Queens Struggle To Hold Bairns

 

Falkirk missed out on the chance to go above Queen of the South after being held to a draw despite the visitors having a man sent off.

A Rory Loy penalty, after he had been fouled by Mark Durnan gave the Bairns a first-half lead.

Iain Russell equalised with a shot from the edge of the box in the second half.

The Bairns were awarded a second penalty and Queens defender Durnan was sent off for handball but Loy struck the bar on this occasion.

Queens remain fourth, two points clear of Peter Houston's side, but are now three behind Hibernian.

Falkirk were the better side in the first half and almost took an early lead when Blair Alston struck from six yards, his shot blocked by Ian McShane.

When the breakthrough came it did so with a dose of controversy.

Loy had his shirt tugged by Durnan at the edge of the box and referee Crawford Allan ruled the infringement to have been inside the area and pointed to the spot.

The striker fired the spot-kick low into the corner.

The best Queen of the South could muster was a shot from Derek Lyle, which flew over the bar. A free-kick from Lewis Kidd also whistled narrowly over the frame of the goal.

Falkirk almost went two in front when former Queens striker John Baird rolled a shot on target past Queens keeper James Atkinson but Durnan produced a superb goal-line clearance via the post to keep the score at 1-0.

And shortly after that, Queens equalised. Following a corner the ball fell to Russell at the edge of the box and he fired a shot low into the net through a ruck of players.

There was more controversy, again involving Mark Durnan when Loy's shot was blocked on the line by Durnan and Loy protested vigorously to the referee that Durnan had handled.

After a long discussion with his assistant, referee Allan decided it was handball, awarded Falkirk a penalty and sent Durnan off.

However, Loy's second spot-kick hit the bar on its way over and the score remained at one apiece.

McShane went close for Queens, his shot deflected wide of the post.

At the other end Falkirk striker Taylor Morgan had a goal-bound shot stopped by a stunning save from James Atkinson.