Match Report

Sunday, 7th December, 2008

by Rob Fairburn

Falkirk 1-2 St Mirren

DENNIS WYNESS grabbed his first goal in 14 months and his first for the Buddies to hoist them off the bottom of the table in an explosive clash.

Bairns were reduced to 10 men after Jackie McNamara's straight red for a foul on Jim Hamilton who had opened the scoring just before the interval.

But Gus MacPherson's strugglers threw everything at Falkirk andmanaged to get back on level terms before Wyness clinched the win that ended a five-game losing spell.

Hamilton said: "I am delighted for Dennis. He has been getting a lot of stick but it is part and parcel of being a striker.

"We know what he can do and he brings a lot in to the game for us.

"This is a massive result and hopefully we can build on it."

But the 32-year-old striker was not so chatty about the challenge by McNamara in 55 minutes that led to the sending off.

Hamilton said: "The referee sent him off. You can see it for yourself on the telly."

The Buddies edged ahead in 40 minutes when Bairns keeper Bobby Olejnik could only parry a low Jack Ross drive in to the path of Hamilton who tapped the ball home from a couple of yards out.

Kevin McBride had been the home side's most dangerous player, striking the bar twice with long-range efforts.

But that was only a taster for all the drama that came after the interval.

Burton O'Brien almost put the Bairns level with a cheeky lob from the edge of the box that was fingertipped over the bar by the stretching Mark Howard.

However, Falkirk suffered a major blow in 55 minutes when McNamara's foul on Hamilton on the far touchline was deemed to be a red card offence by referee Dougie McDonald.

John Hughes' side went for broke, with Graham Barrett being introduced to the frontline at the expense of midfielder Arnau Riera.

It was a move that soon brought dividends as pressure on the Buddies defence resulted in a 62nd-minute equaliser.

O'Brien's free-kick was totally misjudged by keeper Howard who played the ball in to the path of Steve Lovell and the former Aberdeen hitman volleyed it home from close range.

The assistant referee flagged for offside obviously not realising the ball had come off Howard.

But after referee McDonald had consulted him the goal was allowed to stand.

Saints managed to weather the storm before eventually regaining the lead 10 minutes later.

Hamilton was the architect with a superb cross-field pass sending Andy Dorman scurrying up the left flank. He burst in to the box before squaring for Wyness to slide the ball home from close range.

This time Falkirk gambled by having four players up front as they pumped long balls towards them hoping for a break.

And with six minutes left they thought they had equalised again in an incredible goalmouth scramble.

Lovell hit a post, Darren Barr had a shot kicked off the line by Ross and Michael Higdon was also foiled as the Buddies somehow survived the onslaught.

Barr protested that the ball had crossed the line but there was no flag from the linesman and referee McDonald waved play on.

MacPherson's troops took the sting out the game in the closing stages by playing the ball in to the corners and they found a lot of space with Falkirk committing so many players up front.

And after the much-needed victory the Buddies gaffer said: "I am just delighted to get the three points and away from home as well.

"No-one likes being bottom, especially when you feel you had been doing a lot of good things.

"We thought November would be tough but not that tough because we only got one point.

"I am delighted for Dennis in getting his goal. His link-up play has been superb and his work rate second to none."

REF WATCH: DOUGIE McDONALD had some tough calls to make in a fiery affair and only TV evidence will establish whether he was right with them, although he correctly over-ruled his linesman to allow the Falkirk equaliser to stand. Rating: 6/10.