Sibbald Ends Queens Hopes

Falkirk reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals for the second time in three years with victory over Queen of the South at Palmerston Park.

Craig Sibbald headed the Bairns into a first-half lead following Luke Leahy's precise ball across goal.

Queens pressed forward but rarely looked like finding a way past Jamie MacDonald in the Falkirk goal.

And Peter Houston's men saw out the second half relatively comfortably to book their place in Sunday's draw.

Falkirk lived dangerously with a couple of borderline offside calls going their way, and Queens continued to have the better of the early exchanges.

Iain Russell knocked the ball past David McCracken but his cut-back could not find a blue shirt in the best opening.

The fierce Dumfries wind was taking effect though and with it behind them Falkirk slowly began to seize the initiative.

Tom Taiwo fired over and Queens goalkeeper Zander Clark was called into action to deny David Smith's low, bobbling shot.

Rory Loy's volley from 10 yards was too high, but minutes later they broke the deadlock.

Leahy's throw-in was played back to him and he picked out Sibbald, who had slipped ahead of Chris Higgins to steer the ball into the corner of the net.

The goal did not slow either side down. Gavin Reilly shrugged off the attentions of his marker to fire low against goalkeeper MacDonald, before Falkirk went forward again with Blair Alston's looping header keeping Clark busy.

Russell's fresh air swipe inside the box summed up Queens' luck in front of goal, and it did not get much better when Reilly was a yard short of meeting Lewis Kidd's inviting cross before sending a header over a minute later.

Russell forced MacDonald into a save on the half-volley and Alston had the opportunity to put the game beyond the hosts when he broke free on the left, but he never gave Loy a chance with a poor ball across goal.

Seven minutes were added on after Leahy appeared to be knocked out following a boot to the face from team-mate Grant, and Queens felt they should have had a spot-kick for handball but the referee wwould have none of it.