Falkirk started the day on 12 points and after the Queen of the South visit are now on 15 points as they finally made the most of their procession and the game ended in a 1-0 win after Darren Dods scrambled the ball home from a corner in the 95th minute. Falkirk made the best of the opening exchanges with Farid El Alagui, Falkirk player of the month of September, always a danger. He was just nudged as he jumped for a cross in the 18th minute which brought calls for a penalty from the stands. Two minutes later he was the meat in a sandwich in the box and landed on the deck only to be ignored by referee John Beaton. However the first real goal threat came from Kallum Higginbottom. With the defence backing off as they marked possible passing targets, Higginbottom let fly and Lee Robinson in the visitors goal seemed to change his mind about going for it about three times before he did move towards the ball as it hit off the base of the post and away to safety. The Falkirk pressure you felt had to pay off but the first half ended with no goals to show for either side. The Falkirk fans appeared content with their favourites efforts as the teams went off. However, what would the second half hold?As the second half started, the distinctive smell of Murray Mints wafted across from the fans to my left which gives you a clue as to their average age. As the half progressed the home fans were getting more frustrated by the decisions by the referee to give a free-kick every time a Queen's player were down. This could have been tinged with the frustrations of their players to make the most of the chances they had created. Rounds of applause greeted every throw in the visitors half or corner to the home side as the fans willed the Bairns to score. The defence did get it in the neck from the crowd when they failed to clear their lines in a timely manner or find one of their forwards. Falkirk's Thomas Scobbie and Dods were most often the target for the venom from the fans. Fans favourite El Alagui was felled by a boot in the face with 15 minutes to go which the referee ignored much to the displeasure of the crowd.
The crowd went silent as Craig Sibbald required a stretcher to be taken on with a few minutes of the game left. It looked as if it was to end as a draw but fate would lend a hand in the shape of a penalty in the 93rd minute when El Alagui was fouled. Mark Millar looked confident enough as he prepared to take the penalty which would have surely won the game. However, the confidence was misplaced and Robinson saved Millar's effort with ball going out for a corner. Joy in the visitors ranks was short-lived, however, as Dods was forgiven all his defensive errors by heading the ball home in the 95th minute from the corner. The win was deserved really overall but manager Steven Pressley will not be pleased with the huffing and puffing it took to get it.
Falkirk: McGovern, Duffie, Scobbie, Dods, Wallace, Murdoch, Weatherston (Alston 85m), Millar, El Alagui, Higginbottom, Sibbald (Fulton 85m)Subs: Bennett, Millar, BowmanGoal: DodsQueen of the South: Robinson, C Reid (A Reid 38m), Higgins, Simmons, Campbell, McGuffie, Johnston, McLaughlin (Black 55m), Brighton, Smith, Carmichael (Clark 50m)Subs: McKenzie, McCuskerAttendance: 3,094Referee: John Beaton
Source: FOOTYMAD
