Parkinson craves more career highs with Falkirk

Falkirk's Scottish Cup run this season has already given Ben Parkinson the best moment of his career. Now he is hungry for more heroics when the Bairns head to Hampden.

Striker Parkinson, who joined from Newcastle in January, opened his Bairns account on his third outing when he netted the opener in the fourth round against high-flying Hearts.

A late Lawrence Shankland penalty took the tie the distance - and it was 21-year-old Parkinson who scored the decisive spot-kick in the shootout to send John McGlynn's side through.

They went on to beat Dundee United in the quarter-finals to set up a derby semi-final against Championship outfit Dunfermline on Saturday - live on BBC One Scotland.

"I think that night at Tynecastle was probably the best of my career so far," Parkinson said.

"I want to try and replicate that on Saturday and ultimately going forward, try and play in more big moments, score more big goals and stuff, because that's what you want to do, especially as a striker.

"You come in, you get brought in to score goals, so yeah, that was a good moment."

Celtic or League Cup winners St Mirren await in the final. And Parkinson, who believed earlier this year Falkirk could go all the way in the competition, is even more confident in his claim.

"I think I said at the time, a bit tongue-in-cheek, we could go all the way, but I genuinely believe that and I think there's no point in playing in a cup competition and not having that mindset," he added.

"Ultimately you've got to want to try and win and I think that's what the boys can definitely do."

Parkinson was sidelined by an ankle injury for two-and-a-half months immediately after his exploits against Hearts but has returned to the fray for the past two matches against Motherwell and Rangers.

And having made just senior appearance before moving to Falkirk, he is loving life with the Premiership upstarts.

"It's been amazing," he said. "It's been a great start, obviously a few disappointments with the injury and stuff, but now that I'm back, it's great to be back with the lads.

"When I first came in, all I wanted to do was prove myself and I think I kind of did that. Obviously then getting injured, you've got to pick yourself back up and you've got to try and prove yourself again and that's ultimately what I want to do."