END of season fixtures such as this, when neither team has too much to get hot under the collar about, are synonymous with a drab 90 minutes full of tepid tedium brought on by ho-hum attitudes, the protagonists already mentally stretched out on a beach with a cold soothing beer readily to hand.
Fortunately this lively affair was the exception to the rule with those spectators in attendance served up better entertainment than they might have expected and most going home happy at seeing Falkirk's second home win inside a week. The Bairns were
motoring from the word go with Kevin McBride seeing his roaring drive flash wide, and the bustling Michael Higdon twice knocking on the door, the second a gilt-edge chance after some wonderful approach play from Pedro Moutinho. Higdon, though, wasn't to be denied, and with 28 minutes on the clock he rammed home his ninth goal of the campaign having stolen in on the end of a Moutinho corner.
For a team who netted six times last weekend, albeit against Gretna, Thistle were not exactly brimming over with attacking ideas. Despite some decent midfield possession it took the Highlanders fully 40 minutes to register a meaningful shot on target, and even then Shane Supple's save from Don Cowie's 25-yard curler was afforded the luxury of over embellishment.
Even after the break Thistle continued to be utterly toothless in the final third, allowing Falkirk to build plenty of flowing attacks. And eventually, after much probing, they grabbed the second their passing and movement merited. The impressive Moutinho was again the creator, rolling in a cunning reverse pass for Carl Finnigan who lashed high past Fraser to end the contest with little over 20 minutes left. Thistle continued to enjoy plenty in the way of possession, but did nothing with it. There was some consolation for the visitors, a penalty coolly converted by Barry Wilson deep inside stoppage time.
The full article contains 339 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
