Falkirk youngster's hit back for draw

Falkirk fought back bravely from a two-goal deficit to rescue a point in Sunday’s all action encounter at Stirling University.

The match kicked off in a heavy drizzle and Rovers, out to impress their watching manager John McGlynn, attacked from the kick-off. They were rewarded with barely a minute on the clock when they stormed ahead courtesy of a well-taken goal.

Jamie Stewart made ground down the left and when he swept the ball across goal, the Falkirk defenders were caught cold, allowing LEWIS VAUGHAN to turn an effort past a surprised Jordan Roberts from a couple of yards.

Falkirk looked strangely lethargic and the Fife side continued to dominate and it was no surprise when Craig Ireland’s side doubled their lead in 22 minutes. Winger JAMIE STEWART was involved again - this time he cut inside from the left to drill a powerful low shot wide of the diving Roberts from the edge of the box.

The Bairns were rattled and they were finding it difficult to mount any sort of pressure on Raith ‘keeper Ross Laidlaw. As the half wore on, Falkirk coach Craig McPherson, shuffled his front line by moving danger man Scott Davidson to the right and the move immediately paid dividends. Five minutes before the break, full-back Grant Santi swung in a cross to the back-post where the lurking DAVIDSON smashed home a stunning volley from the corner of the six-yard box.

The home side looked much more convincing as the second-half commenced and Raith were having problems dealing with the continued threat of Davidson on the right. The little striker proved too hot to handle and he deservedly equalised on the hour mark. A flowing move down the right saw DAVIDSON evade two challenges as he cut into the box, firing his shot in low at Laidlaw’s left-hand upright, the ‘keeper somehow allowing the ball to squirm free and over the line.

It looked as if Falkirk might have gone on to win the match but Raith introduced the lively Matthew Kerr and his pace eased the pressure on an overworked Kirkcaldy defence. Santi of Falkirk was yellow carded for a push on Kerr then Main and Stewart of Rovers suffered the same fate in quick succession for crude fouls on the lively Davidson.

As the game drew to a close, a magnificent point blank Roberts save prevented Raith’s Colin Wilson from scoring with a header. Similarly at the other end, Dale Fulton glanced a headed effort agonisingly wide with Laidlaw beaten.

TEAMS :

FALKIRK: Jordan Roberts; Grant Santi, Steven Kingsley, Dale Fulton, Murray Wallace, Kris Faulds, Joseph McCafferty (Craig Sibbald 68), Lewis Bonar, Conor Kelly, Blair Alston (Liam Dick 78), Scott Davidson. Subs. not used : Graham Bowman (GK), Jay Fulton.

RAITH ROVERS : Ross Laidlaw; Reece Donaldson, Scott Main, Ross Callachan, Colin Wilson, David Lowe, Lewis Vaughn, Jordan McKechnie Jordan Malley (Matthew Kerr 66), Mark Aitken, Jamie Stewart. Subs not used : Daniel Simpson, Ryan Kerr.