Bairns a Fifer

Former Inverkeithing High School pupil sinks Pars Boxing Day hopes

Jordan McMillan and Blair Alston

The 90th minute goal that allowed Falkirk a 1-0 Boxing Day win over Dunfermline was slotted home by Blair Alston. It was his first goal of the season but for a number of his mates in the crowd it was a celebration that they wanted to share. Like his gaffer Steven Pressley, Blair is a former pupil of Inverkeithing High School and his family live in Dalgety Bay. He admitted his plight:-

"A few of my mates were in the crowd today so I am sure that they won't be talking to me for a while. My dad was a Dunfermline fan and I just used to go and watch football wherever I could. I never had an actual team but I have been at East End Park a few times to watch Stevie Crawford playing. I am fortunate now that he is coaching me."

The 20 year old claims his Pars supporting father follows him and supports him wherever he plays. He may well have changed his allegiances but they both new the significance of results when it comes to Dunfermline v Falkirk games:-

"It was a big derby day, everyone was buzzing for the game. When Dunfermline went down to ten men early Falkirk thought that they had a good chance to get a good result here. We kept plugging away but we were never very sure that the goal was going to come."

Falkirk had just gone down to ten men and the Dunfermline fancied their chances of grabbing a goal but it was Lyle Taylor's cut back at the Falkirk end that was to provide the goal just inside regulation time. Blair scored six times last season and was delighted to open this season's account:-

"It is brilliant to pick up a win here since it is a hard place to come at anytime. The momentum was with us but when we got a man sent off as well, their crowd especially got a lift and their players looked like they could get back into the game.

"It is good to score at anytime but a goal like that in a game of this magnitude is brilliant for me. I was delighted to score and there is nothing to stop us now because there is not many tougher places to come in a season."