Falkirk 4 - 3 Livingston: Bairns edge seven goal thriller

FALKIRK put their supporters through the wringer before David Weatherston struck late to win a compelling contest in which the Bairns surrendered a three-goal half-time lead to Livingston.

The thriller was the epitome of life as a football fan as both teams served up a clash full of euphoric highs and crushing lows.

Falkirk built up a seemingly impregnable interval lead through Farid El Alagui, Murray Wallace and a Jonathan Brown own goal.

Livi rallied after the restart and levelled with strikes from Bobby Barr, Keaghan Jacobs and Mark Fotheringham.

Tensions were high but Falkirk emerged victorious courtesy of Weatherston’s 85th-minute goal.

“It certainly put us through all sorts of emotions today,” said Falkirk manager Steven Pressley.

“Livingston deserve a lot of credit in what was a truly magnificent game but so do my players.”

After a bright start, Livingston shot themselves in the foot in the first half.

El Alagui notched his 16th of the season after 12 minutes and Murray Wallace scored six minutes later with a low drive.

Livingston defender Brown then put the ball through his own net in the 39th minute as he tried to prevent Weatherston’s cross reaching Kallum Higginbotham.

“We thought the game was dead and buried at half-time,” remarked Lions manager Gary Bollan.

But his side showed true grit to get back into the match.

Bobby Barr scored after a solo run and Jacobs and Fotheringham – from a free-kick – scored long range blockbusters.

But their ecstasy soon turned to misery when Weatherston had the last say in a breathless encounter.