Falkirk FC are premiership bound after defeating Hamilton Accies 3-1 in the last game of the season. John McGlynn and his men did it the hard way after a poor run of form allowed a red-hot Livingston side back into title discussions. The stage was set for an absolute cracker as both sides sat on the same points heading into this game. Goals from Calvin Miller and an Ethan Ross double were enough to send the Bairns into the Premiership for the first time in 15 years.

The first half kicked off and there were certainly no nerves amongst the fans as they were creating a party atmosphere. That was short lived however as after only 5 minutes the Accies took the lead. Poor defending and nerves from the home sides defence allowed Captain Scott Robinson to slot it home. Following this it was one way traffic with the Bairns throwing everything at the Hamilton back line. Falkirk playing some nice intricate football but just lacking that cutting edge in front of goal.

The Championship trophy was Livingston’s until the 33 rd minute when Scott Arfield was brought down on the edge of the box with many calling for a penalty. A freekick was awarded, Ethan Ross stepped up and curled the ball into the top left-hand
corner of the net putting the trophy back in Falkirk hands. In the 38 th minute cheers rang out around the stadium as news had filtered through that Partick Thistle had scored against Livingston. The home side continued to push for a goal to put themselves in the lead, but Steven McLean blew the whistle for half time.

The second half kicked off the fans split between party mode and nail-biting nerves. It began initially a little less one sided than the way the first half ended. Hamilton had a little more of the ball in the first ten minutes of the half.

The home side then found the form from the first half and in the 59th minute scrappy defending in the Accies box fell to the feet of Ethan Ross who fired the ball from close range in the back of the net.

This was his second of the night and put the home side 2-1 ahead, 3 points above Livingston, and put one of John McGlynn’s hands on the championship trophy.

In the 71 st minute the party atmosphere was heightened when the ball found it’s way to the feet of Calvin Miller on the left-hand side of the goal. He smashed it low, finding the bottom right corner of the goal to put the Bairns 3-1 up, taking them that bit closer to the title and automatic promotion.

Scott Arfield, who was part of the Falkirk team that suffered relegation 15 years ago rejoined the club this past February said;

“It is the most fulfilled and content I have felt on a football pitch because it was a story I was desperate to make happen”.

When asked where it ranked in his managerial career John McGlynn said;

“To go back-to-back, it’s amazing, absolute amazing, it has to be the best”.

With their flare, style of play and story Falkirk will be a welcome addition to the Scottish Premiership. We now wait to see who out of Livingston, Ayr United and Partick Thistle will face in the playoffs.