Honours shared in Andy Lawrie's Testimonial... Liam Craig's deflected effort in 37 minutes is countered by Roy O'Donovan's 56th minute finish...Report and pictures now online...>>>

Falkirk’s large 23-man squad, including Andy Lawrie, raised a few eyebrows and there were guest appearances from Owen Coyle, John Henry and Scott McKenzie. Roy Keane was as good as his word bringing a strong 16-man Sunderland line-up north for this testimonial match.

The visitors almost scored in their very first attack, a deep ball to the back post headed goalward by David Connolly but although the effort beat Tim Krul, Darren Barr popped up on the line to head clear. Six minutes later, Connolly blasted a shot just wide of goal with the Bairns defence struggling.

The onslaught continued and only a last-ditch tackle by Dean Holden on Andy Cole prevented the striker from driving in a shot from the corner of the six-yard box after Ross Wallace had created an opening on the left.

Roy O’Donovan was next up, hammering a low drive through a ruck of players and Krul could only watch as the effort sizzled just wide of his right-hand post. The men from the Stadium of Light continued to have the upper-hand and although Falkirk were passing well in midfield, they offered little threat up front.

In 21 minutes, Ross Wallace came close to scoring with a free-kick which curled round the wall and shaved the post as Krul scrambled across his goal.

Five minutes later, Graham Barrett made a break through the centre which caught Sunderland off-guard but Darren Ward, called into action for the first time, threw himself across goal to save his drive acrobatically. Falkirk’s Irish striker caused problems again by setting up the lively Finnigan but his powerful shot rocketed a yard wide.

Eight minutes before half-time, Falkirk took the lead against the run of play and with a huge amount of luck. Latapy was the architect with a pass to LIAM CRAIG who fired in an effort from the corner of the 18-yard box, the ball taking a wicked deflection off a Sunderland boot to spin wide of the diving Ward and into the net.

Sunderland might have replied with a minute of the first-half remaining but Greg Halford’s close-range header smacked off the face of the bar and his follow-up was nodded over the top by the quick-thinking of Andy Lawrie.

Half-time : Falkirk 1 Sunderland 0

Pedro Moutinho replaced Carl Finnigan at the interval but it was Sunderland who resumed on the attack, Ross Wallace driving at shot straight at Krul who clutched confidently. It was Wallace again who smashed another shot at Krul, stinging the goalkeeper’s palms from 20-yards.

Two minutes later, the ball sat up nicely for Connolly on the edge of the box but there was a collective groan from the travelling fans as the strikers shot headed high for Laurieston.

The visitors looked odds-on to equalise at this stage and they did – with 58 minutes showing on the stopwatch. Halford joined the attack on the right to rattle a shot low and hard into the goalmouth and ROY O’DONOVAN appeared from nowhere to guide a shot past the diving Krul from 8 yards. There were some half-hearted appeals for offside from the Falkirk defenders but it was the speed of the attack which baffled the home rearguard.

After a spate of substitutions, Steven Thomson had a chance to put the Bairns back in front but his left-footed drive from 10 yards lacked power. More substitutions followed and the giant Kenwyne Jones had only been on the pitch for two minutes when he took exception to Cregg’s hard challenge and there was some jostling between the players before David Somers stepped in regain some control.

Jones had a header well-saved by substitute goalkeeper Michael Andrews before Falkirk almost sneaked a goal when a Higdon cut-back was knocked wide of Ward but Collins did well to clear off the line before colliding with Wallner and then winding himself as his body smashed against the upright.

Andrews did well to save twice from Jones late in the game before John Hughes insisted on giving a rather startled Eirik Kjono a run for the last five minutes.

Full-time : Falkirk 1 Sunderland 1

SUNDERLAND : Ward, Halford, Hartley (Mourihane 59), Varga, O’Donovan, Whitehead (Henderson 59), Kavanagh (Waghorn 59) , Cole (Jones 69), Collins, Connolly, Wallace. Subs not used : Higginbotham.

FALKIRK : Krul (Andrews 78), Lawrie (Moffat 79), Holden (Scobbie 63), Cregg (McKenzie 75), Barr (Allison 60), Milne (Aafjes 60), Finnigan (Moutinho 46) (Henry 84), Thomson (Coyle 75), Barrett (Higdon 60) (Kjono 87), Latapy (Wallner 63), Craig (Ross 72).

Referee: David Somers

Attendance : 1338

*Andy takes the field

*Ross Wallace and Steven Thomson clash

*Graham Barrett sends in a shot

*Carl Finnigan drives wide

*GOAL ! Liam Craig's shot beats Darren Ward

*Greg Halford heads against the bar

*Owen Coyle back in a Falkirk jersey

*Danny Collins does well to clear from Roman Wallner

*Andy poses with John Hughes and Roy Keane