The ex-Aberdeen stopper brushed away Graham Barrett's second half spot-kick with some style after Michael Nelson was harshly adjudged to have brought the same player down.



Chances were few and far between in an evenly-matched game played at Stirling University with Ritchie Humphreys, Tony Sweeney and David Foley all going close with half chances for Pools.

Pools boss Danny Wilson made six changes to the side which started Tuesday's game, with Soutar handed the chance to impress with a starting spot.

Elsewhere, Humphreys and Gary Liddle, neither of which featured two days earlier, came back into the side as did Nelson at centre half and Sweeney at right-back.

David Foley had the first effort for Pools in the eighth minute as he came inside from the left flank and let fly from the edge of the box, his shot deflecting behind for a corner.

Fellow winger Andy Monkhouse bashed another shot from distance a yard wide of the post in the 17th minute as both sides struggled to create anything clearcut in an evenly-matched first half.

Former Rangers and Southampton winger Neil McCann had Falkirk's first opening when he headed over from just inside the area.

HALF-TIME Falkirk 0 Pools 0

Wilson made two changes at the interval with James Brown replacing Richard Barker and Matty Robson coming on for Monkhouse.

Soutar made a stunning save to deny Falkirk the lead from the spot in the 52nd minute.

Graham Barrett had taken advantage of a loose Sweeney clearance to fire in a half-volley which was parried well by Soutar. But as Barrett attempted to get to the rebound Nelson was rather harshly adjuged to have tugged him back and the referee pointed to the spot.

Barrett stepped up himself but Soutar dived to his right and got a strong double parry to the ball.

Jamie McCunnie was introduced for Foley 10 minutes into the second half, with Sweeney moving to the right flank.

Lively right winger Scott Arfield drew a comfortable save out of Soutar in the 63rd minute, coming inside and trying to curl one with his left which rolled into the arms of the Pools keeper.

Humphreys fired one just wide in the 68th minute after a patient build-up from Pools. Porter turned inside the area and laid it off for the skipper whose shot went a yard wide.

Pools had a decent penalty shout turned down seconds later when Porter's cross seemed to be blocked by Darren Barr's hand as the visitors looked to take advantage of a three-on-two.

Pools were looking the more likely to break the deadlock and Sweeney forced a smart save out of Falkirk keeper Robert Olejnik. Brown just struggled to dig a pass out of his feet and there was no pace on the ball as Sweeney let fly, Olejnik grabbing hold of the ball to his left with a dive.

Sam Collins replaced Sweeney in the 74th minute, with Jones going wide right and Ben Clark tucking into central midfield.

Jones forced a tidy save out of Olejnik when he came inside from the right and fired a shot straight into the keeper's midrift.

Collins went close with an audacious 35-yard effort with five minutes left on the clock. His curling shot, going just a yard wide of the post.

FULL-TIME Falkirk 0 Pools 0

Pools: Soutar, Sweeney (Collins 74), Nelson, Clark, Humphreys, Liddle (Power 81), Boland (Jones 60), Monkhouse (Robson h/t), Foley (McCunnie 56), Barker (Brown h/t), Porter (Mackay 72).