Monday 2nd January 2012 – Livingston FC 1-2 Falkirk FC
Having finished 2011 on a winning note, the Lions were hoping to start 2012 in a similar fashion with a victory against nearby neighbours, Falkirk.
An injury to fullback Jason Talbot forced Gary Bollan into making one change. Having decided to go with two upfront, Marc McNulty came back in to partner Kenny Deuchar and Kyle Jacobs reverted to left back as the Lions shaped up in a 4-4-2 formation.
Livi started the brighter of the two sides and very nearly took an early lead through Bobby Barr. Mark Fotheringham’s corner was only cleared to the edge of the box where Barr was waiting to drill a low shot goal wards but Bairns ‘keeper Michael McGovern got down well to parry the ball clear.
Andy McNeil was called into action up the other end shortly after. Maurice Ross’ poor pass was intercepted in the middle of the park and Kallum Higginbotham fired a shot at goal from 35 yards but McNeil was able to make the save before Craig Barr cleared the danger.
More poor passing gifted Falkirk another chance at goal, and this time, they took it. Liam Fox and Keaghan Jacobs were both guilty of giving the ball away and when David Weatherston gained possession, he drove into the box before dinking the ball to the back post where Farid El Alagui was on hand to nod home.
It was a very poor goal to lose but as the Lions looked to grab a quick equaliser, the Bairns could have easily been reduced to ten men. Some good hassling from McNulty forced Jay Fulton into an error and as Kenny Deuchar looked to capitalise, Falkirk captain Darren Dods lunged in and brought the big striker down. It was a poor tackle – one that infact forced Deuchar to come off injured. The referee didn’t see it that way and only yellow-carded Dods.
The second half only a few minutes old when substitute Iain Russell was handed a brilliant opportunity to level the game. Some good link-up play between McNulty and Fotheringham seen Barr drive down the right and whip a fantastic ball into the box for Russell but the club’s top goalscorer could only head the ball narrowly wide.
The away side could have doubled their lead when Weatherston found himself one-on-one with McNeil but the ‘keeper made a brilliant save to keep the deficit to one.
Livi continued to press for a way back into the game and with the next attack they got one. Callum Fordyce, who replaced the injured Maurice Ross, played a one-two with Russell and curled a cross into the box where Marc McNulty was able to get the better of Dods before poking the ball beyond McGovern.
The home fans would have expected the Lions to go and push to win the game but if anything, Falkirk looked like the team with more fight. El Alagui headed over from Tom Scobbie’s cross shortly before Dods spurned a chance from a corner.
A foul by Craig Barr 20 yards out gave Higginbotham the chance to have a strike at goal. The midfielder drove his shot hard down the middle and with the help of two deflections, the ball spun beyond the helpless McNeill to regain Falkirk’s lead.
It was a cruel blow given the nature of the goal but one that Falkirk arguably deserved. The Lions couldn’t find an equaliser in the latter stages meaning the New Year began with defeat.
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