Taylor at the double as Bairns handle Spiders

The Bairns fielded two completely different line-ups in each half of a 4-0 victory over Queen’s Park at Lesser Hampden just a week after returning to pre-season training. Summer signing Scott Olumide Durojaiye, a former Spurs youngster, made his debut in the second 45 minutes and was handed the captain’s armband by manager Gary Holt, who worked with the imposing 20-year-old midfielder at previous club Norwich City. With Taylor, who netted 29 times last term to attract interest from Aberdeen and Hibs, grabbing a double, youngsters Kris Faulds and Scott Shepherd got Falkirk’s other goals in a win that had the gloss taken off it by an injury sustained by midfielder Craig Sibbald in the first half.

Durojaiye said afterwards that he suffered mentally when released by Tottenham. However, after recovering his confidence at Norwich, he is determined to make the most of his move north.

He said: “I was at Tottenham from seven until YTS at 18. Then, when it came to contracts, I didn’t get anything and I had a year out of football. I did nothing, I was really low. I dropped down to League Two at AFC Wimbledon and played in their reserves for a couple of months – and I got player of the season, even after two months. I had to cross a barrier mentally to get over the disappointment from Tottenham and I found myself at Norwich. They gave me the chance to get back into football.

“I was the main man at Tottenham at a very young age, playing reserve football at age 14 and 15, then having a year out and getting strong mentally and coming back, and I’m here at Falkirk now. It’s a long way round.”