Date: 9th August 2014	Kick off: 3:00pm
Competition: Irn-Bru 1st Division	Referee: John McKendrick
Venue: Central Park	Attendance: 1074

After mixed fortunes in the two cup competitions we got our Championship campaign off to an unbeaten start against the Bairns. Falkirk had the first go at goal when Loy saw a 25 yarder charged down by Armstrong but at the other end Miller cut in from the left wing and fired a good right foot shot from just outside the box inches wide. The Bairns had a chance when Alston pass sent Maybury scurrying into the Cowden box but his low shot was turned past for a corner by Brett. Then in 17 minutes Alston brought out a fine save from Flynn with a fierce 25 yarder. But in 24 minutes Higgins got a good chance for us when the ball broke to him 30 yards out and he closed in on MacDonald but his 18 yarder was too straight and was blocked by the keeper. The opening goal came eleven minutes from the break when a good home move involving Higgins saw the ball played into the danger area and Lewis MILNE brilliantly beat two defenders before turning the ball past MacDonald from 10 yards. Falkirk opened the second-half strongly and levelled the game in 47 minutes. A long ball from Maybury was gathered by Rory LOY 25 yards out and he held off Brett’s challenge and fired a spectacular curling shot over Flynn. Then soon another Loy shot was blocked by the keeper before Taiwo saw his close in effort saved by the last line. At the other end Robertson sent over a fine cross and from close in Miller headed wide but in 57 minutes Cowden went ahead once more. The Falkirk defence got in a right fankle and Sean HIGGINS grabbed his chance to cleverly slip the ball past the keeper from 10 yards out. Fakirk rallied and Taiwo went close before the equaliser came with 13 minutes to go. Dick supplied the cross which was perfect for sub Botti BAI -BI who headed the ball wide of Flynn from close in. Late on there was another good chance for Cowden when a sweet move saw the ball crossed from the right and sub Sutherland, with an empty goal gaping, just could not reach the ball but Falkirk also threatened through Loy. TEAM: Thomas Flynn, Kenny Adamson, Thomas O’Brien, John Armstrong, Nat Wedderburn, Jon Robertson, Lewis Milne, Sean Higgins, Dean Brett, Kyle Miller & Craig Johnston (Craig Sutherland 84). Subs not used – Iain Campbell, Chris Kane, Danijel Jurisic, Darren Brownlie, Liam Callaghan & Robbie Thomson. Goals: Milne (34), Higgins (57). FALKIRK: Jamie McDonald, Alan Maybury, Liam Dick, Will Vaulks, David McCracken, Blair Alston, Tom Taiwo, Olumide Durojaiye (Botti Bia-Bi 61), Conor McGrandles, Alex Cooper (Craig Sibbald 67) & Rory Loy. Subs not used – Ryan McGeever, Peter Grant, Luke Leahy, Scott Shepherd & Graham Bowman. Goals: Loy (47), Bia-Bi (77).