Darren Raises Barr For Yogi

Nov 4 2007 Rob Fairburn At Falkirk Stadium

FALKIRK 2

GRETNA 0

CAPTAIN marvel Darren Barr netted his first goal for more than a year to inspire Falkirk to a league double over doomed Gretna.

The rugged centre-half had prevented the away side from taking an early lead with a magnificent covering tackle to foil Fabian Yantorno.

And the Bairns never looked back when the stand-in skipper broke the deadlock in the 40th minute with a bullet header.

Barr beamed: "I was delighted to see it go in because it is only my second goal for the club. "It is about time it happened because I know I can be a threat in the air and should be scoring more often.

"This was a big victory for us and although we now have an eight-point gap over Gretna we know things can change quickly so we have got to keep working hard.

"We just have to keep taking each game as it comes and not look too far ahead but our first aim has to be to stay in the SPL."

The home side took a while to get into their stride and midfielder Scott Arfield was booked after just seven minutes for a cynical foul on Yantorno.

After Barr's goal-saving tackle the visitors had another good chance in 17 minutes but striker James Grady sent his header into the arms of Tim Krul after being set up by Erik Paartalu.

The Bairns were looking far too pedestrian and rarely threatened although Patrick Cregg's sizzling 20-yard shot drifted just wide.

Falkirk began to get turn the game their way and should have been awarded a penalty in the 38th minute when keeper Greg Fleming impeded Graham Barrett by pulling his shirt but referee Craig Thomson missed the incident.

Evan Horwood then came to Gretna's rescue with a last-ditch tackle to foil Barrett inside the six yard box.

However, Falkirk finally got their reward when Barr rose unchallenged to glance his header from Gerard Aafjes' penetrating cross into the far corner.

The goal clearly deflated the league's bottom dogs but after the interval they came out revitalised and should have equalised when the onrushing Ryan McGuffie was just inches short of connecting with a low cross.

Gretna's luck was summed up seconds later when a long punt up the park by Aafjes sailed over the heads of their central defenders and Barrett was left with the simple task of slipping the ball past stranded keeper Fleming.

Barrett had a glorious chance to make it three moments later when he side-footed Pedro Moutinho's cutback past the post.

And referee Thomson ignored another blatant penalty claim when Russell Latapy tricked Horwood into a diving challenge with the defender's trailing hand clearly hitting the ball.

At this stage it was a case of how many as the game was over as a contest and only a couple of fantastic late saves from Fleming managed to keep the score down as Falkirk ran out comfortable winners.

Bairns boss John Hughes said: "I am pleased with the result although it took us 20 minutes to get going.

"Tactically we got it spot on with Pedro wide on the left causing all sorts of problems. That is us unbeaten now for three games and it would be good to get a run going.

"I know Davie Irons and Derek Collins well and they have to keep believing in themselves.

"Everyone is writing Gretna off but if they can get a few results going their way then things could change."

REF WATCH

CRAIG THOMSON missed two stonewall penalties. The first incident was particularly blatant with the keeper clearly tugging Graham Barrett's shirt. While he missed the big calls he was too fussy over little infringements.

Rating: 5/10

MATCH STATS

SHOTS ON 9

SHOTS OFF 11

OFFSIDE 2

FOULS 6

CORNERS 5

BOOKINGS 1

SHOTS ON 2

SHOTS OFF 3

OFFSIDE 1

FOULS 16

CORNERS 2

BOOKINGS 1