Falkirk 1 Raith Rovers 1: Better late than never

Wednesday 6 March 2013

Eventually, Falkirk proved their point.

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Stewart Murdoch's injury-time header salvaged a draw for the hosts at the end of a slow-burning 90 minutes.

Brian Graham had opened the scoring for Raith Rovers by forcing past Michael McGovern from close range on the half hour in one episode of very infrequent goalmouth action, but Murdoch's effort maintained his side's run of four matches unbeaten in the league. "Our second half display was much improved and a point was deserved," Steven Pressley, the Falkirk manager, said.

Even if you labelled the host venue the 'Bairnabeu' and squinted hard at the red away kits of Raith Rovers, the first half was far removed from the tempting televised fayre. The supporters of both sides seemed to decide this, too, with only 2428 turning up, including 169 from Fife.For the first half, those who stayed away seemed to be vindicated. Falkirk's feelgood factor wasn't so much quashed by Raith's opener, as hardly existed in the first place. When Graham forced the ball over the line for his 23rd goal of the season in the 30th minute it was met with an ambivalent silence. No complaints of the manager, no criticism of defender Stephen Kingsley for being brushed aside by Jason Thomson and allowing him to meet Grant Anderson's pass down the right and drive the ball across goal. Hampden was local buzzword for the past 48 hours, after all.Joe Hamill had the only other first half opportunity of note, when a Thomson cross found him at the far side of the area, but his half-volley flew wide. In contrast, Falkirk failed to trouble the Raith goal in a first half poor in quality, and their chances of doing so decreased at the interval when Lyle Taylor, their prolific striker, stayed indoors. Struggling with a stomach complaint and an ankle injury, he had cut a forlorn figure, against the remaining first division team he has yet to score against. The situation didn't improve much for his replacement, Lewis Small, but fellow substitutes Jay Fulton and Thomas Grant changed their fortunes in attack.Fulton went close on 73 minutes with a prod at goal that David McGurn beat away, and his follow-up diving header was retrieved on the line by Laurie Ellis. Falkirk slowly increased their tempo in search for an equaliser. Eddie Malone sent a diving header at his own goal, punched out by his goalkeeper and the pressure finally told with a series of corner kicks rounded off by Murdoch's late header in the second minute of added time sending Grant's set-play into the net.There's a big difference between winning and drawing," said Grant Murray, the Raith manager. "When they score after we've led for so long, it knocks the stuffing out of you, there's no time to get a goal back again."

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Falkirk 1 Raith Rovers 1: Better late than never

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