A penalty apiece for Falkirk and Hamilton ensured that this game finished honours even.
The game started at pace and within the first minute, the home side showed that they were certainly up for this when Russell Latapy put through a ball to Andy Thomson, who beat keeper David McEwan, and cut the ball back to Darryl Duffy, only to find the resulting shot blocked by the Hamilton defence.
Minutes later, chances again fell to Latapy and Duffy, shooting from long range and only the excellent goalkeeping skills from McEwan saved the visitors.
In the 24th minute, Latapy unleashed a 25-yard volley which was tipped over the crossbar and, four minutes later, Craig McPherson's cross found Duffy again, but his header went wide.
The visitors were not to be out done and were awarded a penalty when referee Dougie McDonald spotted an off the ball incident between Falkirk's Mark Campbell and Hamilton's Mark McLaughlin. Brian Carrigan converted.
Falkirk's David Nicholls, was thwarted before and after the break with three attempts from long range, that tested McEwan in the goal.
The home side were by this time throwing everything into the game to try and even things up.
Latapy was running the midfield and when he weaved his magic 25 minutes into the second half, Hamilton substitute David Hamilton brought down the Trinidadian and the referee pointed to the spot again. Duffy converted the kick.
Falkirk tried to get the winner with substitute Kieran McAnespie shooting from outside the box and Scott MacKenzie just before the final whistle from close in, but the home side could not find a decider.