Falkirk 1 Kilmarnock 2 ...Paul di Giacomo' s late trundler sent Killie away from the Falkirk Stadium with three points after Russell Latapy had put the Bairns in front after 44 minutes.....Match Report and pictures now online...

After a series of hiccups, Falkirk finally managed to appear in their new light blue kit for what would be an interesting clash with Kilmarnock. The bad news for Bairns fans was the absence of defender Karl Dodd who had succumbed to a dose of the mumps so Kenny Milne deputised at centre-back, allowing Vitor Lima to return to his usual midfield berth.

Killie were quick out of the starting blocks with Naismith stretching to make contact with a ball in behind the Falkirk defence but Milne’s intervention around the penalty spot prevented a nightmare start. Cregg’s foul on Invicibile allowed the visitors to sustain their attack and it was left to Milne again to tidy up at the expense of a fruitless corner.

The home side countered with an inswinging Gow free-kick after the tricky Latapy had been tripped but it was overhit and sailed out of play. Jim Jefferie’s men raced to the other end to win yet another corner which saw Referee Calum Murray speak to Naismith and Scobbie for pushing each other as they awaited the delivery.

It was end-to-end stuff and Smith was forced to punch clear from an inswinging Latapy corner before Killie replied with a Wales back-post header which was comfortably held by Scott Higgins.

Falkirk began to step up a gear and Lima had a blistering drive at goal pushed wide by Smith in 26 minutes. Three minutes later, confusion in the visitors defence allowed Gow to take the ball from Smith’s grasp and Moutinho stepped in to lob his effort agonisingly over the top. There were screams for a penalty in the next attack as Lima appeared to be pulled down as he tried to force home a loose ball at the back post. Nothing doing from whistler Murray though.

There were some worried looks from the visitor’s dug-out as Smith raced out and completely missed a Gow cross but Ross was unable to connect with the loose ball. Then Gow and Latapy created a great chance for Moutinho who broke clear in the box but as the striker stabbed the ball past the outrushing ‘keeper, Smith stuck out a hand to divert the effort away from goal.

From being under severe pressure, Killie suddenly found a second wind and with 36 minutes showing, Higgins was forced to make a superb save, digging out a Wales effort from almost behind the line but he needn’t have worried as whistler Murray decided the frontman had used a hand to guide the attempt towards goal.

Hay won a corner within seconds but it was the Bairns who missed yet another gilt-edged chance as play raced to the other end. Gow’s teasing cross into the box saw Liam Craig jump unchallenged but the midfielder directed his header just wide of the upright to the groans of the home support.

Gow did some good work, cutting in from the right to create a shooting chance as half-time loomed but his 25-yarder lacked power. Yogi’s men weren’t to be denied though. Quick thinking by Craig saw him find Russell Latapy on the edge of the box with a crisp pass and in an instant, the “Little Magician” swivelled and curled a shot high over Smith for a stunning goal.

However it was pleasure to pain for the homesters with the last move of the half. Scobbie was clearly fouled before the visitors won a corner and from the kick, Wright powered in a header which Higgins did well to push out but Gary Wales was on hand to flash a shot high into the net from point blank range for the equaliser.

Half-time : Falkirk 1 Kilmarnock 1

Lima was quick to show the way on the resumption with a powerful 25 yard drive which whistled over the Killie bar by a foot but slack defending by the Bairns allowed the lively Naismith a chance at the other end when he raced through to prod a shot just over the bar. Calum Murray had the fans screaming in anger as he awarded a corner for a supposed deflection.

It appeared Lima had decided to take up striking duties with another attempt at goal, this time his inventive overhead kick sailed high past the junction of post and crossbar. Killie were almost caught minutes later with high clearance downfield which saw Moutinho race towards the dropping ball with goalkeeper Smith but despite howls of encouragement from the Falkirk support, Pedro was never going to get there first and the Killie No.1 cleared with ease.

The Portuguese forward wasn’t for giving up and a neat twist and turn allowed him to fire in a low shot from the edge of the box which Smith gathered. The ‘keeper didn’t look quite as clever in 56 minutes, dropping a Latapy corner causing several Killie defenders to throw themselves at the loose ball to prevent a certain goal.

The home support were up in arms again on the hour mark as Falkirk broke quickly into attack mode with Scobbie hotfooting it across the corner of the box to reach Craigs pass. It certainly looked as if Grant Murray deliberately tripped the youngster to bring the move to a halt. Calum Murray will get few Christmas cards from Falkirk this year as he once again shook his head to the appeals.

Killie were still a threat and that man Naismith had Higgins working hard to push his shot round the post from ten yards. The same player scorned a great chance in 67 minutes. Again he had acres of space down the right but this time he rammed his shot into the sidenetting with unmarked team-mates screaming for a pass across the box.

Falkirk created an even better chance in the next passage of play. A neat Gow turn allowed him to cross into the box, but from three yards, Moutinho headed over when it looked easier to score.

Disaster was to strike in the dying minutes.

Once again, Calum Murray refused what looked like a blatant foul on Gow and Killie raced away to set up a chance. Paul Di Giacomo sent in trundler but Naismith appeared from nowhere to take a fresh air swipe at the ball in an attempt to turn it in. That was enough to put Higgins off and the ball rolled agonisingly past him and into the empty goal.

A cruel blow.

Full-time : Falkirk 1 Kilmarnock 2

Falkirk: Higgins, Ross, Barr, Milne, Scobbie (Twaddle 79), Craig, Lima, Latapy, Cregg, Gow, Moutinho. Subs Not Used: Lambers, McStay, Thomson, Rodrigues, Arfield, Allison.
Goal: Latapy 44.
Kilmarnock: Smith, Fowler, Greer, Frazer Wright, Hay, Invincibile (Di Giacomo 81), Grant Murray, Johnston (Dodds 77), Leven, Naismith, Wales (Nish 65). Subs Not Used: Bell, Stephen Murray, O'Leary, Adams.
Booked: Frazer Wright. Goals: Wales 45, Di Giacomo 87.

Att: 5,022
Ref: Calum Murray

*Alan Gow fires in

*Liam Craig and Steven Naismith

*GOAL ! Russell Latapy...

*Well done, Russell...

*Pedro's half-chance....

*Scott Higgins gathers

*Everybody wants to get their hands on Falkirk's new jersey....