Match Report

Thursday, 29th October, 1998

Stranraer ..................1 Falkirk..................2

STRANRAER are finding it tough among the full-timers and for a third game in a row, they went down by the odd goal.

While Falkirk started in impressive fashion their enthusiasm was curbed by the Stranraer defence, and the visitors' went in at the break with a single goal lead.

It was a changed story in the second half, Stranraer with a strong wind behind them and within four minutes, the sides were level.

But enthusiasm was not enough, they failed to add to their tally, and their bad luck breaks of recent games hit them again when the Bairns grabbed a late winner.

Falkirk were going well at the outset, Kevin McAllister and Peter Duffield teaming up to tease the home defence and when the pair of them linked down the right in the twelfth minute, it looked as though Duffield's final pass was too strong. But McAllister caught in on the byeline, got in a good cross and Marino Keith had no one near him as he headed the ball past keeper Gary Mathews.

Perhaps it was the cold wind or it might have been the rain squalls, but Falkirk having got their goal, seemed to settle for that. They were on top and the home defenders were stretched , but they stuck to their task and kept Matthews from having too much to do.

Stranraer's young strikers Jason and Gordon were seen more after the break and only four minutes had gone when they had the game in the melting pot.

Keith Knox's throw-in was returned to him by Paul Kinnaird and he hoisted the ball high into the Falkirk goalmouth. Panic was the only word to describe the visitors' reaction and in an unholy scramble the ball was in the net with Gordon Young getting the credit. Stranraer had more chances in that second period but their finishing was poor.

Kinnaird beat men in a dazzling run and was unlucky to see his drive blocked, and Paul Watson, after a great run, did not have the legs left for a final try.

Just when it looked as both sides would have to settle for a draw, Falkirk substitute John Henry tried some old fashioned ball control, looked to have gone too far, then suddenly cut the ball across the face of the goal and saw it tuck in at the far post for a winner.

Stranraer - Mattews, McIntyre, Black, George, Campbell, Johnstone, Watson, Knox, Jason Young, Gordon Young, Kinnaird. Substitutes - Bell, Ronald, Friels.

Falkirk - Mathers, McKenzie, Seaton, Sinclair, Den Bieman, Hamilton, McAllister, Duffield, Crabbe, Keith, Hutchison. Substitutes - Waddell, Henry, Cunning.

Referee - Mr John Fleming, ( Glasgow).