Hippolyte and Miller seal the deal with late show

IT should have come as no surprise that a late rally from Falkirk earned the home side all the spoils. That kind of endeavour became the hallmark of the Bairns’ charge to second place in the Championship last season.

The match appeared to be heading for a stalemate after Tope Obadeyi cancelled out John Baird’s opener before the break.

After an exhilarating first 45 minutes, the second half inevitably failed to hit those heights. But Falkirk, who leapfrog United into fourth, left enough in the tank to produce a strong finish.

Myles Hippolyte netted in the 87th minute with an effort that took a deflection off William Edjenguele before substitute Lee Miller powered in a header two minutes later.

Only three minutes were on the clock when visiting striker Simon Murray, with his back to goal, lifted the ball over his head, only to find his effort skim the top of the bar.

Falkirk then opened the scoring in the 18th minute.

A forceful spring in the jump of Baird compensated for the height disparity with Frank van der Struijk and the forward expertly glanced Tom Taiwo’s sumptuous cross beyond Cammy Bell from six yards.

What would have been more disconcerting for United manager Ray McKinnon was the sight of Bob McHugh furtively advancing into the box to head another Taiwo delivery off the upright.

But United levelled in the 33rd minute as Falkirk failed to interpret the danger posed by United’s double Dutch.

Van der Stuijk’s pass found compatriot Nick van der Velden and the winger’s enticing low cross was bundled into the net from close range by Obadeyi.

In the main, the second half failed to live up to the excitement of the first. The hosts, however, claimed all the points following a dramatic finish that yielded two goals in as many minutes.

Hippolyte was credited with the third in the 87th minute but his close-range effort from James Craigen’s cross came off the leg of United defender Edenguele.

United were still picking themselves up off the canvas when substitute Lee Miller powered home a header from Hippolyte’s cross. Three injury-enforced substitutions and Charlie Telfer having to battle on with an ankle knock in the closing stages did not help United’s cause yesterday. Darren Johnstone