Falkirk 3 United 1

Falkirk secured all three points in a very tight encounter at The Falkirk Stadium. Tope Obadeyi cancelled out John Baird's opener as the sides went in level at half time. With a point apiece looking likely, Falkirk struck twice in the closing minutes through Hippolyte and Lee Miller to take all three points on a frustrating night for United. By Gareth Scott After the confidence boosting three points at East End Park last Saturday, Ray McKinnon made only one change for the trip to Falkirk. Paul Dixon missed out through suspension and unsurprisingly Jamie Robson was recalled to the starting eleven. Former United men Kerr and McCracken started for the Bairns with Rankin and Miller amongst the substitutes. First Half: United started the game very brightly and went close with only two minutes gone when a flick from Murray clipped the top of the Falkirk crossbar. Five minutes later United appeared to get a stroke of luck when McHugh went down after a challenge by Bell but the referee waved play on. With a quarter of an hour on the clock United had a great chance when Obadeyi broke down the right and found van der Velden. His shot was parried by Rogers and Murray side footed over with the goal gaping. Three minutes later the home side edged in front. Taiwo crossed from the right and Baird had lost his marker in the box and headed past the helpless Bell. With 30 minutes gone United almost fell further behind when McHugh headed against the post but United then broke forward and Andreu was denied with only the keeper to beat. United were looking extremely dangerous going forward and a minute later they were deservedly back on level terms. Van der Velden did brilliantly on the right and his low drive into the six yard box was met by Obadeyi who scored from close range. With half time looming United created another great chance when Van Der Velden and Murray combined to set up Flood but with time in the box the United midfielder got the ball tangled in his feet and the home defence cleared the danger. Second Half: United were first to threaten in the second period when Andreu made himself space at the edge of the box but his shot just cleared the Falkirk crossbar. Both teams were keeping things very tight with very little happening in an attacking sense. In fact it took until the 75th minute for a decent attempt at goal and that was a shot from Charlie Telfer that was pulled wide of target following a cut back from Obadeyi. With the game looking destined for a draw United were hit by two,late sucker punches. With 86 minutes gone Craigen cut the ball into the path of Hippolyte and his low shot was fortuitously deflected past Bell. Three minutes later the hosts secured the points. Hippolyte collected the ball on the left and he crossed into the United box and Miller powered his header into the United net. Summing Up - United will feel hard done by losing right at the end of the game. In the first half they looked very threatening but with a draw probably looking a fair outcome the home side took advantage to hand United their second defeat of the season. Teams: Falkirk: Rogers, Kidd, Leahy, McCracken, Taiwo (73),  Kerr, Baird, Sibbald (Rankin 73), Hippolyte, Gasparotto, McHugh (Miller 77) Subs : McMinn, Shepherd, Gallacher, Watson United: Bell, Toshney (Dillon 46), Murray, Obadeyi, Telfer, Edjenguele, Flood (Fraser 52),Andreu (Smith 61), Van der Stuijk, Van der Velden, Robson Subs : Zwick, Durnan, Donaldson, Spittal Attendance: 5488 (1309 Arabs) Referee : Crawford Allan Click here for the full report.