Henry CartwrightImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Substitute Henry Cartwright celebrates his winner moments after coming on

At a glance

  • Substitute Cartwright nets only goal of game

  • Falkirk unbeaten against Motherwell this season with three wins and draw

  • Bairns now within two points of fifth-place Hibs as Motherwell stay six clear in fourth

Falkirk v Motherwell highlights

02/05/2026

ByMartin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland at Falkirk Stadium

Falkirk completed an unbeaten campaign against Motherwell and closed in on fifth place as substitute Henry Cartwright converted to seal a Scottish Premiership victory.

The win moves John McGlynn's side within two points of Hibernian, who host Celtic on Sunday.

Jens Berthel Askou's side have found Falkirk something of a bogey team this season and that was again the case as they failed to strengthen their grip on a European place.

This had all the makings of a thriller between two sides who have entertained more than most this season and it proved entertaining with a host of big moments.

Elijah Just was first to threaten for the visitors, who started well, when his angled drive went narrowly wide.

But Falkirk always carry threat and Barney Stewart twice got in, seizing on a flick on before blazing over and then hitting the side-netting when he ought to have scored.

Chances increasingly flowed at either end. Emmanuel Longelo was close to extending his Motherwell scoring spree but was denied.

His defence then reacted superbly to deny Calvin Miller and Stewart again on the rebound before young Stewart was gifted a golden opportunity right on half-time.

Motherwell's Calum Ward had a horror lapse, gifting the ball straight to the striker, but the goalkeeper reacted quickly enough to block and prevent a calamitous concession.

Stewart was again wasteful when presented with a glaring chance after the break, nodding wide with the goal gaping. It was a bad miss from a great delivery.

Change brought the winning moment. Cartwright came on and instantly made an impact, slotting confidently past Ward when played through by an incisive pass. Motherwell were unable to respond despite coming within inches in injury time.

Analysis: Falkirk continue dream season as Motherwell stumble

Falkirk seemed to have regained their swagger with an impressive show despite losing away to Celtic last time out.

Initially, Motherwell posed more problems but Falkirk found solutions, threatened and once again got their reward.

They rely on their full squad and this time Cartwright was the hero. On another day Stewart may have had a hat-trick and might reflect on moments when he really should have hit the net in fabulous positions.

Simply not his day but it proved to be Falkirk's.

It's another three points in a season full of positives, arresting a losing run they were keen to shed.

McGlynn said there would be no holiday feel after achieving a top-six finish. True to his word, Falkirk are now right in the hunt for fifth place.

In contrast, Motherwell's defeat just leaves a slight lingering doubt about where they will finish, albeit they remain in a strong position, six points clear of Hibernian having played a more.

The first goal looked increasingly crucial here and having conceded it, the visitors - brilliant in victory at Ibrox last weekend - couldn't muster enough in response.

They still haven't found a way to overcome John McGlynn's side, though, who have three wins and a draw against Motherwell this season. That will no doubt irk, but probably not too much within the bigger picture.

What they said

Falkirk boss John McGlynn: "The boys gave everything, had to work their socks off.

"Everyone knows how good a team Motherwell are but we've managed to stifle them a little bit nearly every time we've played them bar the first half of the first game.

"We're delighted with the win, we wanted to try and close that gap on Hibs and we've done that for at least 24 hours, hopefully longer."

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou: "Disappointed about the outcome, disappointed about some of the moments in the performance.

"I think it was an extremely open game in the first half, maybe more open than either team would have wanted.

"We had our moments and opportunities but not enough big ones. The intent to really try and take control of the game, especially in the second half, was there. We did our best but our best just wasn't good enough today."

What's next?

Falkirk host Hibernian, who are two points above them in the table, next Saturday (15:00 BST).

Motherwell may well continue to have a big say in who wins the title as they host Hearts the same evening (20:00).

Player of the match

Number: 1 N. Hogarth
Average rating 6.00
Number: 1 N. Hogarth
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 3 L. McCann
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 20 C. Allan
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 15 L. Neilson
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 28 F. Lissah
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 21 D. Tait
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 8 B. Spencer
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 29 C. Miller
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 14 F. Yeats
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 11 B. Broggio
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 16 B. Stewart
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 2 K. Adams
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 17 H. Cartwright
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 6 C. Donaldson
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 27 B. Parkinson
Average Rating: 6.00
Number: 22 K. Wilson
Average Rating: 6.00

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