Falkirk2–1Inverness CT

A terrific game that could have gone either way but in the end disappointment. The slow thaw allowed the match to go ahead but it was a close call. Falkirk started well and were rewarded in nine minutes with a scrappy goal. Russell Latapy took a free kick 25 yards out and Jason Lee’s mishit deceived everyone before landing in the net. Caley Thistle began to take control and Barry Wilson chipped over the ‘keeper and the bar in 11 minutes. Liam Keogh shot low and past two minutes later then shots from Wilson and Roy McBain were blocked. Lee intercepted a back-header from Bobby Mann to Mark Brown in 22 minutes but could make nothing of it. David Bingham took a knock and was replaced by Darran Thomson in 27 minutes. Thomson combined with Ritchie to set up Wilson in 33 minutes but his low shot came off the post with the visiting fans already celebrating. An equaliser came two minutes later when ‘keeper Allan Ferguson weakly touched a Wilson corner from the left and Ritchie headed in at the far post. Falkirk stormed back in the second half and Mark Brown performed heroics. In 54 minutes Brown saved from Craig McPherson then in 58 minutes he touched a low Latapy shot for a corner. In 69 minutes Brown again came to the rescue with a fine tip over from an Andy Lawrie header. Caley Thistle had few shots at the other end before Falkirk went 2-1 ahead in 76 minutes. John Hughes played a short free kick around ten yards ahead of the correct spot but play went on and substitute Kieran McAnespie sent in an unstoppable 30 yard rocket. Despite protests from the visitors’ bench the goal stood and Falkirk grew in confidence. Close to the whistle a Ritchie header was held by Ferguson then an Andy Lawrie shot was blocked at the other end. The whistle went and Falkirk took the points. They rose to third but the real winners were Clyde – now three points ahead and with two games in hand.