Winger Ryan Flynn earned Falkirk a crucial point in their battle to avoid relegation as the Bairns came from behind to draw a see-saw encounter with Hamilton 2-2.
The visitors earned themselves the advantage at half-time thanks to Scott Arfield's 26th-minute strike but Accies came roaring back through a Mickael Antoine-Curier header and a Simon Mensing penalty.
Their lead lasted only three minutes, however, as former Liverpool youngster Flynn volleyed in what could prove to be a vital equaliser on the hour mark.
The match did not take long to burst to life as neat Hamilton interplay in the fifth minute set up Antoine-Curier for a shot which was deflected into the arms of Falkirk keeper Robert Olejnik.
Bairns defender Brian McLean gave away a controversial penalty in the previous weekend's 2-1 defeat to St Johnstone for hand ball and would have been relieved a minute later to see referee Dougie McDonald wave aside the home team's appeals when he appeared to block Flavio Paixao's attempted cross with his arm.
Having soaked up 25 minutes of Accies' pressure, Falkirk hit their hosts with a sucker punch. A long clearance from a Hamilton corner sent Flynn away and the winger's reverse pass presented Arfield with a golden chance. The Scotland Under-21 midfielder saw his first shot blocked by Tomas Cerny but made no mistake when the rebound fell kindly back at his left foot.
There was a let-off for the home side minutes later as the officials missed Cerny appearing to reach out of his box in preventing a corner.
Hamilton could perhaps count themselves unfortunate to be behind at the break but they enjoyed the perfect start to the second period as they snatched the equaliser after just four minutes of the half. Vitor Lima gave away a corner and when Paixao swung the set-piece in Antoine-Curier popped up at the back post to head in from close range after Olejnik had been left rooted to his line.
They were perhaps fortunate to then escape when Martin Canning appeared to handle Flynn's attempted cross but they got the second they sought in the 58th minute. Mensing threaded a pass through to Antoine-Curier 12 yards out and referee McDonald adjudged McLean to have brought the Frenchman down as he tumbled theatrically. Mensing himself despatched from the spot.
But Accies' lead was to last just two minutes. Pedro Moutinho sent in a free-kick from the left and, when the home defence failed to deal with his delivery, Flynn rifled his volley low past Cerny.
Copyright (C) PA Sport 2012.
