Falkirk were
relegated to Division One for the first time since 2005
as nervy Kilmarnock held on desperately for the point
they needed for survival.
Neither goalkeeper was
seriously tested as both sides were thwarted by a series
of superb last-ditch challenges.
Falkirk had the better of the
first half, while the second was more even.
Ryan Flynn missed a great late
chance for the Bairns and the draw was enough for
Kilmarnock to extend their 17-year run in Scotland's top
flight.
The Ayrshire side have never
been absent from the Scottish Premier League and finish
the season two points clear of their final-day opponents
at Rugby Park.
Kilmarnock manager Jimmy
Calderwood had named an attacking line-up, with on-loan
striker Chris Maguire returning after being forced to
sit out Wednesday's win over employers Aberdeen and
Danny Invincibile being rewarded for a good performance
as a substitute.
And it was the home side who
exerted the early pressure and only a fine interception
by stand-in right back Brian McLean prevented Craig
Bryson picking his spot after Kevin Kyle's flick on
found the midfielder inside the six-yard box.
However, it was Steven
Pressley's Falkirk side, who were unchanged from the one
that drew with St Johnstone, who started to dominate
possession.
It was Manuel Pascali this time
who was called upon to make a last-ditch, goal-saving
block to prevent Colin Healy's shot finding the target
from eight yards.
A clever Tam Scobbie flick
found Flynn in the clear 10 yards out, but the Falkirk
winger completely missed his attempt on the turn.
Kilmarnock were now playing on
the break and, when Scobbie slipped challenging Kyle,
they came close to making the breakthrough against the
run of play.
Kyle found Bryson on the edge
of the box, but the midfielder's attempt to find
Invincibile was just too far in front of the unmarked
Australian.
Falkirk ended the half on top,
with Enoch Showunmi flashing a drive well wide from the
edge of the box after a neat turn.
Calderwood made a change at
half-time, with Invincibile being replaced with Conor
Sammon as the Killie boss looked to block the attacks
coming down Falkirk's right wing.
However, Arfield was still able
to find McLean in the clear only for the big defender to
panic and send an aimless pass into the six-yard box
instead of shooting.
A Kyle header looped on to the
top of the Bairns goal as Kilmarnock began to exert some
pressure of their own.
With Calderwood replacing
Pascali with the more defensive Simon Ford and Pressley
going for striker Mark Stewart in place of defender
Scobbie after 63 minutes, the strategies were clear.
However, it was Killie who
created the next chance and Arfield made a potentially
goal-saving tackle to deny Bryson as the midfielder was
found in the penalty box by Jamie Hamill.
A fine saving tackle by Marc
Twaddle prevented Sammon breaking clear for Kilmarnock.
McLean headed well wide after
rising above the Killie defence, while Bryson sent a
dangerous cross-cum-shot across the face of the Falkirk
goal.
The Bairns had the ball in the
net after 77 minutes, but Finnigan had clearly barged
goalkeeper Combe over the line.
A Bryson cross took a
deflection off Darren Barr and clipped the top of the
Falkirk crossbar with seven minutes remaining.
Flynn missed a great chance to
save the Bairns after 86 minutes when Showunmi's flick
on found the winger in the clear 10 yards out, but he
volleyed over with the goal at his mercy.
A Finnigan volley beat Combe
from 16 yards and the deflection took the ball a yard
wide of the far post, but Killie survived to consign
Falkirk to Division One
Jimmy
Calderwood's Bairns Post Match Comments ..."It
was a nerve-wracking finale. It was absolutely horrible, It was
horrendous, I never want to go through it again. I'm glad it's finished.
But you have got no divine right and it was our own stupid fault for
getting involved in the first place. I have not seen the chairman yet,
he might be hiding from me. I will see what the plans are, I wouldn't
like to go through much more of this. If the plans are they want to get
into the top six, then that's different.
But if it's just survival then
I'll see you at Christmas time or something."
Ryan Flynn missed a great late
chance for the Bairns and the draw was enough for
Kilmarnock to extend their 17-year run in Scotland's top
flight. 
However, it was Killie who
created the next chance and Arfield made a potentially
goal-saving tackle to deny Bryson as the midfielder was
found in the penalty box by Jamie Hamill. 
