THE Pars were knocked out of the Petrofac Training Cup after losing to 10-man Falkirk at East End Park tonight (Tuesday).

An Andy Geggan header was not enough to cancel out Tom Taiwo's double, despite Botti Bia-Bi being sent off late on for a headbutt on Ross Millen.

Jim Jefferies made two changes to the team that lost to Forfar on Saturday. Gozie Ugwu and Shaun Byrne dropped out to make way for Faissal El Bakhtoui and Ross Forbes.

A couple of robust challenges on Josh Falkingham and Lewis Spence typified the rivalrly between these two clubs and they traded blows in an even first half.

Former Par Rory Loy tested Ryan Scully on 13 minutes after pouncing on a poor touch by Andy Geggan on the halfway line and drove into the area.

But the Pars had an even better chance minutes later. A magnificent Forbes free-kick was met just two yards out by Jonathan Page, but Jamie MacDonald reacted to save superbly on the line.

Alex Cooper then saw a long-ranger saved by Scully as both teams continued to trade chances. El Bakhtaoui was set up well by Forbes but shot wide, before the home side should have gone in front on the 38th minute.

El Bakhtaoui was sent racing clear on the right and his excellent centre found Michael Moffat, but he could only head wide from six yards with the goal at his mercy.

It had been an even contest but eight minutes after the interval, Falkirk took the lead. Bia-Bi outmuscled Page and pulled the back to the waiting Taiwo at the edge of the area to side-foot into the bottom corner.

That goal shocked the Pars and five minutes later they were two behind thanks to the same combination. Bia-Bi, on the edge of the area, flicked the ball into Taiwo who, from inside the area on the left, clipped a delightful shot with the outside of his foot beyond the stranded Scully into the far corner.

It appeared all over for the Pars but they grabbed a lifeline on 68 minutes. Millen's free-kick from the right found Geggan waiting eight yards out and he powered a header beyond MacDonald.

It was game on and with 14 minutes left, Bia-Bi lost his head and left Falkirk a man short. After a tangle with Millen where the Pars defender won a free-kick, a spat between the pair resulted in the substitute headbutting Millen in front of the watching referee who had no hesitation in producing a red card.

Falkirk were hanging on and Moffat was unfortunate not to connect with a wicked Falkingham delivery to the far post as Dunfermline pushed for an equaliser.

Try as they might, they were unable to breach the Bairns rearguard further and were sent spinning out of the tournament.

Pars: Scully, Millen, Drummond, Martin, Page (Williamson 65), Geggan, El Bakhtaoui, Spence, Moffat, Falkingham, Forbes (Ugwu 65).

Subs not used: Goodfellow, Thomson, Graham, Byrne, Smith.

Goal: Geggan (68).

Falkirk: MacDonald, Maybury, Dick, Vaulks, McCracken, Alston (Sibbald 51), Taiwo, Durojaiye, McGrandles (Leahy 84), Cooper (Bia-Bi 51), Loy.

Subs not used: Bowman, McGeever, Grant, Shepherd.

Goals: Taiwo (55, 60).

Red card: Bia-Bi (76).

Referee: George Salmond.

Attendance: 2810.