KILMARNOCK won their final match of a frustrating season with a victory over seventh placed Falkirk.
Not since last August had Kilmarnock strung two successive victories together.
The narrow scoreline belied the gulf between the two sides on last Saturday’s display, and if Killie had taken all their chances, they could have won by the proverbial barrowload.
Kilmarnock had the financial incentive to steal 10th spot in the league from St Mirren, dependent on their result in the Highland capital, whereas the visitors had to content themselves in the middle of the league.
Nevertheless both teams served up a spectacle which was neither dull nor boring.
Killie created two early chances, both of which Paul Dalglish squandered. In the sixth minute following a Garry Hay throw-in, he snatched at the ball and sent it over.
Three minutes later, a crowd-pleasing Mehdi Taouil backheeler found Danny Invincible, and David Fernandez continued the ball’s progress to Dalglish, but, with only the keeper to beat, he blasted it over.
This miss was going to prove costly on 10 minutes when Pedro Moutinho gathered a long pass out of defence from Gerard Aafjes.
Grant Murray retreated, and this allowed the big striker to squeeze a low drive in at Alan Combe’s right hand post, much to the surprise of everyone.
The home side might have equalised a minute later but James Fowler seemed surprised to find himself so close to goal from Fernandez’s pass that he delayed his shot and the Falkirk defence cleared.
Fernandez caused the visitors considerable unease throughout the match, and he was prevalent in setting up Invincible for another goal effort.
Despite the negativity of all their chances, Kilmarnock refused to panic and were back on level terms on 23 minutes.
Fowler raced diagonally upfield to collect a Fernandez pass along the left flank, and although Chris Mitchell blocked his shot at goal, he rolled the rebound into the path of Taouil who side footed it home from the edge of the area with the aid of a deflection and a keeper who had anticipated the effort.
Dalglish headed wide and Murray tested Robert Olejnik before the break.
Kilmarnock opened positively and within 90 seconds of the restart a quick one-two between Taouil and Fowler saw the latter race through from almost the centre line. As Olejnik advanced, Fowler sent his finishing effort wide.
Dalglish had one final attempt to get on the scoresheet before being substituted by Paul Di Giacomo. The sub’s first contribution was to set up Invincible but he too sent the ball rising over the crossbar.
David Lilley headed a Hay free kick back across goal and past, then Invincible failed with a one-on-one confrontation with the big keeper.
Falkirk, who had rarely been seen during the second period, tried their luck but Michael Higdon fared no better.
With 10 minutes remaining, Kilmarnock finally broke the deadlock. Hay swung over a dangerous cross and Di Giacomo scored for the second game in succession, this time with a stooping header which went in off an upright.
In the dying minutes, substitute Mark Stewart and Mitchell both tried in vain to get a goal back for Falkirk, but Kilmarnock held on for victory.
Manager Jim Jefferies agreed the margin of victory might have been greater.
“Had we our shooting boots on today we would have finished earlier than we did,” he said afterwards.
“We had to wait a long time for the second goal. We finished on a high, and hopefully we will learn from this year.”
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