Falkirk 2 - 1 Queen of the South: Loy at the double

FALKIRK required steel as well as artistry to see off Queen of the South with a Rory Loy double to keep pace at the Championship summit.

The surprise was that the Bairns needed a penalty to make the breakthrough and then a late second from Loy to seal all three points after Iain Russell’s equaliser. Manager Gary Holt said: “The way they stood up to the test was excellent and Rory’s come up trumps with a great finish.”

Falkirk had probed incessantly, at one point forcing four consecutive corners without success, but they finally got the goal they deserved after Ian McShane handled Jay Fulton’s free-kick just inside the box.

Despite their first-half dominance, Falkirk had keeper Michael McGovern to thank for two superb saves from Russell either side of the break.

However, there was nothing the Northern Ireland internationalist could do when Queens equalised 11 minutes into the second period, Russell expertly arrowing a beautiful shot into the top corner.

Blair Alston’s net-bound shot was then blocked and a Craig Sibbald effort was booted off the line but Loy speared in his late winner from 20 yards on the break.