Match Report

Thursday, 13th October, 2011

by Andrew Burns

Annan brushed aside by brilliant Bairns

ANNAN Athletic's cup dreams were put to bed at Galabank on Sunday by a dominant and ruthless Falkirk side.

A double from talisman Farid El Alagui after a Mark Millar wonder strike put a young Bairns side into a 3-0 lead before the half-time break.

The home side were comprehensively beaten on the day and the gulf of two divisions was evident throughout the 90 minutes that witnessed a raft of Falkirk chances.

Annan boss Harry Cairney told of his disappointment but hopes his players will have learned a valuable lesson from facing such a quality side.

He said: "Hopefully they will have learned something from playing a team a couple of leagues above them and who play the way that we would aspire to play.

"The players kept on plugging away but Falkirk played very well and put the game to bed in the first half."

"Our guys never gave up and we know they tried."

"The Falkirk keeper had a few good saves to make - one in the first minute and one in the last couple of minutes - and I was pleased at how the lads just kept on at it."

"The heads could easily have gone down and that's when it could have ended up at six or seven goals but that didn't happen and it is to our players' credit."

"We are disappointed at the way we lost the goals but we will just have to move on."

Having beaten Ayr United at Somerset Park in the quarter final, Annan had no reason to fear Steven Pressley's side.

And they almost went ahead with the first shot of the afternoon after Steven Sloan forced Michael McGovern into a top save in the first minute before a penalty shout was denied.

The ball appeared to strike Murray Wallace's arm as another effort from Sloan was blocked but referee George Salmond waved away the home side's appeals.

But following this initial scare, the first division side exerted a significant dominance from front to back through some wonderful attacking play and resolute defending.

Rampaging full-backs Wallace and Rhys Bennett played like wingers, Kallum Higginbotham caused havoc with his devastating and precise passing while El Alagui and David Weatherston continually threatened.

Millar broke the deadlock in spectacular style eight minutes in with an emphatic left- foot finish from 20 yards that left Annan goalkeeper Craig Summersgill with no chance.

Weatherston teed Millar up after controlling a cross from Higginbotham and the Falkirk midfielder unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner.

The lead was almost doubled moments later after Weatherston played in El Alagui but the Frenchman was thwarted by a last- gasp tackle by Peter Watson.

Falkirk went close again - twice in the space of a minute - but Craig Sibbald's effort bounced just wide before El Alagui fired a shot into the side netting.

It was relentless from the visitors and in the 25th minute El Alagui beat the offside trap to extend his side's lead.

Annan had cleared from a corner straight to Weatherston who picked out his teammate with a deft chip over the home defence for the big striker to slot the ball past Summersgill.

The second goal took the sting out of the game slightly - the visitors comfortable with their two-goal lead and Annan cautious of falling further behind.

A late challenge from Higginbotham on Bryan Gilfillan saw the Falkirk midfielder pick up the first booking of the game and left the Annan midfielder floored in agony.

In the 37th minute a quick counter from Falkirk saw El Alagui open up the home defence to send Higginbotham clear on the angle but the midfielder fired a powerful effort over the bar.

Annan left-back Michael McGowan pushed forward, skipping past two challenges, but his teasing ball across the six yard box was cleared by Darren Dods.

And the game was all but over four minutes before the interval through another fine goal from dangerman El Alagui.

The in-form Frenchman controlled Wallace's cross on the turn and, with plenty still to do, managed to curl the ball round marker Scott Gibson and past Summersgill into the net for his second and Falkirk's third.

The visitors had a goal disallowed shortly after the break, with Higginbotham adjudged to have strayed offside before he finished off yet another counter attack.

Annan striker Ian Harty will have been disappointed not to have forced a save out of McGovern after he blasted Sloan's cut-back over the bar from 10 yards in the 54th minute.

Five minutes later David Cox tried his luck from distance but the ball was deflected into the path of Sloan, whose half-volley was diverted just wide of the post.

Higginbotham then had two back-to-back chances but his curling effort from 30 yards was well saved by Summersgill before he put a header over the bar from a corner.

Impressive Annan stopper Watson then denied El Alagui a simple tap-in in the 75th minute with a timely interception to keep the score at 3-0.

And Annan were unlucky not to pull a goal back with four minutes remaining after McGovern spilled Gilfillan's long-range effort straight to the unmarked Sean O'Connor.

The former Queens striker only had the keeper to beat but McGovern recovered brilliantly to divert the shot round the post and deny Annan the consolation goal.

A delighted Falkirk manager Steven Pressley praised his side for a terrific performance that booked their place in the cup final against Hamilton Accies.

He said: "I thought our players were magnificent today and I cannot underestimate how good a performance and result that was."

"Annan have played eight league games this season and won seven, including all four games at home."

"The pitch was heavy and Annan are a team that like to get up and at you."

"Dunfermline came down here earlier in the season and found it very difficult and we were aware of how tough it was going to be, but our players' attitude was absolutely first class."

"I know guys like Farid will get the headlines but in the first minute Michael McGovern made a big save."

"It was one of few chances that we gave away in the 90 minutes but it was a significant save and significant moment as from there we responded in the best possible fashion."

"I could sense that we were ready for this and everything about us was right today."

Teams

Annan Athletic: Summersgill, MacBeth (Steele 65), Gibson, Peter Watson, McGowan, Sloan, Gilfillan, Jardine (McKechnie 65), Cox, Harty, O'Connor (Bell 65). Subs Not Used: Mitchell, Wild.

Falkirk: McGovern, Wallace, Dods, Rhys Bennett, Scobbie, Weatherston (Jay Fulton 85), Murdoch, Mark Millar, Sibbald (Alston 79), El Alagui, Higginbotham (Dale Fulton 90). Subs Not Used: Bowman, Ryan Millar.

Booked: Higginbotham, Murdoch.

Attendance: 1,575

Referee: George Salmond