FALKIRK 1
PARS 2

DUNFERMLINE endured their second derby defeat of the season after crashing 2-1 away to Falkirk.

Allan Johnston’s men travelled to face the Bairns for the first time since 2014, with the Pars boss making two changes to the side that bested Queen’s Park in the Irn-Bru Cup last Saturday, with Kallum Higginbotham and Farid El Alagui coming in for Joe Cardle and Gavin Reilly.

The Pars were backed by 1437 fans and they were well up for the occasion and got behind their side in the opening exchanges, with neither team able to gain a real foothold.

Andy Geggan had his effort at the back post well blocked by Danny Rogers after a stramash in the Falkirk penalty area as the Pars looked for the opener.

Higginbotham’s drilled cross along the goal was eventually dealt with by the home defence as the Pars enjoyed a spell of possession. They couldn’t find a clean route to goal and soon fell behind.

John Baird was given time and space to find a ball over the top for Craig Sibbald who managed to lift his effort over the onrushing Sean Murdoch to give Falkirk the lead on 27 minutes.

Baird’s movement behind the Athletic defence was causing problems and his clever pass into the feet of Mark Kerr deserved a better finish than the midfielder’s dragged effort wide on 39 minutes.

Sibbald then threated to grab his second of the game after the Pars failed to clear their lines. The ball fell on the edge of the area to the tricky midfielder and his low drive narrowly missed Murdoch’s left-hand post as Falkirk held the advantage going into the break.

Miles Hippolyte would soon double that advantage seven minutes after half-time after he waltzed past a committed tackle from Geggan and saw his powerful strike from 20 yards find the back of the net.

The introduction of David Hopkirk for Rhys McCabe gave the Pars a lift, with the sub giving Athletic some pace down the left flank on 58 minutes. As a result, Higginbotham moved beside Geggan to try and create from the centre of the park.

Jason Talbot was then easily beaten by Baird in the box, with the striker firing a curling drive past Murdoch but over the bar as the home side looked for a third on 70 minutes.

Murdoch then saved well from Bob McHugh as he fired at the keeper from an unmarked position in the middle of the Pars box.

A third Falkirk goal at that stage would have killed the game as a contest, but the Pars were boosted by the save and clawed one back shortly afterwards.

El Alagui made his mark against his old side when he rounded Rogers after Hopkirk’s shot was deflected into the striker's path on 76 minutes.

It would prove to be worthless as the Pars failed to test Rogers in the Falkirk goal in their pursuit of a leveller.

The Pars will now welcome Hibs to East End Park next week hoping to bounce back from today's disappointment.
 

PARS: Murdoch, Williamson, Ashcroft, Martin, Talbot, Higginbotham, Geggan, McCabe (Hopkirk 58), Paton (Reilly 73), Clark, El Alagui

Subs not used: Hutton, Moffat, Richards-Everton, McMullan, Spark
Booked: Martin, Higginbotham, Clark, Geggan
Goal: El Alagui 76

Falkirk: Rogers, Kidd (Watson 79), McCraken, Gasparotto, Leahy, Sibbald, Kerr, Taiwo (Rankin), Hippolyte (Shepherd), Baird, McHugh

Subs not used: Mehmet, Miller, Gallacher, Blues
Booked: Kidd, McHugh
Goals: Sibbald 27, Hippolyte 52

Referee: Andrew Dallas
Attendance: 6377