UPDATE: Ricky's report of the Falkirk game is now available.

6.25pm

Today's result: Motherwell 3, Falkirk 3.

Bit of a strange game today, in that while it might sound like it was an entertaining goal-fest, in reality it was poor stuff with very little quality on show from two sides with virtually nothing to play for.

Danny Murphy lasted just a few minutes before going off injured, to be replaced by Paul Quinn.  It was against the run of play when we look the lead through Darren Smith after 18 mins, but after that we began to take control and it was no real surprise when McDonald doubled our advantage shortly before half time, when he rounded the keeper and slotted home from a tight angle.

There then followed a bizarre 10 minute spell at the start of the second half, which saw us go from 2-0 up and coasting to being 3-2 behind.  Firstly, Scobbie found himself in acres of space to fire home, then just two minutes later Craigan headed past his own goalkeeper for a spectacular own goal which brought Falkirk level.  Unbelievably, the visitors found themselves in front after 55 mins when an unmarked Cregg rifled home from close range.  Malpas replaced the useless Pizza Shop man (i.e. Keegan) with David Clarkson, and with his first touch of the game he brought us level when he bulleted home a McDonald pass.  Both sides had opportunities to win the game, but in the end had to settle for a point apiece. 

Still can't say I'm encouraged to rush out and renew my season ticket, as if you take McDonald out of that side then we're very poor indeed.  Things certainly don't bode well for next season unless we can get some decent players in, and given Malpas' track record in that department (the Irish pub team players for example) it looks very unlikely.  Special mention for Brian Kerr, who looked even less interested today than he does normally.

Interesting to hear a few "Malpas out" chants when Falkirk went 3-2 up...

Team (4-4-2): Graeme Smith, Corrigan, Craigan, Reynolds, Danny Murphy (Quinn 8), Darren Smith, Kerr, Vadocz, Paterson, McDonald, Keegan (Clarkson 57).
Subs Not Used: Meldrum, McCormack, McGarry, McBride, Fitzpatrick.

Motherwell scorers: Darren Smith 18, McDonald 37, Clarkson 58.

Booked: none.

Attendance: 3,640.

Maurice Malpas' post-match comments were as follows:
"If it's thrills and spills you want, head to Fir Park. If you are a manager, stay away from Fir Park.  That's probably the most frustrating second half I've ever been involved in, after being 2-0 up.  At half-time, I told the players what it would be like and to keep it nice and tight.  For the first 20 minutes of the second half, you would have thought the back four had been dropped from the moon and landed on their heads.  That was the type of performance they gave. They were a complete shambles for 20 minutes.

"Credit to the lads because they came back. But, at 2-0 up at half-time, I would have expected them to go on and win the game.  If you score three goals at home, you should win the game. It sums our season up: we play well and don't get the three points."

As for the own goal, Malpas added: 
"It was just a lack of communication. It's as simple as that.  The 'keeper [Graeme Smith] hasn't shouted for it and Stephen Craigan thinks he is under pressure, he heads it back and it goes in the net.  Overall, it was poor defending."

MM says that more trialists will follow the three we had in training last week (Jamie McClen, Scott Agnew and Danny Severino):
"There are a couple of trialists coming next week and we will look at them in a bounce game.  I will try to get away to watch games as well. We are trying to do the best we can to cover every possible avenue.  There are a couple of guys in Germany we have been alerted to and a couple of guys in Hungary.  We are open to suggestions from agents and obviously there are one or two people who have marked our cards.  It's a case of crossing them off the list or putting an extra tick and getting who we want come the end of the season."

Malpas has given an update on our pre-season schedule to the Official Site:
"The players will return to training on 28th June and then we will travel to Austria for three games in a week, setting off on 8th July and returning on 15th July.

"We will almost certainly playing Millwall at Fir Park on 21st July, and hopefully we will be at home to another English side the following week. We are still in talks with a couple of clubs at the moment.

"We also have games lined up with Dundee, Ayr Utd and Livingston as we want to play more games this summer to give more players more playing time. Last year we didn’t play enough games to give all the fringe players some playing time."