No 20: Celebrating 150 years of Falkirk Football Club in 150 games
Here is match No 20 in our ‘150 years in 150 games’ feature, written by Michael White.
FALKIRK 3 RANGERS 2
Friday, March 18, 2016 at The Falkirk Stadium.
Rangers had taken a 2-0 lead after only nine minutes and a heavy defeat for Falkirk looked to be on the cards.
Kenny Miller and Barrie McKay had struck early to settle any nerves and referee Kevin Clancy had also ruled out an effort from James Tavernier, which looked a bit harsh.
Jason Holt, Billy King, Lee Wallace, and Kenny Miller again had further chances to end the game as a contest, but it was not all one-way traffic.
Craig Sibbald and Will Vaulks had tested Wes Foderingham with long range efforts and Falkirk did well to keep in the game.
It was a different story after the break with the introduction of substitute Myles Hippolyte.
Rangers started to look vulnerable and there were good efforts from Hippolyte, Vaulks, and Leah Leahy.
The traffic towards Foderingham’s goal was increasing and there was much more of a threat from the home attack.
The Rangers keeper brought off a string of impressive saves to keep the eager home attackers at bay but was powerless to stop a stunning goal in 72 minutes from Blair Alston whose curling shot with the outside of his right boot found the top corner of the net.
It was one of the best goals seen at the ground and certainly inspired the remarkable comeback.
Within five minutes, Falkirk drew level through the impressive Hippolyte, who had gone past Foderingham and slotted home from an acute angle, despite Danny Wilson’s effort to clear off the line.
The away end fell silent as wave after wave of navy-blue shirts flooded forward.
Kevin O’Hara had replaced Sibbald and it was his cross that was turned home by substitute Bob McHugh in stoppage time to earn all three points and complete the most remarkable of comebacks.
It was Rangers’ first defeat in sixteen matches and their manager Mark Warburton read the riot act to his side after the game, describing the slump as “inexplicable”.
Rangers could easily have been four or five ahead at the break but looked shell-shocked by Falkirk’s recovery.
THE STARTING TEAMS
FALKIRK: Rogers, Muirhead, McCracken, Watson, Leahy, Vaulks, Taiwo, Alston, Sibbald (O’Hara), Baird (McHugh), Miller (Hippolyte). Subs (Unused): Smith, McCann, Gallacher, Mehmet.
RANGERS: Foderingham, Tavernier, Kiernan, Wallace, Ball, Miller (Clark), Halliday, King (O’Halloran) McKay (Forrester), Holt, Wilson. Subs (Unused) Bell, Law, Shiels.
SEASON AT A GLANCE
Falkirk’s final league position – 2nd. Falkirk’s top league scorer – John Baird on 17. Scottish Premier League – Celtic. Scottish Championship – Rangers. Scottish League One – Dunfermline Athletic. Scottish League Two – East Fife. Scottish Cup – Hibernian. Scottish League Cup – Ross County. Scottish League Challenge Cup – Rangers.
MARCH 2016 TRIVIA
UK No 1 – I Took a Pill in Ibiza by Mike Posner. USA No 1 – Work by Rihanna featuring Drake. Top TV show – Happy Valley. Tennis star Maria Sharapova fails drug test. Premiere of Batman v Superman.