Rangers, who were playing in an unfamiliar 3-1-4-2 formation struggled with the physical, but fair, Bairns as they slipped to a 2-1 defeat at windy Forthbank that saw Alan Maybury’s Falkirk rise to second in the Development League.
Both sides started the game brightly and looked to gain an early advantage however a series of niggly fouls caused several breaks in play. Despite the frantic start to the game neither side would have a serious chance on goal in the opening exchanges. A little against the run of play Falkirk took the lead 19 minutes in when Cameron Blues was allowed to carry the ball unchallenged deep into Rangers’ half of the pitch before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the bottom corner of Robby McCrorie’s net.
The opener seemed to waken Rangers’ players a little and they started putting their opponents under more pressure with Billy Gilmour, Zak Rudden and Liam Burt in particular causing problems for the Bairns’ defence. Falkirk ‘keeper Robbie Thomson also had a big part to play in his side keeping their advantage as he pulled of a number of solid saves to deny the Rangers attack. Rangers, however, continued to turn the screw but the Falkirk backline were more than capable of dealing with any threat as they held out until the break to go in with a one-goal lead.
The second half started much like the first with both sides eager to get off on the right foot with an early goal. Graeme Murty’s side slowly began to take control of the game again and it was only the linesman’s flag which denied them on a couple of occasions. As the clock continued to tick away, Liam Burt began to pose more and more of a threat, playing almost as a second striker in support of Zak Rudden, and constantly looking to get in behind the Falkirk back four.
Thomson kept making top drawer saves to deny Rangers with Josh Jeffries and Max Ashmore both denied what would have been fantastic goals with fingertip saves. Lewis Kidd then doubled the Bairns’ lead with an unstoppable free-kick which rocketed into the top corner of the net in the 77th minute before, with minutes left on the clock, Andy Dallas grabbed a late consolation for the young Gers when he managed to squeeze the ball under Thomson.
Rangers: Robby McCrorie, Ross McCrorie, Beeman, Ashmore, Bradley, Wilson, Houston, Jeffries, Rudden, Gilmour, Burt
Subs: Wright, Atakayi, Dallas, Barjonas, Lyon, Gibson, Abaradan
Goals: Dallas 89’
Falkirk: Thomson, Finlayson, Leahy, Eadie, Johnson, Henderson, Kidd, Blues, O'Hara, Shepherd, Peggie
Subs: McMinn, Mitchell, Stowe, Langton
Goals: Blues 19’, Kidd 77’
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