Falkirk 1, Motherwell 0

Match Date: Saturday, September 23 2007
Competition: Scottish Premier League
Attendance: 5,245.
Motherwell Team (4-3-3):

Smith, Quinn, Craigan, Reynolds Paterson, Lasley (McCormack 69), Hughes, Fitzpatrick (J Murphy 85), McGarry, Clarkson, Porter. 
Subs not used: Meldrum, Corrigan, Mensing, Kinniburgh, Smith.

Booked: None.

UNLUCKY WELL SLUMP TO DEFEAT

Falkirk  1     Motherwell  0

A BIZARRE Free kick from Latapy proved the difference between the sides at Westfield in this Premier League clash. Motherwell had seen efforts well saved by the home keeper, and a post, but faded towards the end of the match as Falkirk snatched victory.

Early play had Falkirk on the attack, Holden and Moutinho played a neat one-two only to see Reynolds break the move up. Paterson, however, was adjudged to foul Holden as the ball came back out and a free kick was conceded near the touch line. Craigan rose to clear this well away. Clarkson raced onto the ball and, easing past Aafjes, crossed low for Porter. He met the ball first-time but couldn’t believe the save Krul pulled off at the expense of a corner. Craigan flicked this on but Porter wasn’t as accurate with the header. Quinn put in a good cross soon after but Scobie was alert to clear. Motherwell were temporarily reduced to ten men when, after taking a blow from a hefty Higdon challenge, Porter had to go inside for treatment. Aafjes took possession of the ball to drive from 25 yards, though Smith held. Paul Quinn was fouled by a late Arfield challenge some 35 yards out. Paterson took possession but he too was fouled, Higdon earning himself a yellow card. Keith Lasley took the free kick but perhaps wished he hadn’t as the poor effort went well over. Milne and Clarkson then raced for a forward ball and as Clarkson won fairly it was a surprise to hear the whistle go for a home free kick. Latapy took control of play and, sending in a deep cross, saw Reynolds there to clear under pressure. Falkirk won a corner when Higdon saw his shot deflect behind after a Holden cross had bounced around the box. Latapy then had the same luck with an effort though this corner came to nothing as Clarkson was fouled. Following a free kick after Lasley had been brought down by Riera, Motherwell came within an inch of deservedly going ahead. Porter turned his marker on the edge of the box and fired in a curler which had Krul beaten. Unfortunately for Motherwell, it struck the post and rebounded out just inches from the feet of Fitzpatrick and away to safety. Falkirk immediately replied with Moutinho forcing a save from Smith who turned the ball round the post. From the corner Moutinho had another effort blocked round the upright, and from this corner Paterson was fouled by Thomson. What looked like a clear dive from Riera gained the home side a free kick, Lasley making no contact with the Falkirk man. Riera recovered to curl a shot well wide. Good work from Hughes presented Clarkson with a chance but his low shot was deflected to Krul. Clarkson and Hughes then combined to open up the home defence but the ball in was just beyond the outstretched McGarry. Quinn had to defend a ball into the box but conceded a corner in the process. Arfield leapt above everyone but saw his header deflected round the post. Clarkson was sent down the wing by Lasley and, finding Hughes, the latter rather disappointingly sent a weak effort in which Krul held. Falkirk came close when a ball smacked off Craigan and behind for a corner. Arfield was then allowed the freedom of the park as he raced toward the box, but his shot lacked composure. Good play from Clarkson saw him get close to the area only for a late Milne challenge to end the move but win a free kick. Again, Lasley was poor with the take. Clarkson then sent a dangerous low cross in which Milne gratefully cleared with Porter nearby. Just before the break Moutinho appeared to run the ball out of play under pressure from Quinn. It was a mystery why the Referee gave a goal kick and then a corner, though this came to nothing.

Half-Time     Falkirk  0     Motherwell  0

The home side were first to create after the half-time break, a shot from Riera on the left troubling only those in the crowd behind the goal. Quinn was unlucky to see a good cross cleared by Milne who had narrowly nipped in ahead of the lurking Porter. Milne wasn’t so composed a moment or two later and was fortunate indeed after slipping that Porter couldn’t beat Krul to the ball. David Clarkson did gather soon after but, at the crucial point, appeared to loose his footing though Milne’s trailing leg did make contact. Again, Motherwell attacked, keeping up their impressive start to the second period. Krul then pulled off a superb stop to deny McGarry after he had controlled a neat Clarkson ball. The Fir Parkers then had a free kick out on the right and this was knocked behind for a corner, though that proved fruitless as Krul rose unchallenged to gather. Porter was sent to the changing rooms again by the Referee after his cut opened up again, though it wasn’t long before he returned to the field of play. Meanwhile, Scobie found Higdon with a cross and the header wasn’t too far off target though Smith looked to have covered the ball anyway. Latapy fired in a free kick moments afterwards which, after bouncing around, was eventually held as Smith pounced on the ball. Motherwell replied with the repaired Porter nodding a McGarry cross towards Krul though he gathered safely. Falkirk then made a substitution, Riera making way for Barrett. Looking way off-side, Higdon was allowed to progress but saw his shot deflected behind for a corner. Thomson met the clearance but could only win a corner off Paterson. Motherwell cleared their lines, and attacked. Clarkson found Porter but he elected to shoot and was blocked where a return pass to his fellow striker was perhaps the better option. Barrett found a bit of space inside the box but he drove well wide. It was Motherwell who made the next change, Lasley being replaced by Ross McCormack. Falkirk took advantage to also alter their line-up, Moutinho replaced by Finnigan. Rather disappointingly Krul was then allowed to gather a corner unchallenged, this not the first time during the match. Only a superb Craigan challenge denied Higdon getting in a shot as he gathered inside the box. Falkirk were quite literally given a free kick as McGarry and Milne challenged 30 yards out. It looked soft, but what came next was even softer. Latapy clipped the ball into the box and it was allowed to bounce unhindered into the far corner to open the scoring. More uncertainty at the back almost cost Motherwell a second, both Thomson and Higdon unable to capitalise. Motherwell won a corner but again failed to pressurise Krul. In reply, a Finnigan lay-off was smacked over the top by the in-rushing Higdon. Jamie Murphy replaced Fitzpatrick as Motherwell attempted to get back level. Despite winning a corner, there was little in the way of Motherwell pressure on the Falkirk goal. Indeed, the home side were denied a late second when Smith blocked a Higdon effort.

Full Time     Falkirk  1     Motherwell  0

Match Report by Ricky Mullen

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