IN the end, it was the lure of promotion that held sway over the fear of relegation as Falkirk elevated themselves into the promotion play-off places with victory over second-bottom Cowdenbeath.

This was Falkirk's second opportunity in the space of just three days to leapfrog Queen of the South into the coveted fourth place in the table and they grasped it this time with a header from captain David McCracken moments before the interval.

With Queen of the South, as anticipated, slipping up against all-conquering Hearts amidst Tynecastle's title party atmosphere at the weekend, the Bairns suffered a less expected stumble by going down to a 1-0 defeat away to Dumbarton.

However, although it was not to prove as plain sailing as they would have hoped, there was to be no disappointment on this occasion as Peter Houston's side took advantage of this rearranged fixture.

The home side have built a reputation in recent years on patient passing football but this was a night when the points and not the performance were to prove king.

For the Blue Brazil, wearing the blue and gold of the genuine South American version, victories or even draws have been the goal for weeks. At least they had Jimmy Nicholl back in the dugout to guide them after their manager had missed Saturday's 4-1 defeat to Rangers at Ibrox to take up his new duties as Northern Ireland assistant.

But, despite an improved display in the second-half, there was to be no welcome back for the Central Park boss. With 23 minutes gone, Falkirk finally threatened the deadlock after the first quarter had passed by without incident.

There looked to be little on as Will Vaulks took possession on the right apex of the Cowdenbeath box, which is possibly why the right-back attempted a snap shot that screwed just inches by Robbie Thomson's right-hand upright.

Two minutes later, John Baird had the ball in the net with a spinning volley but the striker was adjudged to have strayed into an offside position before Taylor Morgan's shot cannoned off John Armstrong and into his path 10 yards out.

The opening goal finally arrived just as Cowdenbeath were thinking they had reached the sanctuary of half-time unscathed. Alex Cooper's free-kick was whipped into the heart of the danger area and skipper McCracken rose above the visitors' rearguard to flick a header into the net.

Cowdenbeath keeper Robbie Thomson showed the dexterity of goalie dad Scott to tip over Mark Kerr's netbound effort 10 minutes after the break, whilst Falkirk defender Peter Grant displayed the bravery of his father of the same name to repel a dangerous drive from Kudus Oyenuga in the 64th minute. However, McCracken's solitary strike proved enough to give Falkirk their second narrow success against their opponents in a week.