Six Goals and Points Shared at Fir Park

Last updated : 28 April 2007 By Firparkcorner

A pair of scorers
It was a strange afternoon. Falkirk commanded the opening fifteen minute spell and for long periods Motherwell were chasing shadows. Despite this, Scott McDonald took control and he was largely responsible for our lead at the break.

He latched on to a lob into the penalty area and from close to the touchline on the left of the box he squared the ball to provide an easy tap in for Darren Smith from a couple of yards. Smith almost repaid the compliment minutes later when he cut in from the right wing and fired an inviting shot come cross to the far corner, McDonald was inches away.


The second came in thirty six minutes when Quinn (who had replaced the injured Murphy after five minutes) charged into the box to set up McDonald. The striker avoided the keeper and chipped into the net from an acute angle.


The home fans sunned themselves at the break and at that stage it seemed that we were in control. All we had to do was to keep the back door shut. With McDonald looking lively there was every chance of extending the lead. It was not to be.


Two minutes into the second spell the collapse started. Scobbie collected the ball with the right side of our defence missing. He finished with a fine shot and Falkirk were back in the game. Another minute passed and Craigan elected to head a high, harmless looking ball back to the keeper.

It was directed to Smith's left corner and the crowd in the Cooper Stand could only look on helplessly as it became apparent that he keeper's effort to keep the ball out would not succeed. We had gifted the Bairns two goals and all the hard work of the first half was wiped away.



Worse was to come. The defence failed to clear a high ball from a Latapy dead ball and the weak header fell to Cregg who shot into the net.


Malpas replaced Keegan with Clarkson and with his first touch the substitute scored the equaliser. McDonald's work set up the ball on the right of the box and Clarkson's first time effort found the far corner.

Both strikers had chances to score the seventh goal of the afternoon but McDonald was wildly off target and a good Schmeichel save prevented Clarkson's double.


Reynolds had another fine game. Time and time again he used his pace and control to snuff out threats from the opposition. On the other hand we have to wonder what qualities Malpas ever saw in Keegan.