Match Report

Tuesday, 29th January, 2008

by Julian Peck

Motherwell 1 Falkirk 1

DEAN Holden's stunning goal earns Falkirk a well-deserved draw against Motherwell.

The defender struck a tremendous first-time shot into the roof of the eight minutes after the break to cancel out David Clarkson's opener in an absorbing contest at Fir Park.

Burton O'Brien, in for the suspended Patrick Cregg, was the only change to the side that was defeated by Rangers seven days previously as Falkirk lined up in a 5-4-1 formation once again.

A heavy pitch, badly affected by the recent poor weather, made passing difficult, but the Bairns took an early control on proceedings and Lee Bullen's header in the third minute from a Kevin McBride corner was just grasped on the goal-line by Graeme Smith.

Seconds later McBride won possession on the edge of the area and had a glorious chance to grab the lead but hesitated with his shot and the danger was cleared by Mark Reynolds.

Motherwell, however, should have gone ahead in the 10th minute when a speculative long ball from Paul Quinn saw Robert Olejnik rush out of his box to clear.

But it was Chris Porter who won the chase before rounding the Falkirk keeper and sending a low shot toward the bottom corner.

Lee Bullen managed to clear and the high ball fell to Marc Fitzpatrick yet he somehow sent his diving header over the bar.

Motherwell were enjoying plenty of possession by now and applied more pressure on the Bairns' back five.

Olejnik had to be alert to beat away Jim O'Brien's vicious drive that looked destined for the net in the 26th minute.

And another push by the home team in the 36th minute exposed the Bairns defence time and again, only ending when Quinn lashed a shot over from a narrow angle.

Fitzpatrick was next to try his luck with a run forward and long-range effort that dipped inches over the bar.

Yet, Motherwell finally made the breakthrough with two minutes of the first half remaining.

Hammell was given far too much room on the left and delivered an inch perfect cross for David Clarkson, who glanced a looping header over Olejnik and in at the far post.

Motherwell began the second half where they left off and, five minutes in, Clarkson floated a shot goalward from 18 yards, which bounced back off the bar with Olejnik beaten.

Falkirk equalised against the run of play, however, and in spectacular style, soon afterwards.

Scott Arfield picked out the unmarked Holden 14 yards from goal, and he sent a cracking first-time shot past Smith and crashing into the net.

Holden ripped off his shirt in celebration of his wonder strike and was duly booked by referee Crawford Allan.

Motherwell could have regained the lead 60 seconds later, though, after a long ball over Tam Scobbie fell to Porter, but his low shot drifted across goal.

Lovell then forced Smith into an acrobatic save with a shot from 10 yards as the match really began to heat up.

In the 61st minute, the Steel Men were presented with a glorious chance to go ahead once again.

O'Brien's wicked shot from 18 yards smacked off the crossbar and bounced on to the line but Porter, just four yards out, somehow contrived to send his header wide of the mark.

As play raged from end to end, Neil McCann sent Lovell racing clear and he blasted a shot just wide of the right post and finally, in time added on, Quinn drilled a low effort from 20 yards narrowly wide of target.

But Falkirk held on and, with Inverness Caley losing to Hearts, gained another vital point in the fight to avoid the drop.

"We're delighted with the outcome," said Bairns boss John Hughes.

"Motherwell were possibly the better team over the 90 minutes, but we dug it out and the boys showed great character to earn a draw. I think we merited that.

"We have to become hard to beat and a point here, at a hard venue against a high-flying Motherwell side, is a very good result indeed."