Saints 2-2 Falkirk

Last updated : 14 February 2009 By Stuart Gillespie
Falkirk were poor for much of the game and Saints put in a decent performance, so it's quite disappointing not to take all three points. In the end, we were clinging on for a point and the run of games in which we are throwing away leads is a bit concerning.

Injuries and a new signing saw Saints boss Gus MacPherson ring the changes, with Chris Smith handed a surprise start in goals. Mo Camara made his debut and Dennis Wyness and Steven Thomson also started, with Mark Howard, Garry Brady, Stephen McGinn and Jim Hamilton - suffering a virus - all missing out. Craig Dargo and Tom Brighton were also missing, meaning young Sean Burns was the only sub on the bench.

It was Falkirk who started brightly, Carl Finnigan seeing a shot deflected over, before Saints lost Robb to injury. The winger had gone on a forward run before collapsing with a hamstring injury and had to be stretchered off after just ten minutes to be replaced by Brady. He wasn't the only one with problems, with Jack Ross and Camera needing treatment for cuts and the latter having to change shirts. In between times, Michael Higdon headed a corner over the bar.

After a couple of let offs, Saints took the lead after 20 minutes. Thomson picked out Dorman and the midfielder did what he does best by charging forward before hammering the ball through keeper Dani Mello's legs. That sparked a spell of dominance for Saints, with a number of shots being blocked at a corner before Brady curled a shot over and Camara had a free-kick palmed away by Mellow following a shocking challenge on Wyness by Pressley.

Unfortunately, the lead didn't last and ten minutes before the break Falkirk drew level, Higdon flicking the ball down for Finnigan to shoot past Smith. There was still time for Hugh Murray to head over at the other end before Finnigan was booked for a late tackle on John Potter.

The start to the second half was pretty dull, with Falkirk's tactic of kicking anything that moved seeing Scott Arfield enter the book for barging Murray. Things began to liven up when Brady had a shot deflected wide before Billy Mehmet beat his man and cut the ball into the middle, only for the visiting defence to scramble it to safety.

Saints had a lucky escape when sub Mark Stewart headed straight at Smith when he was given space inside the box, before Mehmet was unfortunate to see his fine shot go just wide. With 20 minutes remaining Burns was handed his debut and played a big part in what happened with 12 minutes left. Brady's pass was deflected into the danger area, the youngster held it up before feeding to Dorman to hammer into the roof of the net.

That should have been that - only for a penalty to be awarded against Saints with seven minutes left when Ross was adjudged to have handelled Kevin Moffat's header. It was maybe going wide, it maybe hit his shoulder, but a penalty was definitely given and Arfield hammered it home.

The Bairns suddenly sensed a winner and Moffat, Higdon and Arfield all had efforts that they failed to cause too many problems with. Instead, they settled for picking up another booking when O'Brien booted former team mate Murray.

Definitely a case of two points dropped this one. Hopefully we can get that first St. Mirren Park win on Thursday against Motherwell. With Robb injured and Camara ineligible the left hand side should be interesting!