Airdrie United vs Falkirk

Airdrieonians took the lead five minutes before the interval through Adedapo Awokoya-Mebude (40'), who scored against the run of second-half play to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage at the break.

Falkirk emerged with renewed purpose after half-time and levelled through Liam Henderson (72'), who found the net to draw the Bairns level.

With four minutes of normal time remaining, substitute Ross MacIver (86') pounced on a defensive error from an Airdrie defender, stole the ball and finished calmly to put Falkirk ahead for the first time in the match. The Bairns held on through the closing stages to secure a 2-1 victory.

MacIver's introduction paid immediate dividends. The striker charged down an Airdrie defender inside the box, dispossessed him cleanly, and slotted home the winner with four minutes left on the clock. It was a moment of individual quality that decided a tight pre-season contest.

• Ross MacIver (Falkirk) — The substitute scored the decisive 86th-minute winner, pressing an Airdrie defender into a mistake before finishing composedly. A clear impact off the bench.
• Liam Henderson (Falkirk) — Scored the equaliser in the 72nd minute, sparking the Bairns' comeback after a quiet first-half display.
• Adedapo Awokoya-Mebude (Airdrieonians) — Gave the Diamonds the lead with a well-taken strike just before half-time, his first goal of pre-season.

Player of the Match: Ross MacIver (Falkirk)

The match was even in key moments, with both sides creating chances in a free-flowing friendly. Airdrieonians led at the break after a disciplined first-half defensive display, but Falkirk's superior fitness and depth — a product of their top-flight status — told in the second half. The Bairns' three substitutions in the second period changed the game's momentum, with Henderson and MacIver both scoring after the 70th minute. No cards were issued across the 90 minutes, reflecting the friendly nature of the contest.

Falkirk begin their pre-season programme with a win under new-season preparations. The Scottish Premiership side finished 10th in the 2025/26 season and now face Edinburgh City away in the Premier Sports Cup on 11 July, followed by Ayr United at home on 14 July.

For Airdrieonians, this was their second pre-season friendly after a 2-1 defeat to Ayr United on 4 July. The Championship side next face Dundee away in the Premier Sports Cup Group D on 11 July.

A useful workout for both sides. Falkirk showed the resilience expected of a top-flight side, recovering from a half-time deficit through two well-taken second-half goals. Airdrieonians competed well for an hour but were undone by a moment of sharp finishing from MacIver late on. Encouraging signs for John Rankin's squad ahead of the competitive season opener against Dundee.