Jamie Dunbar gave the ball away, it was crossed in and whilst Ludo Roy saved Mark Kerr's first shot, Kerr tucked away the rebound to make it 1-0. How on earth the BBC website described this as a stunning strike is beyond me!
Saints then came close with a free kick and some other chances, before Falkirk increased their lead. Dunbar was once again the culprit, this time forcing Robb into giving away a free kick. It was crossed in, played back to Lee Miller who showed possible high feet as he made it 2-0. Not looking good.
Saints survived for another 15 minutes or so before Miller made it 3-0, this time Ludo at fault as he could easily have got to the ball. At half time things weren't looking good and for some strange reason the Saints fans started to boo. I can remember games we won last season with Hendrie where the performance was worst for god sake!
John Coughlin decided at half time to sub the poor Dunbar and replace him with Graham Guy. Unfortunately we hadn't some young Saints fans trying to entertain us wit their skills on the pitch during the brake, so instead we all joked/expertly predicted about how we would emulate Man Utd's comeback from 3-0 down at half time to win 5-3 at White Hart Lane against Spurs last season.
Saints started the second half brightly and got a goal for their efforts. Brian McGinty took a short corner to Simon Lappin, and instead of our usual short corner attempts which go wrong, he did something constructive and put in a good cross. Falkirk goalie Allan Ferguson and a defender went up for it, causing the ball to come lose. Saints Ricky Robb stuck his head on it and forced it in, getting his first Saints goal in the process. 3-1 and game on, although some people suggested this could be like scoring against Brazil, where if you score early you'll probably get thrashed.
Saints then had a great chance to make it 3-2, when Martin Cameron was lining up to shoot. Unfortunately McGinty decided he'd like a shot as well and took it off Cameron's foot as he was about to score, and messed up. Oops! Ricky Gillies also missed an attempt, although it was a pretty hard chip he was trying.
Minutes later it was 3-2. The ball was punted forward, and Cameron and former Saint Scott McKenzie went up for the ball. Only one man wining that contest and didn't Scott know it, immediately diving to the ground. Fortunately John Rowbotham didn't think it was a foul, or stop play to give McKenzie a rightful booking, and rushed in on goal to finish well. McKenzie feigned injury and claimed he needed treatment, in what was possibly his best game for Saints at Love Street!
The comeback was complete just 8 minutes later, after Falkirk had brought on Colin Samuel to try and encourage their fans who were strangely silent. McGinty made up for his earlier mistake by playing in Cameron, who couldn't miss from a few yards out. The Man Utd comeback was definitely on, as Cameron then hit the post, Mendes missed a good chance and Ross missed too.
Then came the sucker punch, as the point Saints had worked so hard for looked to be going. Falkirk easily split the defence apart and Miller completed his hat trick. 4-3, but this amazing game still had a bit to run yet.
With just 5 minutes remaining, Mendes skinned a few Falkirk defenders and charged into the box. Before he could decide whether to shoot, pass or win a corner, a couple of Falkirk defenders helped him out by flattening him. Penalty, no doubt about it. There then followed an astonishing fight between Guy, the nominated penalty taker after Gillies had gone off, and Cameron, who was on a hat trick. Both wanted to take it, making a change from the fight that occured almost 4 years ago exactly against Stranraer. That day Iain Nicolson was the nominated penalty taker, but captain Norrie McWhirter decided Mark Yardley should take it, despite the fact he didn't want to. I'll have players fighting over wanting, rather than not wanting, to take a penalty any day.
Cameron scored and probably just as well, as Guy among others would have killed him if he didn't. Falkirk had a few chances near the end but couldn't convert them, and Saints held on for a well deserved point after a poor first half performance. Excellent second half performances from most people.
With both Lee Miller and Martin Cameron scoring hat tricks, Cameron grabbed the match ball, claiming he didn't know someone else got a hat trick. That's despite the fact Miller had bleached blonde hair. Cammy then said he was claiming it on home advantage and if Miller wanted it he'd fight him for it. I'd leave it if I was you Lee!