Queen of the South 1 - 5 Falkirk: Falkirk dish out a royal thrashing

FALKIRK, inspired by 16-year-old prospect Craig Sibbald, turned in a devastating second-half performance to keep in touch at the top.

They went close when Kallum Higginbotham had a 20-yard volley saved by Lee Robinson. Then, on 13 minutes, Falkirk keeper Michael McGovern made a fingertip save to keep out Nicky Clark’s header.

David Weatherston headed wide from close range following Sibbald’s inch-perfect corner for the Bairns.

Queens went in front on 34 minutes with McLaughlin sidefooting home after a good move involving Kevin Smith and Clark.

Sibbald then danced his way through three challenges to equalise from the edge of the box.

Morroccan striker Farid El Alagui attacked the Doonhamers defence and laid the ball on a plate for Higginbotham but his fellow frontman shot wide.

El Alagui then fired Falkirk in front with a venomous shot home from an acute angle on the left of the box following Mark Millar’s cross on 73 minutes.

Queens, affected by that goal, had a terrible last quarter of an hour with Sibbald making it 3-1 after latching onto Millar’s pass before finishing coolly.

Higginbotham smashed the ball home from 15 yards before El Alagui tapped home his second to put further gloss on the score.