Clinical Bairns punish United

Clinical finishing by the more experienced Bairns side consigned the Tangerines to a heavy defeat at Falkirk Stadium.

They fell behind with just three minutes on the clock. The defence failed to deal with a cross from the left and Liam Henderson bundled the ball in.

United went close after 24 minutes when Jordan Garden got on the end of a Gavin Ritchie through ball but the striker’s effort was brilliantly blocked.

Pivotally, the Bairns doubled their lead two minutes later thanks to Scott Shepherd’s fine finish.

On the stroke of half-time, Nathan Austin made it three with a superb chip and Falkirk piled on the agony with two more early in the second half.

Conor Langton’s angled lob made it four after 52 minutes and three minutes later Austin slid the ball home from an acute angle after a mazy run.

A shot from Ritchie deceived the home keeper for United’s consolation counter 15 minutes from time.

United: Long, Ritchie, Reekie, Allardice, Robson, B Smith, Taylor, Ballantyne, Coote, Murrell (Appere 57), Garden (M Smith 57). Subs not used: J Donaldson, Hornby, McMeekin, Paterson.