killiefc.com ... Hippo's Reserve Reports

Killie took the lead on 10 minutes when a neat Barrowman pass found Cox and the youngster fired a beauty into the top

corner. Murray could have doubled the lead 4 minutes later but his header was too close to Lambers who saved easily. Falkirk's first decent chance came in 15 minutes but Twaddle's header was comfortably held by Bell.

Ten minutes later Barrowman raced in on goal but he was at full stretch and Lambers saved at the strikers feet. The Bairns drew level in 26 minutes when a Gibb cross found McManus unmarked at the back post and he fired into the roof of the net. The visitors took confidence from the equaliser and Moutinho had a shot well saved by Bell. The visitors took the lead on the stroke of half time with a needless own goal. A McManus scuffed shot was going straight to the keeper but Adams stuck out a foot and diverted the ball past the helpless Bell.

The opening period of the second half was fairly even with little goalmouth incidents but Killie gradually tried to apply some pressure. Some great work on the right by Barrowman ended with a fine cross but Murray's resultant shot was blocked. From the corner Barrowman looped a header over Lambers but the ball rebounded off the bar and was cleared.

In 79 minutes Falkirk scored the decisive goal and a belter it was as well. Craig picked up the ball 25 yards out and smashed a screamer into the top corner. Two minutes later there was bad luck for both sides with each losing a player through injury after both teams had used their three subs.

Young Falkirk sub Churchill raced in on goal and slid for a 50/50 ball with keeper Bell. The wet surface saw both crash into each other and Bell went off on a stretcher while Churchill limped off. Young Killie striker Scott Anson took over in goals and can claim he had a clean sheet!!

With 4 minutes left Rhian Dodds followed in a rebound to reduce the deficit to one goal but Killie just coudn't grab an equaliser. Killie had Hamill booked whilst Gibb, O'Donnell + McStay were carded for the Bairns.

It wasn't a great Killie performance but few would have grudged us a draw on what was a tricky surface. Adams, Dodds and Barrowman worked hard to get us going whilst Dodd, O'Donnell and Craig were best for the visitors.