Falkirk 3 St. Johnstone 0

Last updated : 02 April 2005 By Footymad Previewer

St Johnstone lined up 4-5-1, which was going to make for a very difficult game for the home side with early opportunities few and far between.

This was going to be a "backs against the wall" game. It took until the 34th minute before any action took place when Falkirk's Neil Scally whipped a wicked cross into the St Johnstone box which found striker Daniel McBreen, and his resultant volley hit the post.

It took the home side only two more minutes to go in front when Ryan McStay picked up the ball in his own half and ran practically the full length of the pitch. He passed to McBreen, who took a touch to turn a defender and slammed the ball into the net from 12 yards for his 13th goal of the season.

After the break it was very much the same. Falkirk went two up in the 51st minute when Russell Latapy weaved his Caribbean magic and beat off four St Johnstone challenges and fired a low shot home at the near post.

He could have made it three a few minutes later, but no one was on the end of his final pass across the face of goal.

The third came in the 65th minute when the Bairns were awarded a free-kick which they took very quickly. Saints failed to clear and the ball eventually fell to Darryl Duffy, who scored from close range for his 25th of the season.

Falkirk now only need to win one more game to gain entry into the SPL.