Scott Arfield strike sees Falkirk snatch comeback victory over Motherwell

Scott Arfield capped a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for Falkirk as his late goal snatched a 2-1 victory at Motherwell.

Well were dominant in the first half and were worth more than the 1-0 half-time advantage granted by Tawanda Maswanhise’s strike.

However, they were unable to make that lead count and Falkirk were level 12 minutes into the second half thanks to Calvin Miller’s first Premiership goal for the club, before Arfield pounced in the 79th minute to lift the Bairns above their opponents in the table.

Motherwell were lively from the whistle and were denied a superb opening goal after 17 minutes by VAR, with Ibrahim Said penalised for a foul before his dazzling run and shot into the roof of the net.

The Nigerian’s head did not drop, however, and five minutes later he teed up Maswanhise for the opener.

Said’s speed and skill was too much for Falkirk as he menaced in from the left to pick out his team-mate on the edge of the area. Maswanhise jinked to the outside to wrong-foot Falkirk defender Sam Hart before steering a stunning finish inside the far post.

The visitors broke out a couple of times to threaten but a Dylan Tait header and Kyrell Wilson shot failed to trouble Calum Ward in the home goal.

Keelan Adams, Miller and Hart were all then cautioned as the visitors struggled to contain Motherwell’s movement, and the hosts almost added to their lead two minutes before the interval when Said scampered up the left to set up Elijah Just, whose first-time effort bounded inches wide of Scott Bain’s left-hand post.

Motherwell, who had let a three-goal lead slip at Hearts, were served another reminder of their defensive fragility when a last-ditch Manny Longelo tackle prevented Wilson from scoring three minutes after the break.

However, the visitors levelled in the 57th minute as Ethan Williams picked out Ross MacIver from deep and he laid off for the unmarked Miller to slip a cool finish under Ward.

A team transformed, Falkirk were then almost instantly in front.

MacIver was in acres of space as he collected from Brad Spencer but Ward sprang out smartly to save.

A flurry of changes from either side helped make the remainder an end-to-end affair, and it was Falkirk’s switches that paid off.

Alfredo Agyeman whipped over a cross from the right which was only cleared as far as fellow substitute Arfield, who composed himself to crack a right-foot finish into the bottom corner.