Falkirk2–3Inverness CT

Falkirk were crowned champions at Brockville’s last match but Caley Thistle spoiled the party by winning 3-2. Three years ago Caley Thistle played in what was supposed to be Brockville’s swansong but in the event the proposed new ground never materialised – this time the departure was for real. The champions now have to wait to see if they will be allowed into the SPL – they propose to ground share with Airdrie United until their new home at Westfield is ready. The Bairns opened the scoring in six minutes when Stuart Taylor headed home Craig McPherson’s corner from the right. Caley Thistle came very close to an equaliser in 27 minutes when Dennis Wyness side-footed from the left to the far corner – Allan Ferguson dived to divert it for a corner. Play switched ends and McPherson’s cross was headed across goal by Taylor – Owen Coyle just failed to reach it. Jamie McQuilken was forced to retire in 36 minutes with a suspected broken arm. Just after the interval it was 1-1 when Bobby Mann’s low free kick from 25 yards was sliced past Ferguson by Davie Nicholls. Three minutes later a long throw into the penalty area fell for Taylor and he hit past Mark Brown to make it 2-1. In 79 minutes hand ball from Steven Rennie led to another 25 yard free kick and Mann curled it past Ferguson to equalise. Three minutes later substitutes Steve Hislop and Charlie Christie combined to score Caley Thistle’s winner. Hislop just kept the ball in on the left, hit across goal and Christie knocked it home from close range. The Falkirk camp was adamant that the ball was over before the cross but the goal stood. Taylor came close to his hat-trick in the last minute when he hit over from six yards. The score remained 3-2 and Falkirk’s unbeaten home run was over. The curtain came down on Brockville and on a very successful season for both clubs. Attention now turns to the re-opening of the transfer window - who will stay, who will come and who will go?