A WONDERFUL Andy Dorman volley after 81 minutes gave St Mirren a narrow victory over 10-man Falkirk at Love Street.
In the 75th minute of a dour encounter, Bairns midfielder Arnau Riera was shown a straight red card for appearing to elbow Dorman and the home side soon took advantage of their extra man.
When David Barron's cross from the right was flicked o
n by Jim Hamilton, the former New England Revolution player hammered his shot past Falkirk keeper Shayne Supple for a victory that had not looked likely until the latter stages of the match.
A first half of mind-numbing mediocrity is best forgotten and the second 45 minutes didn't warm up until the final stages.
When it finally burst into life it was the Saints who came out smiling.
In the 73rd minute Craig Dargo missed the chance of the game when he turned Hamilton's cross from the right past the back post.
Two minutes later, Falkirk were reduced to 10 men when Riera was shown a straight red card for appearing to elbow Dorman. More misery was to follow for the visitors when Dorman watched Hamilton's head-flick come out of the air before he slammed a volley past Supple from 16 yards out.
In the final minutes Dargo was lucky to escape with only a yellow card when he felled Falkirk defender Gerard Aafjes who had to be replaced by Chris Mitchell.
The full article contains 249 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
