Match Report

Thursday, 13th November, 2008

Falkirk throw away victory

MICHAEL HIGDON'S second goal in as many games wasn't enough to hand Falkirk the three points against Inverness Caley Thistle last night (Wednesday).

The striker put the Bairns 1-0 up after 19 minutes at the Caledonian Stadium but a horror show from keeper Scott Flinders with 10 minutes remaining allowed Adam Rooney to equalise.

Gerard Aafjes, suffering from a thigh strain, was replaced by Lee Bullen for this mid-week encounter while Higdon (pictured right) was rewarded with a starting slot after scoring against Hamilton last Saturday.

And it was that man who took the initiative early on when Neil McCann's cross to the back post picked out the big striker.

His initial downward header was only half-cleared, though, and he soon regained possession before lashing a left footed shot into the bottom corner.

It was just reward for the 183 travelling supporters who had made their way up the A9 to back the Bairns on a cold November evening.

Just one minute later they were out of their seats again when Higdon had a glorious chance to double the Bairns' advantage after McCann was fouled by Ross Tokely. The subsequent free-kick was taken by Scott Arfield but Caley keeper Ryan Esson was up to the task and held Higdon's strike.

Inverness, playing with a loan striker, were making little headway up front and when one of their few attacks broke down McCann was tripped by Iain Vigurs and received a yellow card.

However, McCann never fully recovered from the poor challenge and was eventually replaced by Graham Barrett one minute before half-time.

Prior to the break, though, in the 35th minute, Higdon had an even better chance to make it two-nil when Dean Holden's free-kick, from the half-way line, picked out Bullen in the box.

Higdon just had to hit the target after latching onto the defender's knock down but instead lashed the ball wide.

Falkirk deserved their lead going into the break but Caley boss Craig Brewster made two changes during the interval in an attempt to turn the tide and it appeared to have an immediate effect with the Highland side pushing forward at every opportunity.

However, the best two chances still fell to Falkirk with Barrett and Steve Lovell both going close with headed efforts.

Esson was rooted to the spot when Lovell then sent another header goalward, 15 minutes from time, but the ball fell onto the roof of the net. However, Flinders paid the price in the 80th minute when he flapped at a cross ball which came off the bar before Rooney pounced to nod home.

Lovell and Barrett both missed Arfield's dangerous ball across the goal in the dying minutes but Falkirk could still have left pointless if Rooney's shot, following another poor effort to hold a cross by Flinders, had found the target.