Match Report
Saturday, 17th February, 2024
by Andy McGilvray
Bairns take massive step towards League One title
John Rankin's side's dim League One title hopes were extinguished in defeat at the Falkirk Stadium
Falkirk have one hand on the League One trophy after a slender win over second-placed Hamilton at the Falkirk Stadium.
Goals from Calumn Morrison, Ross Maciver and Calvin Miller seemingly had the game wrapped up inside 27 minutes, moving Falkirk 11 points clear of Hamilton, with a game in hand at home to Montrose on Tuesday likely to put them out of sight, as they prepare for life in the Championship.
But Hamilton pulled a goal back through Ahkeem Rose in 32 minutes to giv them hope, and the on-loan Ayr United striker bagged his second in 57 minuts.
However, Accies will need to hope they can negotiate their way through the play-offs.
Morrison put Falkirk on their way in 15 minutes, Maciver doubled that eight minutes later and Miller bagged a deserved goal in 27 minutes to ultimately wrap up the points.
Rose's goals looked like mere consolation for an Accies side that only really got going in the second half.
Falkirk boss John McGlynn kept faith with the side that lost to TNS in the SPFL Trust Trophy semi-final on February 3.
Hamilton Accies boss John Rankin made three changes to the side that lost at home to second-bottom Annan Athletic last weekend. Lee Kilday, Marley Redfern and Ahkeem Rose came in for Reghan Tumilty, Lewis Smith and Jake Hastie, all of whom were on the bench.
Kevin O'Hara was sent through on the right in two minutes, but saw his shot well blocked by Nicky Hogarth.
Falkirk came close to opening the scoring in eight minutes when a poor clearance landed at the feet of Calvin Miller about 25 yards out, and his chip was superbly pushed onto the right post by Jamie Smith.
The hosts went close again in 13 minutes when Brad Spencer played a short corner to Miller on the left and his cross was headed just over by Ross Maciver.
Calumn Morrison was denied by a superb block from Jamie Smith just moments later.
But Falkirk took the lead in 15 minutes when Morrison arrived onto a loose ball in the right corner of the box and smashed a shot high into the net on the left.
It was one-way traffic by this point and Falkirk doubled their lead in 23 minutes as Smith fumbled a simple-looking shot from Aidan Nesbitt and Maciver stole in to prod the ball under the keeper and into the net.
Falkirk then put the game beyond doubt in 27 minutes when Finn Yeats' cross from the right spun off a defender and Miller looped a header into the left corner past stranded Smith.
Accies pulled a goal back in 32 minutes when Kyle MacDonald sent Rose through on goal and he rounded Hogarth before chipping into the empty net.
Falkirk nearly restored their three-goal lead in 38 minutes when Morrison was sent through on the right, but sent a low angled shot zipping inches past the left post.
Hamilton reduced the deficit to just one in 57 minutes when Rose powered in a back post header from a Jamie Barjonas corner.
Falkirk should have wrapped it up in 87 minutes when Morrison laid the ball on to Spencer, but he fired wide of the left post with the goal gaping.
FALKIRK: Hogarth, Yeats, Donaldson, Lang, McCann, Spencer, Henderson (Tait, 62), Morrison (Agyeman, 90+1), Nesbitt (Ross, 83), Miller (Oliver, 88), Maciver.
Subs (not used): Long (GK), McGinn, Shanley, Bisland, Mackie.
HAMILTON: J. Smith, Owens, Kilday, McGowan (Henderson, 89), Longridge, MacDonald, Redfern (Hastie, 77), Barjonas (L. Smith, 68), Davidson, Rose (Winter, 77), O'Hara.
Subs (not used): Lyness (GK), Murray, Tumilty, Kirk, Hendrie.
Booked: Davidson (19), McGowan (49)