Despite working hard  in poor weather conditions Montrose were unable to overcome a slick Falkirk side who deserved their victory.

Falkirk always looked in command in the first half and their pressure paid off on 18 minutes when home keeper Ross Matthews could only parry a shot and  Kai Kennedy was on hand to head home the rebound.

Kennedy got a second after 24 minutes when Coll Donaldson was brought down 25 yards from goal and he fired a fine free kick high past Matthews’ into the right hand corner.

The Bairns thoroughly deserved their 2-0 half time lead as Montrose failed to trouble Brian Kinnear in the visitors’ goal during the first 45 minutes.

The Gable Endies showed more purpose in the second half as the weather detiorated with wind and driving rain.

Just after the restart Kennedy had another opportunity to increase his sides’ lead but his free kick from 35 yards cleared the bar.

Minutes later, Craig Brown fired over the bar at the other end before Blair Lyons was brought down on the left side of the visitors’ box but Michael Gardyne’s free kick rebounded off the defensive wall.

Falkirk continued to look dangerous and Kennedy broke clear up the left on 64 minutes but his cut back eluded everyone.

Three minutes later, a poor header from the normally reliable Sean Dillon put the Gable Endies defence in trouble but danger man Kennedy was unable to capitalise on the chance.

On 71 minutes Paul Watson turned well in the box but his shot went just past the post but the home sides efforts were finally rewarded in 82 minutes when substitute Lewis Milne got the break of the ball on the left side of the box to fire low past Kinnear.

In time added Watson was unlucky to see his flicked attempt go just past Kinnear’s right-hand post.

On another day the Gable Endies might just have earned a point but Falkirk always looked dangerous on the break as Montrose pressed forward searching for an equaliser.

Although both sides had chances in a more even second half the home side were unable to add to their tally and the  Bairns took all three points on a night when poor weather conditions dominated.

Report by Forbes Inglis

Pic by Phoenix Photography