Match Report

Saturday, 9th December, 2023

by Ross Hart

Ross MacIver scores Bairns' winner

ALFIE BAVIDGE'S second goal for Kelty Hearts proved in vain as Falkirk found a late winner during an intriguing clash at the Falkirk Stadium this afternoon.

The on-loan Aberdeen forward's close-range finish midway through the second half, from Jamie Walker's fantastic assist, pulled Michael Tidser's side level after Aidan Nesbitt put the hosts ahead shortly before half-time.

However, a header from Ross MacIver - which Tidser said was "one of the best headers I've ever seen" - gave John McGlynn's all three points to put them level with Hamilton Academical at the summit.

Kelty remain fourth, after Montrose, in fifth, lost at home to Queen of the South, with the Links Park outfit travelling to New Central Park next Saturday.

The 'Maroon Machine' can go into that game in good heart despite the disappointment of suffering a first loss at the Falkirk Stadium in their third visit, after a second half performance that was more enterprising and not without opportunities.

"First half, you could quite clearly see they were the better side. We got in at half-time, sat them down and had a wee word with them," Tidser said.

"It's difficult for me to see sometimes, because I'm on the park, in terms of the tactical side of it, but Geordie (Kevin McDonald, Tidser's assistant manager) is very good at it. He's switched on with stuff like that. He gave us a few wee tweaks here and there, and I just told them to believe in themselves more, in terms of in possession.

"Second half, I thought we were much better, more like us. We had them spooked for a bit, and then obviously we score a very good goal. At that stage, there's probably 20-25 minutes to go, do you stick or twist? But I just wanted to and be brave and try and win the game, or at least give ourselves a chance of winning it.

"I take responsibility for the defeat in terms of not sitting with a bank of four or five, and just try to hang in for a point. I'd rather just won games.

"Credit to the lads. I thought the second half was much more like us, really really good, but they go and score an unbelievable header from MacIver. Honestly, I've played football a long time, and it's one of the best headers I've ever seen, in terms of playing. Sometimes you just need to hold your hands up.

"At the end it gets a bit gung-ho, and that's because you're trying to chase the game. You've seen a million games like that.

"I'm really proud of the lads. We've came here and they're taking it into the corner trying to waste time. This is a team, top of the league, with a squad of 26 players, so that's testament to us, and where we've came from the start of the season, when they beat us 5-1.

"I'm really proud and we'll just take our medicine and get on with it."

From the team that started their last game, the Scottish Cup success at Hamilton Academical a fortnight ago, there were three changes made by Tidser.

Ross Cunningham, Billy Owens and Botti Biabi dropped to the bench, with on-loan trio Fergus Owens, Lewis O'Donnell and Bavidge returning, having been ineligible last time out.

The visitors went into the game having not tasted defeat at the Falkirk Stadium, winning one and drawing one of their two trips last season, but were on the end of a chastening 5-1 reverse to the Bairns at New Central Park in September.

McGlynn's promotion chasers, who, like Kelty, saw their league game last weekend called off due to snow, were knocked off the summit by Hamilton, whose game with Queen of the South went ahead, and ended with a 5-0 win.

They ended the day level with their rivals at the top of the table, as Accies drew at Alloa, but had to work hard for three points by Kelty.

Calvin Miller and Leon McCann shot at Kyle Gourlay in the opening exchanges for Falkirk, who had huge appeals for a penalty waved away after 15 minutes.

Lewis O'Donnell, under pressure outside his own box, tried to pass back to his keeper, but the ball was short and pounced on by MacIver.

Under pressure from Jason Thomson, the striker went to ground and, with the majority of the crowd expecting a spot-kick to be awarded, referee, Ian Snedden, awarded Kelty a free-kick, and booked the Bairns man for simulation.

Kelty defended well in the first half, restricting the clear-cut chances for the Bairns, but they had the offside flag to thank after half-an-hour when Calvin Miller headed in a cross from the left.

However, four minutes before the break, the hosts broke through when MacIver, under pressure from the Kelty defence, set up Nesbitt brilliantly with a delicate touch, and the Bairns number 10 finished with composure to open the scoring.

After the break, however, Kelty looked more of a threat in attack, having failed to test Nicky Hogarth in Falkirk's goal in the first 45 minutes, and it made for a much more exciting contest.

After Miller and Callumn Morrison sent efforts over, the away side fashioned their best opportunity just before the hour mark.

Walker provided a superb assist, finding Craig Johnston with an excellent low ball, but the Kelty forward sidefooted wide of target.

Shortly afterwards, he found himself in behind the home defence inside the box, firing straight at Hogarth, but had a hand in a superb leveller moments later.

Johnston switched play wide left for Walker, who fired a sensational ball into the box that was begging to be attacked, and Bavidge obliged, knocking in from close range.

It put the cap on a good spell of play from Tidser's side, but Falkirk tried to respond, with Tom Lang heading off target as things began to get heated courtesy of a series of niggly challenges.

However, with 14 minutes to go, the Bairns grabbed the winner, and it was a well-deserved goal for MacIver, arguably their top performer.

Finn Yeats was the provider, sending over a fine cross from the right, and the ex-Alloa attacker met it fantastically well to bullet a header beyond the helpless Gourlay.

Kelty couldn't find a second equaliser, try as they might, and substitute Jordan Allan smacked the crossbar in stoppage time for Falkirk, who saw the game out to take the points.

Falkirk: Hogarth, Lang, McCann, Henderson (Ross 70), Donaldson, Morrison (Agyeman 77), Spencer (McGinn 89), Nesbitt, Yeats, MacIver (Allan 89), Miller (Oliver 77).

Subs not used: Bisland, Lawal, Mackie, Long.

Goals: Nesbitt (41), MacIver (76).

Booked: Lang (5), MacIver (15), Henderson (26), McCann (61), Ross (72), Yeats (90).

Kelty Hearts: Gourlay, Corbett, Walker, Thomson, F. Owens, Lyon, Johnston (Daramola 74), Tidser (McCluskey 81), O'Donnell, Bavidge, Moore.

Subs not used: Cunningham, Biabi, L. Owens, B. Owens, Sylla, Cameron, Campbell.

Goal: Bavidge (66).

Booked: Johnston (38), Moore (73).

Referee: Ian Snedden.

Attendance: 3,921.