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Page last updated at 15:52 GMT, Saturday, 20 September 2008 16:52 UK

St Mirren 1-1 Falkirk

Falkirk's Graham Barrett scores
Graham Barrett stoops to head Falkirk in front against St Mirren

Two goals in a four-minute burst after half-time saw this match end in stalemate as Falkirk's Graham Barrett and St Mirren's Billy Mehmet struck.

Gus MacPherson's home side had the better of the opening period but failed to press home their advantage.

Falkirk made them pay just 120 seconds into the second period when Barrett headed home Neil McCann's cross.

However, Kevin McBride handled in the box to give St Mirren a chance to level from the spot, and Mehmet converted.

Falkirk retained possession for the bulk of the first five minutes but St Mirren soon settled and threatened twice in quick succession from a more direct approach.

Jim Hamilton hooked a difficult volley just wide following a Mehmet knockdown on the edge of the box, before his header from a Franco Miranda free-kick was pushed wide by Robert Olejnik.

Falkirk's first chance came in the 19th minute when Scott Arfield beat Mark Howard to Thomas Scobie's near-post cross following slack defending at a throw-in, but his header flashed over.

Gus MacPherson's side had another opportunity on the half-hour mark when Mehmet fired a right-foot effort wide post after good work from Steven Robb and Franco Miranda.

Falkirk's best effort of the half came on 40 minutes when Mark Howard pulled off a brilliant save from Michael Higdon's shot that was heading for the top corner.

Scott Arfield also came close again from a header in the dying moments of the half when he raced on to Jackie McNamara's cross, but glanced the ball just past the far post.

The second period started with a bang and Falkirk took an unlikely lead on 47 minutes as Barrett nodded home McCann's cross from the left - his first quality delivery of the match.

However, their lead only lasted two minutes as McBride handled in the box and Mehmet stepped up to ram the ball past Olejnik and level the score.

The midfielder's arm had been raised as he challenged Miranda at the far post following Robb's free-kick and referee Euan Norris pointed to the spot.

Both sides were showing more urgency going forward and Burton O'Brien flashed a shot over under pressure after Higdon had headed down Scobbie's cross.

Olejnik almost handed St Mirren another goal when he threw the ball straight to Andy Dorman 30 yards out, but the midfielder could not get enough height on his chip and the backtracking Falkirk keeper gratefully clutched the ball.

Norris enraged home boss MacPherson by failing to play a good advantage for the second time - blowing up for a foul on Mehmet as Dorman chased Hamilton's through ball.

Lee Bullen then saved the visitors by blocking Hamilton's shot after a long throw before Arfield lobbed over at the other end after another well-timed run.

Despite both side's efforts, there was no further scoring and both sides had to settle for a point.


St Mirren manager Gus MacPherson:

"We're frustrated not to win at home, but I don't think we did enough to win," he said.

"Our final ball wasn't good enough, but we were all right from back to middle.

Our crossing was the poorest aspect of our play.

"However, in previous seasons we wouldn't have won after going behind, so it was good to see a reaction."

Falkirk manager John Hughes:

"Possibly a draw was a fair result. In saying that, Scotty Arfield had a great chance with his header.

"We're better than what we showed today. You need to pass it at pace and with purpose.

"Then there's the fundamentals. You score a goal, you're meant to be solid for the next 10 minutes."


St Mirren: Howard, Ross, Haining, Potter, Miranda, Mason, Brady, Dorman, Robb (McGinn 66), Hamilton (Dargo 76), Mehmet (Wyness 83).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Murray, McAusland, Cuthbert.

Booked: Dargo.

Goals: Mehmet 50 pen.

Falkirk: Olejnik, McNamara, Barr, Bullen, Scobbie, Arfield, McBride, O'Brien, McCann, Barrett (Lovell 64), Higdon.

Subs Not Used: Flinders, Cregg, Aafjes, Mark Stewart, McCaffrey, Lynch.

Booked: Barr, McBride.

Goals: Barrett 47.

Att: 4,134

Ref: E Norris (Scotland).


BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Billy Mehmet (St Mirren), 8.00 (on 90 minutes).

Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.



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