In a disappointing night, a 1-0 defeat to Peterhead in the final game before the split saw the Bairns slip to second in the table.
Falkirk started the brighter of the two teams with the first chances of the match falling to the visitors. Morgaro Gomis saw the first half-chance with a volley from outside the box which flew over the bar. Two minutes later Alston made a good run and played the ball low into the box. The keeper fumbled the ball but it was eventually cleared.
Peterhead were quick to reply with a chance falling to Ritchie after the home team capitalised on a short free-kick but the effort went high. Scott Mercer had an attempt at goal just before the 15 minute mark but his effort hit the side netting after some nice play between him and Keena saw him burst into the box.
Peterhead came close to opening the scoring in the 26th minute after the Falkirk defence struggled to clear a corner. The ball fell to Jordon Brown who’s shot was well saved by Mutch.
The Bairns struggled to keep the ball for any period of time and began to give away a lot of fouls, one resulting in a dangerous free-kick from 20 years that sailed just over the bar.
Falkirk’s long and frustrating list of injuries grew by one five minuted into the second half after Euan Deveney suffered a bad fall and had to be stretchered off the field with Sean Kelly coming back from injury to replace him.
With Peterhead controlling the game, Mutch had to pull off another save to keep the Bairns from going behind when Scott Brown received the ball during a counter attack, firing his shot straight at Mutch.
Things got worse for Falkirk with 15 minutes left to play when Morgaro Gomis was shown a second yellow for simulation. Things went from bad to worse as Peterhead opened the scoring with ten minutes to go. Jason Brown managed to get on the end of a free kick sending the ball into the bottom corner.
The result leaves Falkirk second in League One just two points behind new leaders Partick Thistle going into the split.
FULL TIME: Peterhead 1-0 Falkirk
FALKIRK: Mutch, Mercer, Durnan, Alston, Keena, Gomis, Sammon, Deveney, Fotheringham, Morrison, McClelland.
Subs: Cantley, G.Miller, Neilson, Francis, Leitch, Laverty, Kelly, L.Miller.
