Match ends, Falkirk 5, Alloa Athletic 0.
FalkirkFalkirk5AlloaAlloa Athletic0
John Baird scored a first-half hat-trick as Falkirk swept Alloa aside to move to within one point of second place in the Championship.
Bob McHugh and Luke Leahy added goals after the interval in a one-sided contest.
Peter Houston's side have lost just twice in the league this season, to the teams above them: Hibs and Rangers.
The struggling Wasps remain rooted to the bottom of the table - five points adrift of ninth place.
Falkirk took a 12th-minute lead when the prolific Baird was sent clear by Mark Kerr's long pass and slammed home.
The striker found the net once more when he linked up with Craig Sibbald and after the midfielder's shot was blocked he followed up to score his 12th goal of the season.
And his treble was completed from Sibbald's corner after Blair Alston's long-range blast was blocked by defender Kyle McAusland.
It was Baird's eighth goal in four games.
Home keeper Danny Rogers did well to deny Michael Chopra and Mark Williams before McHugh made it 4-0 from close range after Leahy's ball in.
Rogers made an excellent save from Scott Hynd and Leahy rounded off a convincing win with a good header from Aaron Muirhead's cross.
Line-ups
Falkirk
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Rogers
- 4Muirhead
- 14Grant
- 44WatsonSubstituted forSinnamonat 75'minutes
- 3Leahy
- 10SibbaldSubstituted forBlairat 79'minutes
- 11Kerr
- 6Vaulks
- 8AlstonSubstituted forSmithat 69'minutes
- 19McHugh
- 9Baird
Substitutes
- 5McCracken
- 17Smith
- 18Miller
- 20Cooper
- 21Tokarczyk
- 22Blair
- 24Sinnamon
Alloa
Formation 4-4-1-1
- 1McNeil
- 20WilliamsSubstituted forHetheringtonat 61'minutesBooked at 84mins
- 2McAusland
- 4Reintam
- 3HillBooked at 56mins
- 15DoyleBooked at 8mins
- 10Holmes
- 8O'BrienSubstituted forHyndat 75'minutes
- 14McManus
- 27CrawfordSubstituted forHardieat 75'minutes
- 9Chopra
Substitutes
- 13Paun
- 18Hetherington
- 21Crawford
- 22Hoggan
- 24Hynd
- 26Wilson
- 28Hardie
- Referee:
- Kevin Clancy
- Attendance:
- 3,550
Match Stats
Home TeamFalkirkAway TeamAlloa
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home23
- Away4
- Shots on Target
- Home10
- Away2
- Corners
- Home11
- Away3
- Fouls
- Home6
- Away8
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Falkirk 5, Alloa Athletic 0.
Post update
Attempt saved. David Smith (Falkirk) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Falkirk. Conceded by Dougie Hill.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Will Vaulks (Falkirk) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
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Aaron Muirhead (Falkirk) hits the right post with a right footed shot from the centre of the box.
Post update
Corner, Falkirk. Conceded by Kyle McAusland.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Robert McHugh (Falkirk) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.
Booking
Steven Hetherington (Alloa Athletic) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Ryan Sinnamon (Falkirk) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Post update
Foul by Steven Hetherington (Alloa Athletic).
Post update
Attempt missed. John Baird (Falkirk) left footed shot from the centre of the box is just a bit too high.
Goal!
Goal! Falkirk 5, Alloa Athletic 0. Luke Leahy (Falkirk) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Aaron Muirhead with a cross.
Substitution
Substitution, Falkirk. Ryan Blair replaces Craig Sibbald.
Post update
Corner, Alloa Athletic. Conceded by Danny Rogers.
Post update
Attempt saved. Scott Hynd (Alloa Athletic) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Attempt saved. Aaron Muirhead (Falkirk) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal.
Post update
Corner, Falkirk. Conceded by Andy McNeil.
Post update
Attempt saved. Will Vaulks (Falkirk) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Substitution
Substitution, Alloa Athletic. Michael Hardie replaces Robbie Crawford.
