Falkirk 1-1 Forfar: 10-man Bairns held to draw after keeper Robbie Mutch is dismissed

The Bairns dominated the first half but only had Dowds' strike to show for their superiority before the game was turned on its head midway through the second half when home keeper Robbie Mutch was dismissed for lashing out in frustration at Allan who then converted the resultant spot kick.

Other than the players and management team's shouts, Falkirk's first home league game of the coronavirus era was played in an eeerily quiet stadium with supporters remaining banned from attending.

The hosts almost took the lead on four minutes when Blair Alston's outswinging corner from the right found the head of Paul Dixon who nodded wide.

But the Bairns did hit the front after 16 minutes when Dowds fired right footed into the net after great build-up play between Calumn Morrison and Akeel Francis.

A 28th minute Morrison corner was nodded goalwards by Mark Durnan but away keeper Marc McCallum saved comfortably, before Forfar's Florent Hoti was booked for a foul on Alston.

The visitors' first decent effort arrived when Hoti's brilliant left footed shot from outside the box had keeper Mutch beaten but hit the far post.

Morgaro Gomis then played Dowds through for the Bairns but he shot off target with his right foot.

Dixon and Morrison then played through Alston who shot straight at McCallum.

Alston then shot well over from a Francis pass in the final action of the first half.

The dangerous Hoti forced his way through the Falkirk rearguard on 51 minutes but his parting shot was blocked, before Scott Shepherd's right footed effort from outside the box was saved unconvincingly by Mutch.

There was then drama at the other end when a fine strike from Falkirk's Alston came back off the inside of the left hand post. Alston then had a shot blocked on the line by a Forfar defender after the initial free-kick from the right flank had been headed across goal.

Francis was booked for a foul in midfield before the extraordinary incident when home keeper Mutch was red carding after apparently angrily reacting to something Allan said by lashing out as the Forfar sub walked away.

Allan duly stepped up to score from the spot and make it 1-1 after 66 minutes.

The man whose first involvement in the match was to face Allan's penalty was Falkirk substitute keeper PJ Morrison - on loan from Motherwell for this season - who came on for Francis.

Forfar made the most of their extra man advantage in the remainder of the match which was much more even than the opening exchages.

A brilliant late swift break by Forfar saw Allan's brilliant crossfield ball pick out Bobby Barr in the centre but his effort was blocked by Morrison in what was the final meaningful action.

Falkirk, who have four points from their opening two League One games this seaon, host East Fife in their next league game next Saturday.

Falkirk: Mutch, Mercer, Dixon, Hall, Durnan, Miller, Alston (Sammon 88), Dowds (Deveney 88), Gomis (Leitch 67), Francis (Morrison 65), Morrison.

Forfar: McCallum, MacKintosh, MacKenzie, Irvine, Fisher, Meechan, Hoti, Thomas (Allan 26), Shepherd (Doris 83), Barr, Robertson (Breadner 61).

Referee: Steven Kirkland