Football: Late Col answers Brownlie prayers.
ARBROATH ...........1 FALKIRK ...............0ARBROATH boss John Brownlie reckons Colin McKinnon's coupon-busting strike will have bookies eating humble pie.
The lucky Lichties snatched all three points with just two minutes left and the result moved them off the foot of the league.
Brownlie is sure his boys - the only part-time team in the division - can steer clear of relegation and prove the experts wrong.
He said: "This result will surprise a few people.
"All the experts have been tipping us to go down. But if we can string some results together over the next few weeks the bookies will have to install someone else as relegation favourites.
"This has been a tough week as we have played three games in eight days, but it has been good.
"It was a great goal from Colin but the most pleasing thing for me was the fact we kept a clean sheet."
The dramatic winner came two minutes from time when new boy Jordan Tait whipped a cross in from the right that McKinnon rose to nod past Myles Hogarth.
Trigger
But Falkirk should have opened the scoring early on when John Henry powered into the box to take the return from Paul Wright.
Before he could pull the trigger, Arbroath keeper Craig Hinchcliffe raced out to smother the ball.
Then Ricky Waddell and Jamie McQuilken combined on the left and Waddell's cross drifted goalward before Hinchcliffe collected and almost carried the ball over the line.
Arbroath's first effort came when John Cusick sent Andy Cargill into the area. The striker's deflected effort left Hogarth in no-man's land but cracked back off his right-hand post and away.
With four minutes left, Arbroath almost made the breakthrough when McKinnon set up Paul Brownlie who was again denied by the woodwork.
Alex Totten could not hide his disappointment and the gutted Bairns boss said: "It was hard against a team who played with just one forward for most of the match.
"Arbroath had a good result against Ayr during the week and I told the players it would be difficult and to be patient.
"We were looking to win but right now this team has no consistency.
"To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement."
MoM: McQuilken (Falkirk)
 Printer friendly
 Cite/link
 Email
 Feedback
| |
| Title Annotation: | Sport |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Sunday Mail (Glasgow, Scotland) |
| Date: | Sep 23, 2001 |
| Words: | 373 |
| Previous Article: | Football: Strike ace Neil a real Cult hero; Juniors. |
| Next Article: | Football: SUPER DIAMONDS TOP SIX FINISH. |