Walsh wonder goal salvages point for Saints
ST MIRREN caretaker manager Allan McManus was pleased with his side’s heart after watching them battle to a draw against in-form Falkirk.
A moment of magic from Rangers loanee, Tom Walsh, three minutes from time salvaged a deserved draw for McManus’ men after Craig Sibbald had given the Bairns the lead in the first half.
McManus was delighted after watching Walsh’s 25-yard thunderbolt fly into the net to give him his first point since taking temporary charge.
‘I thought the boys just continued to play the way I ask them to do but were undone by a freak goal,’ he said. ‘We said at half-time we’d have to work hard to change it and that it might take until late on.
‘All credit to Walshy. He’s been magnificent in training and fully deserved his goal.
‘It’s a good point and gives whoever comes in something to build on. The most important thing was to take something from the game.’
Sibbald gave Falkirk the lead on nine minutes. After being scythed down on the edge of the area, the youngster dusted himself down to take the resulting free-kick.
His dipping effort took a massive deflection off the wall, leaving Jamie Langfield stranded as the ball flew past him into the back of the net.
However, a moment of pure inspiration from substitute Walsh pulled St Mirren level with three minutes remaining.
The tricky winger picked the ball up midway inside the Falkirk half before skipping past one man and unleashing an unstoppable, left-footed drive into the corner.
Reinvigorated Saints piled on late pressure, with Lewis Morgan going close, but Falkirk held firm.
Bairns boss Peter Houston said: ‘It feels like a defeat, simply because we were on top, but this is a difficult place to come. We created chances and we’ll take the positives.’