BAIRNS BOSS HARTLEY IN A RAGE AS ‘PERFECT’ GOAL IS CHALKED OFF

A NEW Championship campaign heralded a familiar sense of frustration for Falkirk as manager Paul Hartley blasted referee Steven McLean for chalking off a ‘perfect’ goal in their defeat by Inverness.

Scott Harrison, one of nine players making a league debut for the Bairns, thought his header had cancelled out George Oakley’s first-half opener.

However, McLean ruled out the effort to the bemusement of the Falkirk players, their opponents and almost everyone in the stadium.

‘It was a perfect goal,’ said Hartley. ‘We’ve reviewed the footage. I can’t understand why he gave a free-kick. If anything, Scott Harrison was being fouled.

‘I was told there was a pull on one of the Inverness boys, but their players didn’t complain. They knew it was a goal, same with their bench.

‘I’m disappointed at losing, but pleased with the performance.

‘We were excellent and just couldn’t get a goal — when we did, it was wrongly ruled out.’

Any prevailing sense of optimism as Falkirk embarked on their adventure was punctured after just 10 minutes. Tom Walsh fired a superb delivery across the face of goal, and Oakley netted from close range.

Inverness then had a chance to put the game to bed after the break.

Nathan Austin benefited from a slip by Tom Dallison to hare through on goal but Leo Fasan made a great point-blank save.

It seemed the visitors had been punished for that when Harrison headed in Andy Irving’s free-kick.

Falkirk’s celebrations were in full swing but, after an interminable delay, McLean disallowed the effort.

That was as close as Hartley’s team came, with Inverness almost doubling their lead when Shaun Rooney nodded inches wide in the closing stages.

‘We had to dig in and show a desire to defend and we certainly showed that willingness,’ lauded Inverness boss John Robertson.

‘It was a big test and we passed with flying colours.’