Falkirk 1-3 Dumbarton

SFL Div 1, Falkirk Stadium, 16/4/13

Falkirk impressed me. They looked good on the ball, passed it well – for the most part – and seemed to know what they were doing. However, perhaps due to their exertions on Saturday in the Cup semi-final, they didn’t really create much even if in Lyle Taylor they have the best footballer I’ve seen all season. There’s just something about him that speaks class. Our defence did what it had to, though, and restricted his opportunities.

We had four chances and took three of them, all three very good goals; the second so outstanding Onebrow opined it was the best goal he’d ever seen us score. (He’s young though.)

Falkirk had the best of the match up until we scored, their forwards finding space in our half, but the final ball was never quite right for them. Then almost out of nowhere, a couple of quick passes saw Mark Gilhaney evade his man and place it past the keeper. A few minutes later it got even better as a brilliant passing move with at least three one-twos in tight situations was finished off by Garry Fleming slotting it in.

After that we began to push up too far, left too much space and Falkirk’s goal was coming. It was expertly taken following a fine chip to Lyle Taylor who finished in the only place Stephen Grindlay wouldn’t be able to reach his header.

I began to worry then but we held out till half time.

Stephen Grindlay had a few good saves including a one-on-one with Lyle Taylor in the second half. Taylor also got through once more and was perhaps nudged at just the right time to prevent him getting his shot away cleanly.

Our third chance came when a cross from Steven McDougall was flapped out by the keeper to Mark Gilhaney whose shot was knocked away by a defender on the line. The third goal followed a fine through ball from Chris Turner. Garry Fleming ran on and finished into the corner.

These were three points I wasn’t expecting. When was the last time we beat Falkirk twice at their place in the one season? I thought it might have been in the days of the Spring Cup! (We beat them at Brockville in that competition. I was there. But no. I’ve just checked. Falkirk beat us twice in the league that year. We did do it though in 1980-81.)

One more win should see us stay up.

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