Please cap down team names and bold up first reference

WITH just 663 hardy souls in attendance, Saturday's tea-time televisual experiment between DUMBARTON and FALKIRK at a chilly Bet Butler Stadium may not have been a box office success but there were few complaints in the visiting camp.

That may be just as well since the Bairns are in line for a repeat performance when they host Raith Rovers on Saturday.

Craig Sibbald, who scored one a set up another in a 3-0 win, just hopes there will be a few more to fill the stands at the Falkirk Stadium.

Sibbald admitted: "It was strange kicking-off at 5.30 but we managed to get ourselves up for it and it was another good performance.

"I'm sorry not too many fans were there to see but hopefully they turn up at our place next week and we can put on another good performance.

"The coaches told us before the game that Queen of the South had lost so we knew we had a great chance to close the gap.

"We're hitting form at a good time and we certainly think we can make the top four."

Rory Loy put Falkirk ahead early on but they were forced to survive a Sons rally before making the points safe through Blair Alston and Sibbald.

Bairns boss Peter Houston declared: "The first half performance is as good as we've played all season.

"The disappointing thing was that we only had the one goal to show for it but it was pleasing that we weathered the storm when they started putting balls into our box.

"That's us starting to find a bit of consistency now and confidence is high."

Dumbarton counterpart Ian Murray admitted: "We were happy to only be 1-0 down at half-time because Falkirk were dominant.

"We had much more energy and desire about us in the second half but were hit by a sucker punch."

Falkirk have moved within two points of joint third Hibernian and QUEEN OF THE SOUTH, the latter suffering a surprise 2-1 defeat to COWDENBEATH at Palmerston Park.

The Blue Brazil went ahead before the break through Callum Gallagher but the Doonhamers appeared to have rescued at least a point when Derek Lyle levelled four minutes from time.

However, Sean Higgins pounced with a stoppage time winner as the Fifers hoisted themselves seven pints clear of bottom place.

League 1 has new leaders after STRANRAER carved out their second win in as many weeks at East End Park, Frank McKeown's header enough to beat DUNFERMLINE ATHLETIC who were managed for the first time by John Potter.

The Blues have moved ahead of FORFAR ATHLETIC on goal difference after the Loons were held to a 1-1 draw by improving AIRDRIEONIANS at Station Park.

MORTON also lost ground after Jamie Stevenson sunk his old team-mates with the winner for PETERHEAD at Cappielow.

BRECHIN CITY moved closer to the top four with a 2-0 win against ten-man STENHOUSEMUIR while manager-less AYR UNITED needed an injury time equaliser from Craig Beattie to draw 2-2 with bottom-of-the-table STIRLING ALBION.

League Two leaders ARBROATH had a good day, beating BERWICK RANGERS 2-0 while their closest challengers QUEEN'S PARK and ALBION ROVERS were involved in goal-less draws with ANNAN ATHLETIC and MONTROSE.

There was relief for CLYDE who ended a run of five defeats by beating EAST FIFE 3-1 at Broadwood.