Match report from today's youth cup tie. Good to see a good few academy boys on show. Best of the academy boys were Dunne who scored a cracker and no 17 who played in the middle of the park. Didn't catch his name unfortunately. Cup competitions are all about progression and that’s exactly what the Bairns did despite not being on top form. A Kevin O’Hara double was followed up by a stunning strike from Cieran Dunne to send Falkirk safely through after Liam McGuigan had given Albion Rovers the lead just a minute into the match. Albion Rovers took the lead with 60 seconds on the clock as Liam McGuigan headed into the back of the net after the ball spun kindly back into his path. It was far from the start wanted by the Bairns who left themselves with a deficit to overcome in the remainder of the game. In a largely uneventful half there was a lengthy stoppage in play as Reis Peggie and Michael Hopkins clattered into each other in a 50-50 challenge on the halfway line. The young midfielder was visibly in a lot of pain and was soon replaced by Jason Jarvis, while Hopkins attempted to play on, but was also substituted later in the half. The Bairns managed to pull level before the break as Kevin O’Hara tucked away a good finish from the edge of the box. The striker had the ball in the back of the net again before the interval, but he was called offside as the two teams went in with the scores all square. Falkirk came out for the second half with a point to prove and soon had the lead. Kevin O’Hara, who had been a standout for the Bairns, sent a great header past Daniel Potts after Jason Jarvis crossed into the box. Within a matter of minutes that lead was doubled with Cameron Blues sending a diagonal pass to Cieran Dunne who lashed a powerful strike straight into the top corner. The two goal lead gave Falkirk some breathing space as they controlled the latter stages of the match. Mark Stowe had a goal chalked after he strayed offside, Conor Langton fired one just over and Jason Jarvis had a curling effort held as the Bairns looked to add further gloss to the scoreline. The visitors continued to fight and were probably unlucky not to at least pull another goal back, but it’s the Bairns that go marching on into the 3rd Round of the SFA Youth Cup. FULL TIME: FALKIRK 3-1 ALBION ROVERS FALKIRK: McMinn, Finlayson, Gallacher, Blues, Mitchell, Johnson, Langton (Walker 83), Peggie (Jarvis 24), O’Hara, Stowe (McBride 70), Dunne Subs not used: Bery, Munro, Keary, Coulter ALBION ROVERS: Potts, Frew, Munro, Lightbody, McGlone, Johnston, Archibald, Hopkins, McGuigan, Shields, Shields, O’Kane
http://www.falkirkfc.co.uk/match/15881-falkirk-v-albion-rovers/
