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Rory McAllister came off the bench to snatch a point for us in a tense cinch League One opener against the Bairns at Balmoral Stadium.

We weren’t at our best, but showed great character to battle back from going behind to Aiden Nesbitt’s strike, early in the second half, to earn a share of the spoils.

Shay Logan made his debut after signing for us earlier in the week and impressed in what was his first full 90 minutes of football since way back in April.

He was part of a back four that more than did their bit against our full-time opponents – a fact highlighted by central defender Scott Ross being chosen as the man-of-the-match by sponsors ACE.

One outstanding last gasp tackle, on our former player Seb Ross, was worthy of the award alone.

But it was veteran striker McAllister who had the Cove fans in the 724 crowd cheering after doing what he has always done, score when it was most needed.

There was little to excite supporters during the first half, one in which both sides struggled to get into their stride.

The main highlight was an ambitious attempt from Ross Draper, in the 17th minute.

The midfielder spotted Falkirk keeper Robbie Mutch was miles off his line and wasn’t too far off target with a spectacular lob from just inside the visitors’ half.

We threatened again in the 25th minute, when Mitch Megginson and Fraser Fyvie combined to get the ball to Robbie Leitch. His 20-yard shot went wide of Mutch’s right post.

Falkirk swept up the park almost immediately, with Callumn Morrison feeding the ball in from the right for Craig McGuffie to shoot wide from eight yards.

The best move of the half came from us, in the 28th minute.

Blair Yule started it with a pass to Fyvie, who then cleverly found Leitch.

The latter laid the ball off to Megginson but Mutch was well positioned to hold the striker’s shot from a tight angle on the left.

Falkirk ended the half with Seb Ross playing the ball in from the right to McGuffie and he should have done better than steer his 10-yard shot wide of the front post.

Logan was the instigator of our first attack in the second period, with a throw-in from the right that Draper managed to knock back to Iain Vigurs. Unfortunately, the midfielder was off balance and could only send his first time volley wide.

Scott Ross was our hero in the 54th minute, after the ever-lively Morrison had played another dangerous ball in from the right.

That seemed to have set Seb Ross up to score from 14-yards. but our No.5 prevented that by making an outstanding sliding tackle to pinch the ball and then clear the danger.

Morrison also sent a corner in from the left and his curling effort was scrambled away from the foot of his right post by keeper Kyle Gourlay.

Falkirk went ahead in the 64th minute and it was no surprise Morrison was involved.

The winger cut the ball back from the right and NESBITT found space to lash it past Gourlay from 15-yards.

Gourlay saved us from falling two behind in the 68th minute by making a brave block at the feet of Aidan Keena, after the Falkirk substitute had been left with a clear run at goal.

But it was our subs Connor Scully (who had replaced Leitch in the 58th minute) and McAllister, on for Fyvie in the 68th minute, who had the final say.

Scully set up our 77th minute equaliser with a great pass to Megginson, from just inside the Falkirk penalty area.

The striker then cleverly chested the ball on for McALLISTER to pounce and give Mutch no chance from inside the six yard box.

We might have pinched it at the death, when a Vigurs cross from a corner on the right caused panic in the Falkirk area, but a draw was a fair result on the day.

COVE RANGERS: Gourlay, Neill, Milne, Ross, Yule, Megginson, Draper, Vigurs, Leitch (Scully 58), Fyvie (McAllister 70), Logan.

Subs: McKenzie, Strachan, Watson, Higgins, Anderson.

FALKIRK: Mutch, Dixon, Hall, Miller, Morrison, Nesbitt, McGuffie, Wilson (Keena 63), Ross (Hetherington 84), Telfer, Williamson (McCann 75).

Subs: Martin, Dowds, Weekes, Lemon.

Referee: Alan Newlands | Attendance: 724

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