Falkirk 3 Queen’s Park 1 – Spiders exit Premier Sports Cup

DEFEAT to William Hill Premiership new boys Falkirk ended Queen’s Park hopes of qualifying from the Premier Sports Cup group stage for a second successive year.

An early strike from Josh Fowler gave Sean Crighton’s side confidence, and that was evident throughout the performance, despite the outcome.

But a double either side of half-time by striker Ethan Ross and a late third from substitute Brian Graham saw John McGlynn’s team to the top of Group A.

Queen’s Park were not without other chances however and the Spiders went close several times in the second half too.

They had scored from their first move into the Falkirk penalty area and in truth it had been all about the Bairns in the opening 14 minutes save for a Seb Drozd sprint forward that broke down with the final pass.

But two minutes before Queen’s broke the deadlock – Falkirk came very close indeed to doing just that.

Keelan Adams’ wicked delivery to the backpost was almost touched in by Ross MacIver drifting in unchallenged but the ball went wide.

But the breakthrough came from Josh Fowler netting his fourth competitive goal for the club – and his eighth since returning to Scotland from Dubai City in the summer.

An Aidan Connolly cross was met by Charlie Fox but Nicky Hogarth pushed the header away – straight to the striker’s feet and Fowler tapped in.

Buoyed by the strike Fowler then had the Falkirk defence on the backfoot again – robbing Henderson on the by-line just four minutes later and creeping into the six-yard area to cutback to Connolly. The strike at the angel was shut down by Hogarth at his near post but Fowler fed the rebound to Drozd who shot over.

So far, so positive from Queen’s Park, but Falkirk still carried a threat.

Calvin Miller flashed a shot threateningly across goal between Fowler’s two attacks and Sean Crighton’s defence – and team-shape – was well drilled at dealing with the home side’s pressure.

And there was plenty of it.

Euan Murray and Matty Shiels each had important headers to knock shots away from Calum Ferrie’s goalmouth but the Spiders were holding firm.

It was only when pressing forward and seeking a second, utilising the pace of Drozd and Fowler, that Falkirk picked them off for the equaliser.

For all the defence had held firm, and disciplined, throughout the first half, most were up the field when the Bairns broke and levelled.

Some neat play from Queen’s Park had moved play up the left side with three minutes of the first half remaining. Roddy Macgregor won a free-kick and this time threat of Fox was matched and Drozd crowded out. 

Ethan Ross raced up the field chased by Aidan Connolly and Carlo Pignatiello. He played in Calvin Miller whose shot was deflected, but fell kindly for Ross to steer beyond Ferrie.

The connection wasn’t great but enough to level.

The same player was again in the right place at the right time to give the home side the lead after the break. 

Just five minutes after the restart a cross to the backpost was kept in play and knocked to Ross in the centre of the goal and he was free to head in the go ahead goal unchallenged.

Falkirk almost had a third but were denied twice by former player Ferrie – the first in a mix-up with Fox and the second, touching a MacIver drive wide.

Michael Ruth was added for Tyrece McDonnell and the former Falkirk loan striker had a breakaway and elongated one-two with Aidan Connolly, but he couldn’t meet the return pass that floated wide of Hogarth’s goal.

Another Spiders’ sprint up the pitch opened up Falkirk’s defence again after 65 minutes but Drozd rippled the outside of the net after played in by another ex-Bairn Louis Longridge.

Drozd then turned provider in the 70th minute sending a brilliant quick delivery right across the face of goal – but neither Fowler nor Ruth could connect.

At the other end the Spiders had re-grouped and their defensive shape was doing well to frustrate the home side, who pitched Brian Graham, Scott Arfield and ex-Spider Alfie Agyeman into the fray.

The forward made a brilliant tackle to deny an equally impressive flick from Matty Shiels after being found by Roddy MacGregor with ten minutes to go. Henry Fieldson charged down the clearance and sent a cross in when possession was won back but Michael Ruth just missed out on connecting to Euan Murray’s flick-on header.

It was all or nothing in the final throes, for the game and the Spiders’ Premier Sports Cup hopes but they were extinguished by Brian Graham, hovering at the backpost to squeeze a strike under Ferrie after some penalty box pinball.

QUEEN’S PARK: Ferrie, Murray, Fox, Longridge, Macgregor (McGinlay 88), Connolly (Bradley 88), Pignatiello, Fowler (Fieldson 78),  McDonnell (Ruth 59), Shiels, Drozd (Scott 78).
Subs: Wills, Carrick, Waugh, Burke.