An ineffective box office ticketing system has left many thespians counting their losses and theatre lovers out in the cold.

There was no such debacle at Easter Road, however. Anyone interested in seeing the best show in town simply had to turn up on the day, pay at the gate and choose their own seat.

Very few would have been disappointed in what followed either because it was, yet again, an enthralling encounter. In fact, whenever Falkirk and Hibernian meet at this venue it is one that is simply too good to miss.

This had everything – end-to-end action, five goals and an opening act that took just 24 seconds to deliver.

Colin Nish latched onto a deflected John Rankin pass and coolly finished past Robert Olejnik before taking a standing ovation from the
Hibs supporters, many of whom had yet to sit down anyway.

After that, the home side looked like running riot – a threat personified by Alan O'Brien's forays forward – as they overawed the Bairns in midfield time and time again.

It was no surprise, therefore, when Nish doubled his side's tally in the 25th minute, stooping low to head a deep Paul Hanlon cross home from four yards.

But their sting was momentarily curtailed when Michael Higdon met a Gerard Aafjes chip and headed past the helpless Andrew McNeil.

"This is more exciting than watching the women's beach volleyball at the Olympics!" exclaimed one (male) radio commentator in the press gantry.

Not only did Higdon reduce the deficit, but the goal also had a marked effect on Falkirk's opponents.

Indeed, both sides could easily have gone into the interval level had McNeil not denied John Stewart, or if Kevin McBride connected with Russell Latapy's cross.

Yet, just three minutes after the re-start, Nish nodded a Dean Shiels free-kick back to Hanlon and the 18-year-old Hibs player – and life-long supporter – bagged his first senior goal.

Ultimately it proved to be the winner, although Higdon did pull one back again, just six minutes later, with a smart finish high into the roof of the net from 10 yards out.

To be fair Falkirk could have scored five. Hibs? Double that.
Especially if the dangerous Steven Fletcher had taken his chances.

And while it all added up to a engrossing and fascinating spectacle, Bairns boss John Hughes was the first to admit that his defence – from the front two to the back four – was not good enough to merit a point or three.

In fact, had the lively Mark Stewart struck the net instead of the right post with seconds remaining then it would have been nothing less than daylight robbery.

So, as Fringe venues throughout the capital wait for an independent investigation later this year into why they suffered major losses,
Hughes will not be hanging around so long.

With Celtic the opponents on Saturday, he knows that defending like this will only lead to disaster against the champions.

"It's now my job to regroup the boys, go through this game and be ready to travel to Parkhead and have a go," he said. "However, we need to make sure we are not defensively as poor as that."

HIBERNIAN 3
Nish 1, 25, Hanlon 48

FALKIRK 2
Higdon 30, 54
(HT 2-1)
Game rating: 9/10
Attendance: 11,817
(Falkirk 1080)