betfred cup GROUP b

FALKIRK ran out comfortable victors at the Falkirk Stadium yesterday to clinch second place in Group B of the League Cup although this was not enough to see them through to the knockout stages of the competition.

The hosts started brightly, dominating possession in the early stages.

The Bairns couldn’t turn this possession into any clear-cut chances though, with the only save Graeme Smith in the Brechin goal having to make being a straightforward claim from a 25-yard Luke Leahy free-kick.

Brechin grew into the contest as the game went on and nearly took the lead in the 37th minute when Ally Love’s snapshot from eight yards was well saved by Danny Rodgers.

This seemed to spur the home men back into life and they should have gone into the interval with a lead, Luca Gasparotto heading just wide from six yards with the goal gaping in first-half stoppage time.

Whatever Falkirk boss Peter Houston said to his men at half-time appeared to do the job as his charges were two to the good within eight minutes of the restart.

The first was a Gasparotto header after good work by James Craigen in the 50th minute, although originally there was some confusion if the ball had crossed the line.

Three minutes later, a Craig Sibbald corner was nodded in from five yards out by Nathan Austin to double the lead and set the Bairns cruising to victory.

Brechin could not get a foothold to get back into the match, with only a Ross Caldwell effort which was deflected on to the bar causing any concern.

The home men went searching for a third with efforts from Tom Taiwo and Craigen but they could not find another as the game petered out.