Falkirk 2 Dunfermline Athletic 0

IF this game had been played in the back garden, the curtains would have been well and truly closed.

The short trip to the Falkirk Stadium did not provide a pretty spectacle and saw an abrupt end to Dunfermline's 11 match unbeaten run.

Athletic never managed to find a rhythm and provided very little cheer for the 1321 fans who had made the trip for the derby match.

Sloppy passing and a failure to get into the game resulted in a frustrating afternoon for the away following.

Playing an unchanged starting line-up from the one which drew against Dundee United at East End Park the previous week, the Pars didn't impress in the first half.

The quality of football from both sides left a lot to be desired and Dunfermline failed to get a foothold into what was a scrappy opening 45 minutes.

They did venture towards goal in the 34th minute when Geggan had a chance after a good ball from Higginbotham however his effort was saved.

Action soon went to the other end and Dunfermline went a goal behind on the 35 minute mark when Falkirk's John Baird nodded in from short range after being put through by a Lee Miller ball.

Soon after, Dunfermline had another chance in front of goal when Andy Geggan put Moffat through. After turning well, his shot went wide.

The second half didn't see much improvement and chances for Dunfermline were few and far between.

Fans were given some cause for optimism immediately after the break with some good work from Moffat and Higginbotham but the Pars were unable to give much cause for concern for the Falkirk defence.

The Bairns could have doubled their lead after 52 minutes when Miller found himself unmarked in the box. His headed effort went just wide.

Nate Wedderburn did cause a stir in the box a few minutes later when his strong running and fancy footwork saw him go through several Falkirk players but there was never a real problem for keeper Danny Rogers.

After 68 minutes, Dunfermline had another let off when Craigen found himself unmarked in the box however he fluffed his effort and it went wide.

A Higginbotham corner two minutes later could have seen an equaliser but Lee Ashcroft saw his glancing header go just wide.

Falkirk made it two after 77 minutes. Certainly not a candidate for goal of the month, a John Baird effort was saved by Murdoch however a scramble near the goal line saw Miller get the second goal.

Murdoch was called into action again after 80 minutes when he parried a long range shot from Joe McKee.

The closing minutes did provide one half chance for Hopkirk but Falkirk stopper Danny Rogers was never really troubled.

The home side dominated possession and Dunfermline never showed any real sign of getting any share of the points.

Falkirk: Rogers, Leahy (Gallacher), Muirhead, McKee, Baird (McHugh), Sibbald, Hippolyte, Grant, Miller (Austin), Craigen, Watson.

Subs not used: Thomson, Kidd, Gasparotto, Shepherd.

Scorers: Baird (35), Miller (77).

Dunfermline: Murdoch, Talbot, Geggan, Wedderburn, Moffatt (Hopkirk), Ashcroft, McMullan (Reilly), Higginbotham, Herron (Cardle), Morris, Clark.

Subs not used: Hutton, Martin, Paton, McCabe.

Attendance: 5953

Referee: William Collum