This was a terrific team performance by Accies against one of the alleged favourites for promotion and a team which narrowly lost the cup final only four months ago.
The Accies fans occupied one of the small enclosures in front of the stand and this led to a great atmosphere, as did all the anti-Fulston and Watson songs. When I considered the Falkirk line-up before the game, I thought we were in for a roasting. However, not for the first time did I forget that Accies are actually a bloody good team!
Accies took the lead in the 15th minute when Jim Sherry cracked a beauty into Craig Nelson's top corner. The Falkirk team and fans were upset that Accies had stolen a throw-in which led to the goal, but the dugout was in the way and I couldn't see. This led to a spell of grim midfield play, the highlight of which was Scott Crabbe's ruthless late tackle on Jim Sherry, for which he was rightly sent off by referee Alan Freeland. Just when we were all thinking that Accies would have to keep their heads, Falkirk equalised when Paul "Obnoxious" McGrillen scored from a penalty after Gary Clark had been penalised for a foul on Chris McCart on the edge of the box. I thought it should have been an indirect free-kick for lifting his foot, but the ref disagreed. For the benefit of anyone still to face Falkirk, he hit it low to Ferguson's right. McGrillen then celebrated in front of the Accies fans, who, to their credit, didn't leap over the low wall and lamp him one.
By this time it was clear that Alex Totten had made a calamitous error in playing Kevin James, or should that be "6'7" Kevin James", against a team featuring Jose Quitongo. Jose absolutely took the piss out of James all day, particularly in the first half. The highlight of this was a fantastic run through the Falkirk defence in the 31st minute which Jose finished by smashing the ball past Nelson. Most of the Accies fans were probably too busy with their own celebrations to notice that Accies did an embarrassing crawling conga at the corner flag. However, the infuriating side of Jose's game surfaced once again shortly afterwards when he was clean through on Nelson but delayed his shot too long and the chance was lost.
Accies made amends for this with the third goal after 40 minutes. A quickly taken free kick from the left caught the Falkirk defence flat footed and allowed Sean McEntagart to square the ball for David McFarlane to tap home.
Things calmed down a bit in the second half but the striking feature was that Accies continued to outplay Falkirk Several good chances were created but Accies seemed to have left their shooting boots in the dressing room. A combination of poor luck and poor finishing meant that only one goal followed. It was however, a beauty, with David McFarlane sprinting away from a static defence to smash the ball home with the outside of his right boot.
Accies used all 3 subs towards the end, but sadly there was no chance for Wolfie to break his duck. It would be churlish to name a man of the match, but let's just say that Jose, Jim Sherry and David McFarlane were superb. When Chris Hillcoat and Paul Ritchie are fit again, we will be even better! As far as Falkirk are concerned, they should be very concerned as they never really placed our defence under any pressure. Fat Boy Fulston stated later that he would go to court if Falkirk were denied a place in the proposed "Premiership" because of the state of Brockville. I would argue that there is a more compelling reason why they won't be invited!
Falkirk : Nelson, Oliver, Seaton, McCart, James (Corrigan 73), Mackenzie (Craig 78), McAllister, Crabbe, McGrillen (Keith 63), Moss, Hagen.
Accies: Ferguson (7), Thomson (7), Renicks (7), McEntegart (7), McCulloch (7) (McCormick 80), Craig (8), Quitongo (9), Sherry (8) (McKenzie 82), McFarlane (8), Clark (7) (Geraghty 84), Cunnington (7).
Referee : A Freeland
Crowd : 2539
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