It was a tale of two halves as Falkirk came back from a dominant opening 45 from Motherwell to rescue a massive three points on The Bairns first match against the Steelmen in over 15 years.
A second half goal from Calvin Miller cancelled out Tawanda Maswanhise’s opener, before super sub Scott Arfield sealed the win with a trademark finish.The hosts took control of the first half from the very start, with the majority of the play happening in the Falkirk side of the pitch.
Ethan Williams was searching to give Falkirk an early lead by breaking through the home team but was dispossessed on entering the area.
The hosts had the ball in the back of the net twice in the first half, with the first coming as Ibrahim Said finished off a brilliant move from the Fir Park side in 17 minutes. Motherwell’s passing play cut through the Falkirk defence like butter before Said’s strike beyond Scott Bain, but it was called off after a VAR check concluded that there was a foul in the buildup leading to the goal.
Unluckily for Falkirk they weren’t able to take advantage of the VAR decision, and Motherwell would earn the opening goal five minutes late through a strike from Maswanhise. The Zimbabwe international curled his attempt into the top left corner, leaving Scott Bain with little chance of saving it.
The home side were completely dominant across the first 45 and seemed able to evade The Bairns’ press and slice into the Falkirk defence at will, causing panic when they did. Despite this, they didn’t work too many shooting opportunities, and Falkirk struggled to get back into it before half time, with a chance from Kyrell Wilson firing over the bar.
Falkirk came out for the second half having made a defensive change, replacing Sam Hart with Filip Lissah. The on loan Swansea defender made an instant impact in an unfamiliar position, with several marauding runs down the left flank turning the momentum of the game in Falkirk’s favour.
Calvin Miller came through to deliver an equaliser for the Bairns on 57 minutes. A sumptuous cross-field ball from Dylan Tait switched the play to Ethan Williams, and the on loan Manchester United man delivered a cross straight to Ross MacIver, who finally found Miller with a clever flick. Falkirk’s number 29 made no mistake with the finish, as he slotted the ball through the legs of the goalkeeper. After a VAR check regarding offside, the goal stood.
Falkirk were quick to use their momentum and Ross MacIver looked at a second goal, but his attempt was blocked by Calum Ward and put out for a corner.
With ten minutes to go, the substitutes were Falkirk’s matchwinners. A cross from Alfredo Agyeman was headed in Brian Graham’s direction before being cleared and falling to Scott Arfield. His right foot sent the ball flying past Calum Ward, giving Falkirk something to hold onto for another three points on the road.
Despite Motherwell throwing everything they had at Falkirk in the additional seven minutes of play, they couldn’t find the goal they were looking for and Falkirk left Fir Park with three more points to put them into eighth in the Scottish Premiership.
Falkirk return to home action next Saturday (October 25) as they face Dundee.
FALKIRK: Scott Bain, Keelan Adams, Liam Henderson, Brad Spencer (C.), Ross MacIver, Lewis Neilson, Dylan Tait, Kyrell Wilson (sub Henry Cartwright), Ethan Williams (sub Alfredo Agyeman), Calvin Miller, Sam Hart (sub Filip Lissah).
BENCH: Nicky Hogarth, Brian Graham, Gary Oliver, Connor Allan, Scott Arfield, Trey Samuel-Ogunsuyi.
MANAGER: John McGlynn.
MOTHERWELL: Calum Ward, Lucas Fadinger, Paul McGinn (C.), Tawanda Maswanhise, Elliot Watt, Elijah Just, Johnny Koutroumbis, Emmanuel Longelo, Stephen Welsh, Callum Hendry, Ibrahim Said.
BENCH: Aston Oxborough, Stephen O’Donnell, Liam Gordon, Tom Sparrow, Apostolos Stamatelopoulos, Andy Halliday, Esapa Osong, Oscar Priestman, Regan Charles-Cook.
MANAGER: Jens Berthel Askou.
REFEREE: Steven McLean.
ATTENDANCE: 7473
