United 2 Falkirk 1

United secured an important win this afternoon after a goal in each half was enough to see off bottom side Falkirk despite an injury time penalty from Aaron Muirhead later reducing the deficit.  A deflected Sam Stanton shot saw the hosts go in ahead at half time before Pavol Safranko added a second soon after the break. Ex United man Paul Paton was then shown a straight red card for his part in a melee which also saw Safranko booked, with the injury time penalty coming too late to affect the outcome. 

By Ally Stewart

The first opportunity came in the 5th minute when Frederic Frans glanced a Fraser Aird corner wide but in truth it was a quiet opening period. In the 22nd minute the hosts took the lead with an element of good fortune about the goal. Sam Stanton received the ball at the edge of the box and, although his left foot shot was well struck, a deflection left goalkeeper David Mitchell unable to stop the ball hitting the back of the net. The hosts came close again in the 40th minute when the ball was worked out to Aird who drilled in low towards goal with Safranko just unable to make the vital connection in front of Mitchell. The resulting corner was then only half cleared and Bouhenna’s fierce drive brought out an excellent save from Mitchell who turned the ball onto the crossbar.

Moments after the break Frans again had a chance when a good delivery from Aird came in but the header was a yard or so over.  A constant feature of United’s afternoon had been the delivery from Aird and yet another corner from the same player led to the key second goal. A corner from Falkirk’s right found Safranko at the far post and his intelligent header back across goal found the bottom corner of the net. Fraser Fyvie’s afternoon was ended after an hour when he didn’t recover after one too many challenges and shortly after Paul Paton was handed a straight red card for his involvement in a melee which also saw Safranko received a booking. With the one man advantage the hosts were looking to add further to their goal tally and Aird sent a free kick just over before McMullan missed a glorious opportunity, firing over after Billy King did well to retrieve the ball. The Terrors came close to extending their lead near the end with Mitchell first making a double save from McMullan and sub Craig Curran before his outstanding reactions prevented Frans from scoring a close range header. An unlikely surge forward from Falkirk sub Dennon Lewis handed the visitors a late penalty which Aaron Muirhead put away safely beyond Siegrist but it was too late to prevent a deserved victory. 

Full Time Summary:

United were well worth their victory and in the end the margin could and probably should have been greater, especially given the fact Falkirk were reduced to 10 men. The main disappointment on the day was the injury which forced off Fraser Fyvie, and the real hope is that the injury doesn’t turn out to be a serious one. 

Man of the Match:

The main threat for United throughout again came from Fraser Aird whose delivery from set piece situations and energy down the flanks caused the visiting defence problems all afternoon.

United – Siegrist, Murdoch, Booth, Frans, McMullan, Fyvie (Watson 63), Stanton, Safranko (Curran 71), Bouhenna, Aird (Smith 80). Subs not used – Rakovan, Robson, Rabitsch, Edjenguele.

Falkirk – Mitchell, Kidd (Irving 60), McGhee, Muirhead, Paton, Summut, Robson, Buaben (Harrison 75), Brough, Rudden, Haber (Lewis 60). Subs not used – Fasan, Dallison-Lisbon, Russell, Dunne.

Attendance – 5,267

Referee – Steven Kirkland

United – 2 (Stanton 22, Safranko 53)

Falkirk – 1 (Muirhead pen, 90)