Falkirk blew the race for a European spot wide open as they recorded their third win of the season over Motherwell with a narrow 1-0 victory at Falkirk Stadium on Saturday.
John McGlynn’s side regularly found spaces in behind the Motherwell defence and substitute Henry Cartwright fired home the only goal in the 63rd minute after latching on to Ben Broggio’s inch-perfect through ball.
The visitors struggled to carve out clear-cut chances as they missed the opportunity to extend their six-point lead over Hibernian in the chase for fourth place in the William Hill Premiership.
Falkirk have now racked up 10 points against Motherwell this season and they cut the gap on Hibernian to two ahead of Celtic’s visit to Easter Road on Sunday.
With Hibs due to visit Falkirk next Saturday, the result gives the Bairns real hope of securing fifth place, which will offer a route into Europe if Celtic beat Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup final.
The home side had the first chance in the opening minute when Calvin Miller got in behind but could not get enough height on his long-range chip.
The Bairns continued to trouble Motherwell with aerial balls but Barney Stewart twice shot off target with the visitors outnumbered.
The striker soon had a shot inadvertently stopped by Millar, who had seen his effort brilliantly blocked by Paul McGinn.
Stewart was also gifted a brilliant chance when Calum Ward dallied on the ball inside his six-yard box but the Motherwell goalkeeper recovered to make an excellent point-blank stop.
Motherwell’s best first-half moves came down the left. Elijah Just shot wide after Elliot Watt won possession and Nicky Hogarth made a flying stop from Emmanuel Longelo.
Visiting left-back Stephen O’Donnell appealed strongly for a penalty when he appeared to be nudged as he attacked a free-kick into the box, but referee Dan McFarlane was not interested and play quickly moved on.
Stewart missed his best chance yet just after the interval when he sent a free header wide from five yards following Leon McCann’s cross.
Longelo shot into the side netting and Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou was booked for dissent after Finn Yeats went unpunished for an apparent elbow on Watt as the pair competed in the air.
The Bairns took the lead when Broggio threaded the ball through for Cartwright to run on to and drive past Ward.
Millar almost scored one of the goals of the season after Watt was caught on the ball. The former Celtic attacker produced two brilliant pieces of skill to jink past two defenders but shot wide off balance.
Falkirk’s Henry Cartwright celebrates scoring to make it 1-0 against Motherwell
Motherwell made a series of attacking changes but it was Falkirk substitute Kyrell Wilson who forced an excellent stop from Ward.
The Steelmen had plenty of possession and territory in the closing stages but it took until the final seconds before they could seriously threaten.
Stephen Welsh’s header bounced beyond the far post with Callum Hendry unable to turn the ball home on the line.
McGlynn expecting Hibernian ‘cracker’ in race for Europe
Falkirk manager John McGlynn:
“I think we had the better chances. Barney (Stewart) on another day could have scored three or four himself. So we’re delighted to win.
“We’ve got the greatest respect for Motherwell. They’re a cracking team, play amazing football and you need to be on your toes.
“I thought the first half was like basketball. It was just like, we attack, they attack, we attack, they attack. How it was 0-0 at half-time was quite disappointing, actually.
“It was kind of like heart attack material. To be fair, I thought it was great intensity in the game.
“Nicky (Hogarth) had one brilliant save in the first half, didn’t have much to do in the second half.
“From our point of view, it’s a great goal.
“Who knows, could be we’re trying to jump Hibs over the next three games if we can. You just continuously move challenges, and the challenge was, can we get above Hibs? So, at the moment, it’s on for next week to be an absolute cracker.”
‘Plenty to be frustrated about’
Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou:
“Very, very difficult first half. At times for both teams, extremely open, transition on transition, because none of the teams were really good enough at taking advantage of all the space they got going forward.
“Losing the ball, then it’s the other way, then it’s back and forward.
“We really tried to lift our game for the second half.
“I think in many ways we did that, but we weren’t able to use all the space that was actually there and that’s the most disappointing thing for me.”
Askou was booked for complaining after referee Dan McFarlane took no action when Finn Yeats appeared to catch Elliot Watt with an elbow at a high ball.
“I think it’s better that I don’t say anything about anything,” the Dane said when asked about the incident.
“There were plenty of things to be frustrated about that had nothing to do with my players and as I’ve said many times, it’s not an excuse not to try and do our best and try to make our best even better.
“I’m just happy that no one lost their head from our side and I’m actually quite proud about that.”
