Falkirk 1-2 Alloa: Huge blow to Bairns' survival hopes

Falkirk hopes of Scottish Championship football next season are hanging in the balance as Alloa beat them 2-1 at the Falkirk Stadium to leave them in the relegation play-off spot.
Zak Rudden equalises for FalkirkZak Rudden equalises for Falkirk
Zak Rudden equalises for Falkirk

Dario Zanatta opened the scoring for the visitors on 38 minutes when he fired a low shot past Harry Burgoyne.

Rudden equalised within a minute of the restart before having a great chance 60 seconds later.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, it was Alloa who clinched victory as substitute Jordan Kirkpatrick fired in a 87th minute winner.

Zak Rudden header for FalkirkZak Rudden header for Falkirk
Zak Rudden header for Falkirk

It leaves the Bairns, in ninth, level on points with bottom club Alloa, who have a game in hand.

Zak Rudden came back into the starting line up for the Bairns with Aaron Jarvis dropping to the bench.

Alloa remained unchanged from their impressive win over the Championship leaders Ross County last weekend.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Bairns started brightly with Jordan McGhee powering in a header which narrowly went over the bar.

Falkirk boss Ray McKinnonFalkirk boss Ray McKinnon
Falkirk boss Ray McKinnon

There was plenty of effort and endeavour from both sides but clear cut chances were few and far between perhaps evidence as to why both sides are fighting against relegation.

Crosses and headers seemed to be the best chance of either side breaking the deadlock, a glancing header from Rudden forced a good save from the experienced Parry.

Bairns were huffing and puffing but struggling to create any clear cut chances of note.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Then came the sucker punch before half-time as the lively Zanatta broke the deadlock on 38 minutes.

Falkirk failed to deal with a corner fully, it broke to Zanatta at the far post and, with no one closing him down, he drilled a low shot into the corner of the net.

Boos could be heard round the ground at half-time but they soon turned to cheers as the Bairns exploded into life in the second half.

Within a minute of the restart they were level as Petravicius sent in a terrific cross for Rudden, who had the simplest of finishes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Rudden almost repeated the trick moments later when he got on the end of substitute Jarvis' ball, but this time Parry produced a fine save to deny the youngster.

Falkirk came close again when Petravicius forced his way into the box before stinging the palms of Parry who denied the Lithuanian.

The Bairns looked to be running out of ideas with a bombardment of balls into the box, one which Rudden tried to guide on target but sent over.

Disaster struck for the hosts when substitute Jordan Kirkpatrick pounced late on, squeezing his way past the central defence before composing himself to fire the ball low into the corner.

Jarvis almost rescued a point but his volley was well saved by Parry before referee Alan Newlands brought the game to an end to signal vociferous boos around the Falkirk Stadium.

Related topics: