faded towards the end whilst on the other side of the tip, Del was basically missing. With Kane and Dasovic struggling to get possession in the midfield, Saints were struggling to break down the Bairns defence.
It was the same story in the second half with Falkirk looking more and more dangerous on the break, especially media darling and wee Bairn McAllister although his attempts at getting a free-kick every time Dods or Danny dispossessed him would have been laughable had McCluskey not given the decision to the home side most of the time.
With McMahon struggling on the wing, Luggy replaced him with Chief and immediately there was a hell of a lot more urgency about Saints attack with Chief showing that Saints were capable of beating their marker. With a couple of shots from him and a Dasovic effort, we were putting the shots in but still failing to score. And to be honest the way the match looked like going you could almost predict a jammy Bairns winner in the last minute.
Luckily it was not to be as in the 90th minute, Del and Il Biscotti worked the ball on the left. It was cut back to Kane on the edge of the box and with a collective plea of 'Dont shoot' from the Saints support the midfielder proceeded to lob Mathers, proving that the Tannadice goal last season was no fluke. After that there was only time for one Falkirk attack which Dods and Griffin (looking more and more confident with each game) dealt with easily.
Two bookings for Saints - Kane (?) early on for a tackle and Legend for tangling with Slavers too often. Overall it wasn't a great performance but in hindsight, Saints were the better team and deserved the win. MoM for me was Dods who had another great game but no-one really stood out. As for the Bairns - there is no way they'll do anything this season.
Remember to vote on todays ref Jim McCluskey (Stewarton) - send marks out of 10 to refvote@grange.demon.co.uk