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Harry Milne’s second half double secured a throughly deserved victory over the Bairns in our cinch League One clash at the Falkirk Stadium.

Full-back Milne stepped up to the plate to ensure we grabbed what could be a massive victory despite the loss of main striking duo – skipper Mitch Megginson and Rory McAllister – because of injuries.

Those two have shared 40 goals this term, so it was obviously a concern to have to attempt to beat our full-time hosts without them.

All credit to the rest of the players, they shrugged off that double set-back, controlled the game from start to finish and claimed the three points thanks to Milne’s second double of the season.

Megginson, scorer of 21 so far, was ruled out by the injury that forced him to retire early from last weekend’s 1-1 draw away to Queen’s Park.

That was bad enough, but we then also lost 19-goal McAllister, who appeared to suffer a calf injury and was forced off after just nine minutes of the meeting with the Bairns.

Our lads didn’t panic though.

In actual fact, they totally outplayed Falkirk and remained patient until the breakthrough they needed finally came.

Milne and midfielder Iain Vigurs were back in the starting line-up after missing the game with Queen’s Park because of injury and illness.

Our first effort at goal came after just two minutes, when Fraser Fyvie collected Milne’s thrown-in from the left and turned to fire a 20-yard shot off target.

Falkirk keeper Robbie Mutch blocked a shot from Fyvie in the fourth minute, although the midfielder had actually strayed offside.

McAllister initially pulled up and and required treatment after just six minutes.

The striker came back on, but pulled up again and had to be replaced by Leighton McInstosh in the ninth minute.

Falkirk had a decent chance in the 12th minute, when Steven Hetherington fed a pass through to Leigh Griffiths and he missed the target with a first time volley.

We were in full control after that though.

Blair Yule had a go from distance, but his shot lacked power and was easily gathered by Mutch.

We pushed forward again in the 22nd minute for Mark Reynolds to send a chip into the Falkirk area, where McIntosh steered a 14-yard header wide.

Mutch made a great save in the 26th minute, beating away McIntosh’s shot from the edge of the area, after Vigurs had cut the ball back from the left.

Connor Scully was the next to have a go, with his low 20-yard shot gathered by the diving Mutch.

Mutch also held McIntosh’s shot, from a very tight angle on the left, as we continued to probe for the opener, but it was still all square at the interval.

Our patience was rewarded in the second half, but only after Milne was harshly booked for a foul on Charlie Telfer, in the 49th minute.

Griffiths took the free-kick, but his effort from 20-yards flew well off target.

The breakthrough we thoroughly deserved came in the 54th minute.

Vigurs smuggled the ball back to Logan, out on the right, and when he crossed it to the back post fellow full-back MILNE was there to get up above his marker to direct a six yard header back across the face of the goal into the net.

MILNE made it 2-0 on the hour with a brilliant strike, for what was his fifth goal of the campaign.

Keeper Mutch rolled the ball out to Telfer and Milne quickly nipped in to dispossess the Falkirk man then lashed an unstoppable 20-yard shot high into the net.

Milne’s afternoon ended in the 72nd minute, when he also pulled up with an injury and was replaced by Jamie Masson, with Ola Adeyemo, also coming on for Connor Scully.

Falkirk substitute Jaze Kabia had their best chance so far soon afterwards, but sent his eight yard header, from a Williamson cross, over from 10-yards.

Falkirk’s only effort on target, in the 83rd minute, was kept out by a brilliant save by Stuart McKenzie.

Griffiths looked certain to score with his six yard header, off a Williamson cross, until McKenzie dived full length to his right to push the ball to safety.

Griffiths also poked a shot wide in the 93rd minute.

There was no further drama though as we extended our unbeaten run in the league to 23 games.

The news Montrose had drawn with nearest challengers Airdrieonians, to send us five points clear at the top of the table with three to play, added to the joy among the players as they went to celebrate in front of the noisy band of Cove Rangers fans inside the stadium.

FALKIRK: Mutch, R Williamson, Dixon, Taylor-Sinclair, Miller, Morrison (Nesbit 83), Hetherington, Griffiths, McGuffie, Jacobs, Telfer (Kabia 67) (Malcolm 93).

Subs: Holt, Wilson, McCann, Ross, Lemon.

COVE RANGERS: McKenzie, Neill, Milne (Masson 73), Scully (Adeyemo 73), Ross, Yule, McAllister (McIntosh 9) (Leitch 86), Vigurs, Fyvie, Logan, Reynolds.

Subs: Gourlay, Fotheringham.

Referee: Chris Graham.

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