Falkirk probably had the better of a very lively opening. McBreen missed a good chance although credit has to go to Meldrum for the save. The visiting attacker had a near identical chance moments later but could only find the stand. We came close when McDonald played the ball across goal – Hamilton couldn’t quite get it and the danger was cleared.
McCormack laces Skippy's boots!
The match calmed down although Falkirk still looked the more likely to score and we had to rely on some frantic penalty box defending to keep them out. However, it was Motherwell who took the lead against the run of play. Foran broke down the left and his cross was turned towards goal by Hamilton. Allan Ferguson should have done better than spill the ball into the path of McDonald who made no mistake after nipping past the prone ‘keeper.
A first half attack
Craigan almost doubled our lead with a blast which was well blocked and Falkirk continued to fight, coming close to an equaliser when Meldrum went walkabout at a cross but we bundled the ball away. Colin Meldrum had a strange sort of game – he was largely solid but some very questionable handling at crosses gave us cause for concern.
We made a dream start to the second half when McDonald scored a peach of a goal. He looked to be heading nowhere when running toward the box but a great turn brought him back onto his right foot and he curled a shot past Ferguson from 18 yards. Meldrum was wobbly again but moments later the points were all but secured when Foran met a lay off on the left of the box and scored with a finish similar to Skippy’s moments earlier.
Falkirk deserve credit not only for their nice play but for keeping their heads up when the game appeared to be lost. Hammell was at the centre of a penalty shout but only seconds later Falkirk got a richly deserved goal back. Cregg broke into the box and slammed the ball in off the post from an acute angle. There some debate over whether the goal would stand with the linesman spotting something but referee Dougal awarded the goal.
Craig drilled wide for Falkirk but as the minutes ticked away it became apparent we would hold on. McDonald wasn’t quite tall enough to reach a cross and Hamilton flashed a good effort wide from the edge of the box.