Hartley gets off the mark at last as Bairns reduce the gap to safety

Paul Hartley secured his first win after three months as manager of Falkirk with a 3-2 home victory over Queen of the South on Saturday.

All the Bairns’ goals came in the first half through Peter Grant, pictured, Myles Hippolyte and Louis Longridge.

Joy was replaced by uncertainty as Stephen Dobbie gave the visitors a lifeline before the half-time whistle sounded and home nerves were frayed as Jason Kerr headed home in injury time for Queens’ second.

Hartley said: “It has been a long time coming and I am delighted with the win.”

Falkirk remain in second bottom spot, but the gap to eighthplaced Dumbarton is down to five points with a game in hand. Hartley added: “We have not won enough games and it has been a tough season for the fans so it was good to send them home happy.”

Queens manager Gary Naysmith said: “I cannot criticise the players for the work they put in when we attack. However, we have to defend a lot better than we have been doing.”

Brechin City have yet to win a game in the Championship this season and they may feel that they blew their best chance when they lost 3-2 to Inverness Caledonian Thistle at Glebe Park. The Highlanders took the lead after four minutes when Euan Smith turned an Iain Vigurs corner past his own goalkeeper. Brechin rallied and Jordan Sinclair levelled from the penalty spot after Carl Tremarco had handled, Sinclair then volleying the hosts in front six minutes from the break.

Substitute George Oakley equalised 20 minutes into the second half, but the odds were in City’s favour when Tremarco was dismissed seconds later. However, the ten men rallied and Oakley popped up with the winner 12 minutes from time.

The meetings between Livingston and Dunfermline, and Dumbarton v Morton, were postponed.