| Date | Saturday, 27 November 2004 |
|---|---|
| Competition | Scottish League Division 1 |
| Fixture/Score | Falkirk 2:2 Ross County |
| Venue | Falkirk Stadium |
| Attendance | 3,330 |
| Referee | John Underhill |
| Comments | Match Report Published: Press & Journal 29/11/2004 Falkirk 2 Ross County 2 County salvage pride and a point after final Seconds before the final whistle -and with Clyde and St. Mirren in trouble - Falkirk looked likrly to storm eight points clear at the top of the First Division. But an injury-time goal by Stuart Malcolm restored parity and gave County a deserved point. With results elsewhere going the Bairns' way, however, the final score meant Falkirk still moved farther ahead and are now a clear six points in pole position. The home side can have no complaints, however, as Alex Smith's team dominated the first half and opened the scoring in the 21st minute. Sean Higgins sliced a volley from Alex Burke's cross into the path of Steve McGarry on the edge of the six-yard box and the midfielder slotted home his first goal of the season. Burke should have added to the visitors' score but shot wide with only Allan Ferguson to beat in the 34th minute and County passed up a number of chances before Falkirk got their act together after the break to level in the 56th minute. Daniel McBreen shot home a Pedro Moutinho cutback for his sixth goal since making his debut four games previously, and when substitute Andy Thomson swept a second into the net in 74 minutes County looked destined to be beaten by Falkirk for the third time this term. Shades of the Bell's Cup final were recalled as Alex Smith's team dominated most of the game only to go down by the odd goal in three. And when John Rankin smashed a terrific drive against the upright with eight minutes remaining, it looking all over for the visitors. Visiting substitute Gary McSwegan and Burke combined to set up Malcolm six yards out in the 90th minute, however, and the defender scooped the ball home. Malcolm said: "I didn't really catch the ball the way I wanted to. I meant to stick it into the corner but didn't catch it correctly, but they all count." Alex Smith said: "I don't think anyone would argue we deserved at least a point. Nevertheless, when John Rankin hit the post late on I thought here we go again. The lads showed a lot of character and kept on to the end though, and I suppose that coming here before the game we would have taken a point. "Falkirk are a very good team with one of the most promising young managers in the game, but I thought we matched them on an excellent surface. "That surface is ideal for two teams who want to play football the way it should be played. "I'm disappointed we could not get the goals our play merited in the firch half, but can't be too unhappy with the result in the end." Falkirk assistant manager Brian Rice said: "I felt a draw in the end was probably a fair result, but when you are a goal up with seconds to play it's disappointing not to win, especially at home." |
| Ross County | |
| Manager | Alexander (Alex) Smith |
| Starting 11 | 1: Colin Stewart, 2: James Lauchlan, 3: Martin Canning, 4: Stuart Malcolm 1, 5: Mark McCulloch, 6: Sean Kilgannon, 7: Don (JNR) Cowie, 8: John Rankin, 9: Alexander Burke 1, 10: Sean Higgins, 11: Steven McGarry 1 |
| Bench | 0: Stuart Garden, 0: Steven MacKay, 0: Gary McSwegan, 0: David Winters |
| Falkirk | |
| Manager | John Hughes |
| Starting 11 | Allan Ferguson, Mark Campbell, Andy Lawrie, John Hughes, Scott McKenzie, Davie Nicholls, Russell Latapy, John O'Neil, Pedro Moutinho, Darryl Duffy, Daniel McBreen 1 |
| Bench | Darren Hill, James Sharp, Neil Scally, Colin Marshall, Andy Thomson 1 |