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A LATE strike from veteran striker Connor Sammon denied us what would have been a thoroughly deserved League One victory over the Bairns at the Falkirk Stadium.

We had shown real character to battle back from going behind to a very dubiously awarded spot-kick, which was converted by Callumn Morrison.

Leighton McIntosh nodded us level before the break – then saw his penalty saved during a second half in which we dominated our opponents with some fantastic passing football.

We struck the woodwork twice – with the second of those a spectacular volley from Seb Ross that defied science with the way it came back out off the inside of the post instead of going in.

We looked to have earned the reward we deserved for our dominance when skipper Megginson put us ahead in the 76th minute with a brilliant individual effort.

But we had to settle for one point instead of three when Sammon made the most of a long ball with just five minutes to go to ensure Falkirk avoided defeat.

We showed several changes to the side that faced Montrose in midweek.

Daniel Higgins returned in the centre of the defence in place of the suspended Ryan Strachan, there were also starts for Adam Livingstone, Seb Ross and Leighton McIntosh.

Falkirk were first to threaten, when Callumn Morrison tried to net with a lob from 18-yards but sent his effort off target.

Keeper Stuart McKenzie also had to race outside his area to clear as Morrison chased a long through pass.

Our first chance came in the 12th minute.

Blair Yule crossed from the right and Bairns keeper Robbie Mutch just managed to snatch the ball off the head of Megginson.

Connor Scully’s excellent pass then sent Fraser Fyvie clear on the right.

His cross reached Yule and he was unfortunate to see his shot from the edge of the area blocked by a defender.

Falkirk’s softest of soft penalties was awarded in the 18th minute, when Blair Altson appeared to fall over McKenzie as the keeper attempted to pick the ball up just inside the area.

There looked to have been no intent to foul the Falkirk forward but referee Gavin Duncan had no doubts as he pointed to the spot and also booked Megginson for his protests.

MORRISON gave McKenzie no chance with his well hit effort from the spot.

The equaliser came in the 35th minute, after Seb Ross had worked hard to retrieve the ball on the left then fed it back to Livingstone.

His looping cross went to the edge of the six yard box, where McINTOSH managed to beat Mutch to the ball and score with a deft header.

We were unlucky not to go ahead in the 43rd minute, when Higgins’ header from a Scully cross was deflected just wide for a corner.

We were even unluckier a minute later when Seb Ross nodded the ball back to Megginson on the left edge of the Falkirk area and his excellent volley beat Mutch but rebounded to safety off the outside of the keeper’s right post.

Mutch also had to make a save from Seb Ross’ shot from a tight angle on the left as we finished the half strongly.

Our penalty came just two minutes after the restart, when Gary Miller handled Megginson’s shot inside the area.

McIntosh took the kick but Mutch dived to his right to save the striker’s effort.

Luck deserted us again in the 58th minute when Scully’s corner from the right fell into the path of Seb Ross.

His spectacular 16-yard volley beat Mutch but somehow rebounded to safety off the inside of the Falkirk keeper’s left post.

Megginson then exchanged passes with Seb Ross before seeing his low shot from the edge of the area roll wide of the same post.

We had yet another chance in the 65th minute after Scully had been tripped 20-yards from the Falkirk goal.

Higgins took the free-kick but blasted his shot well over the crossbar.

Mutch also blocked a Megginson shot just seconds after Rory McAllister had been brought on for Seb Ross in the 69th minute.

Falkirk finally got forward again in the 71st minute, but McKenzie easily gathered Lewis Neilson’s shot from the edge of the area.

We took the lead in the 76th minute thanks to a cracker of a goal.

MEGGINSON fed a pass in from the right touchline to McAllister, who then appeared to be fouled from behind, just inside the Falkirk area.

While everyone was screaming for the spot-kick Megginson latched on to the ball, raced into the area and then side stepped two defenders and keeper  Mutch before firing it high into the net from a tight angle on the right, it was a quite sensational strike.

We kept pushing for another so it was cruel on our lads when Falkirk snatched their equaliser in the 85th minute when a long ball through the middle fell to SAMMON and he managed to drill a low 16-yard shot past Mckenzie.

We almost regained the lead when McAllister cut the ball back from the right to Megginson but Mutch managed to get on the end of his effort at goal as Falkirk held on to deny us what would have been our second victory over them inside a week.

FALKIRK: Mutch, Mercer, Miller, Alston, Neilson, Leitch, (Francis 83),  Sammon, Fotheringham (Keena 76), Kelly, Morrison, McClelland.

Subs: Cantley, Laverty, Sneddon.

COVE RANGERS: McKenzie, Scully, Scott Ross, Yule, Megginson, McIntosh, Higgins, Livingstone, Seb Ross (McAllister 69),Graham, Fyvie.

Subs: Watson, Smith, Logan, Ngwenya, Hanratty, Demus.

Referee: Gavin Duncan.

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