Match Report
Saturday, 7th October, 2023
by Paul Thomson
Accies stay unbeaten after top of the table stalemate
It was far from a classic in Falkirk as League One's top two couldn't be separated
Accies had to settle for a point in Falkirk
Hamilton Accies remain behind joint-leaders Falkirk on goal difference at the League One summit after the top two battled out a disappointing stalemate.
First half headers narrowly wide from Falkirk's Tom Lang and Liam Henderson, plus a poor downward header from Accies' Dylan Tait was as close as either side came to finding a winner in a contest that failed to live up to its billing in front of a crowd pushing 5,000.
The division's top two had scored over 50 goals between them in the first eight games of the campaign, but neither could find their shooting boots on a damp and drizzly night in Grangemouth.
John Rankin's men returned to the scene of their SPFL Trust Trophy final success last season but there was to be no repeat of the 1-0 win they enjoyed over Raith Rovers on the very same pitch in March.
And it keeps the Bairns top, three goals better off than Accies, with both teams still unbeaten and now eight points clear of third-place Montrose after nine games.
Accies named the same side that thumped Annan Athletic 5-0 last Friday night under the lights, with Euan Henderson retaining his spot up top after netting in the victory.
Bairns boss John McGlynn made one enforced change from the win over Montrose last weekend as injured Aidan Nesbitt dropped out and Gary Oliver came into the line-up
Both sides had enjoyed eight-game unbeaten starts in the division going into the live BBC Alba clash, and fans were eager to see their side draw first blood in what already looks like being a two-horse race between the full-time sides.
Falkirk started the brightest and eight minutes in, Tom Lang should have opened the scoring for the Bairns. Callumn Morrison's corner was nodded on to the far post by Coll Donaldson and when it found the former Rangers defender unmarked, he headed narrowly wide from close range, and the travelling fans breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Some tasty tackles started flying in and when Liam Henderson left a bit of something on Jackson Longridge in 17 minutes, referee Euan Anderson produced the first booking of the game to try and calm things down.
A mix up between the Accies defence and goalkeeper Ryan Fulton almost gifted the hosts an opener after 20 minutes, as the ball looped towards an empty net before the danger was quickly cleared.
It took 29 minutes for visitors to trouble Bairns No.1 Sam Long and he was able to save comfortably from Reghan Tumilty's toe-poke just inside the penalty area.
Dylan Tait will feel he should have done better moments later when Kevin O'Hara did well out wide and hooked a high cross towards the back post. Tait attempted a downward header but didn't catch it as clean as he would have liked, and the ball landed on the roof of the Falkirk net.
Accies were enjoying their best spell in the games so far and moments later an O'Hara shot was spilled by Long and Barjonas couldn't pounce in time to net the rebound.
Just before half-time, Liam Henderson powered a header narrowly wide of the target and the sides went in at the break level after a competitive 45 minutes.
The second half took a while to get going and it wasn't until the 62nd minute that the first opening arrived. Scott Martin showed great strength to outmuscle Gary Oliver and win the ball in midfield. He raced forward and perfectly slipped in Barjonas for a shot inside the box, but his low sidefoot effort lacked the power and accuracy to get past Long.
Rankin eventually turned to his bench in 67 minutes when Joel Mumbongo replaced Euan Henderson to try and find that cutting edge that was sorely lacking, while Connor Murray's introduction for Tait quickly followed.
MacIver cut inside and curled an effort narrowly over the top as Falkirk tried to find a breakthrough in the final 18 minutes.
Four minutes of added time were allotted but it looked like these sides could play all night and still not find a way to goal.
It ended with a point apiece and, no doubt, the visitors will be happiest with that.
Accies are in cup action next weekend when they defend their SPFL Trust Trophy in a third round tie away to Lowland League East Kilbride.
FALKIRK: Long, Lang, McCann, Yeats, Donaldson, Henderson, Morrison, Agyeman (Lawal 90), Oliver (Ross 66), Spencer, MacIver.
Scorers:
Bookings: Henderson
Subs not used: Hogarth, Mackie, Bisland, Allan.
HAMILTON: Fulton, Tumilty, McGowan, Longridge, Kilday, MacDonald, Martin, Tait ((Murray 71), Barjonas, Henderson (Mumbongo 67), O'Hara (McGlynn 90).
Scorers:
Bookings: Tait, McGowan, O'Hara
Subs not used: J Smith, Hendrie, O'Brien, Hewitt, L Smith, Zanatta.
Ref: Euan Anderson