Match ball spot on for Bell

WHATEVER Cammy Bell had expected before Dundee United’s 3-1 win at Dunfermline, it was never getting a “hat-trick”.

Yet the Dundee United goalkeeper was presented with the match ball afterwards – signed by his team-mates – as a double from Tony Andreu and an opener from Simon Murray had given them an important three points.

Bell had, uniquely, saved three firsthalf penalties from three different players (Gavin Reilly, Nicky Clark and Paul McMullan) for arguably the most memorable day of his career.

“I won the League Cup with Kilmarnock, but this is another special moment and I can’t stop smiling,” the goalkeeper said.

“The three penalties seemed to happen very quickly, so that made it difficult. You always try to have a positive attitude when you’re facing a penalty. The first one was a good save, although I knew Gavin [Reilly] favoured that side, and I just went with the run-up on the other two.

“I was struggling for the third one because my ankle was still hurting from a previous save.

“The lads insisted that I kept the match ball and they all signed it, but the main thing is getting the result for the team.

“Saving three penalties would have meant nothing if we hadn’t won the game. This is a difficult place to come and get all three points.” THE disappointment has lingered like an almighty hangover, according to Tom Taiwo, but finally Falkirk have sobered up and got back to work.

The former Chelsea and Hibernian midfielder believes an indifferent opening to the new campaign had plenty to do with the way the last one ended. A second-place finish in the Championship and a play-off semi-final victory over Hibernian ensured it was an impressive season for Peter Houston’s side, but the final defeat to Kilmarnock was painful.

With new players bedding in, Taiwo believes the Bairns temporarily forgot the formula for their success but, after