Falkirk 2 - 3 Partick Thistle

Published on Friday 8 April 2011 12:37

Falkirk 2 McManus 66; Finnigan 84 Partick Thistle 3 Erskine 8, 24, Doolan 62

FALKIRK's hopes of mounting a late charge for the title were all but killed off after a hapless first half at Firhill left them with too much to do against a lively Partick side.

A win for Steven Pressley's men was essential if they were to make the most of their three games in hand on league leaders Dunfermline, who were idle yesterday, but the Falkirk manager admitted after yesterday's defeat that the title is now a very long shot. Pressley said: "The first half was unacceptable and nowhere near the standards we set.

"We have a mountain to climb now if we are to gain promotion. It's still possible but there is a lot of hard work ahead."

Thistle went in front after eight minutes when Chris Erskine ran on to a superb return pass from Martin Grehan to clip the ball into the net from ten yards with the outside of his left boot.

Unbeaten against Falkirk in their last three clashes, Ian McCall's side doubled their lead in 24 minutes when Grehan again supplied the ammunition with a sublime cross from the left which gave Erskine the easiest of jobs to nod home from six yards. Falkirk's Marc Twaddle had a header come back off the post three minutes from the interval before Thistle looked to have wrapped up the points with a third in 62 minutes, Kris Doolan dispatching another terrific Grehan pass beyond goalkeeper Robert Olejnik from ten yards.

However, Falkirk battled back with Tam McManus netting from close in after 66 minutes, and then substitute Carl Finnigan scored from a narrow angle six minutes from time to set up a grandstand finish - but it was too little too late.

McCall said: "All credit to Falkirk for fighting back, but its good to get the three points and we're delighted.

"We knocked the ball about well this afternoon. Martin Grehan was terrific and justified what I saw in him."