Falkirk secured a top-six finish in the Scottish Premiership after a 3-2 away win at Motherwell.
Barney Stewart opened the scoring with a fine header on three minutes and that set the tone for the afternoon at Fir Park.
Elliot Watt’s fizzing volley levelled things up against the run of play but the Bairns pounced before the break to restore their lead as Ben Broggio gleefully tapped into an empty net after Watt’s pass-back had gone astray.
Falkirk’s Ben Broggio scores to make it 2-1 at Motherwell
Calvin Miller provided some breathing space just after the hour mark from the spot before the Bairns saw out the remainder of the contest to ensure they finished in the top half of Scotland’s top flight for the first time in 31 years.
Tawanda Maswanhise netted with virtually the last kick of the match as the hosts fell to a third loss in four league games.
Motherwell’s Tom Sparrow looks dejected as his side fell to a third defeat in four league games
Miller was at the heart of everything for the Bairns as his pinpoint free-kick delivery found Stewart early on with the striker netting for the fifth consecutive match as his header nestled beyond Calum Ward.
The winger almost doubled his side’s lead when an errant clearance from the ‘keeper bounced off his face before rolling narrowly wide.
The hosts were far from their free-flowing best but did drag themselves level with a moment of brilliance on 35 minutes from Watt.
Falkirk half cleared a corner with the midfielder producing a thunderous volley from 20 yards that proved too strong for Bairns ‘keeper Scott Bain despite the Scotland international getting both hands on the ball.
The contest took a huge momentum shift in the 44th minute as Bain brilliantly palmed away an Elijah Just free-kick, which then led to the visitors retaking the lead moments later at the other end.
Well’s defence had looked jittery all afternoon and they were finally made to pay with Broggio the beneficiary of Watt’s errant pass-back.
The Aston Villa loanee should have doubled his tally in the early moments of the second half but took too long to get his shot away before being barged off the ball by Emmanuel Longelo.
The Well full-back then produced a majestic ball over the top for Tom Sparrow, who did the hard work with fine control only to blaze harmlessly over.
Miller almost netted a wonder strike just shy of the hour mark as he spotted Ward off his line and produced a delicate chip from distance which the scrambling keeper was able to fingertip onto the woodwork.
He did not have to wait long for the goal his performance deserved as he casually sent the ‘keeper the wrong way from the spot on 62 minutes after Filip Lissah had been bundled over in the box.
Motherwell huffed and puffed as they searched for a way back, with Maswanhise’s heavy touch denying him the chance to slot beyond Bain before he bagged his 17th league goal in the dying embers as his side’s six-month unbeaten home league run was brought to an end.
