FALKIRK SIGNED off their home campaign with a typically stylish display against Inverness Caledonian Thistle, spurning several goal- scoring chances before finally taking the lead on 28 minutes.

They waited until the 69th minute to add the killer blow and allowed a late consolation for Inverness. But the performance, both in terms of style and inability to kill the game off early, was typical of their season. It was the first time they have put together back-to-back wins since January.

It is hardly surprising that in the programme John Hughes, the Falkirk manager, mentions Anthony Stokes, the young striker that left the club at the end of last season. Stokes scored with abandon while on loan with Falkirk and it would have been easy to imagine him grabbing a hat-trick in yesterday's tie.

Falkirk's Michael Higdon took the opener well, but it was only his eighth strike of the season and before he found the net, sliding the ball back across the face of the goal from a corner, he had already been gifted a number of chances.

Higdon's first opportunity to test Michael Fraser in the Inverness goal came as early as the first minute, a Tam Scobbie free-kick being flighted perfectly into the danger area where Higdon met it eight yards from goal, but his header bounced tamely into Fraser's arms.

His best chance came 14 minutes later, after Pedro Moutinho had stumbled through a number of defensive challenges to slip the ball to Higdon in a central position as he entered the penalty area. He beat the offside, drew the goalkeeper, but sent his shot agonisingly wide. In fairness to the striker he had done well to get into a good position and in that his play was typical of Falkirk.

In a game that was conducted in an open manner, Inverness too spurned first-half chances. Like their hosts they were prepared to move themselves and the ball around in an inventive way, even if they did not have an equal share of possession.

The first chance that the visitors made came after four minutes when a good ball put Barry Wilson clear of the home defence. Shane Supple, in the Falkirk goal, miscalculated the pace of the ball and was rounded by Wilson, who in going wide of the goalkeeper blazed his shot over.

Both sides continued to create chances until Higdon finally gave Falkirk the lead but within seconds parity could have been restored. Once again good movement carved open a defence, on this occasion, Thistle's Don Cowie being the beneficiary as he found himself in front of goal 12 yards out with only Supple to beat. As he prepared to strike, however, Darren Barr appeared from nowhere to put in the crucial tackle.

Cowie did get to test Supple later, but the goalkeeper made a spectacular flying save from his long- range shot. After the break Inverness started with a number of assaults on the Falkirk goal. Rory McAllister sent a header just wide, Supple plucked a useful looking cross from Marius Niculae out of the air, and Roy McBain hit the side netting.

There was, however, always the possibility that Falkirk could double their lead and the chances of that increased with the introduction of Russell Latapy, who played a big part in Falkirk's second. With his 40th birthday fast approaching Latapy's legs may not have as much running as they once did but his footballing brain remains in fine fettle.

With a little more than 20 minutes remaining Latapy's ball to Moutinho let the Portuguese lay the ball wide to Carl Finnigan, whose rifled shot flew into the roof of the net. There was no doubting the quality of the goal, but Inverness continued to have more possession though they failed to trouble Supple.

Ross Tokely's header hit the post, but overall the Falkirk defence appeared comfortable. At the other end Higdon was again guilty of spurning chances. First Latapy set up the striker, then a cross from Kevin Moffat was headed wide.

Unable to find a way past Supple in open play, Inverness were gifted a penalty when Tam Scobbie brought down Wilson in the box. He calmly sent Supple the wrong way with his kick.

The announcement at the end of the game that Hearts had lost to Kilmarnock led the announcer to proclaim that seventh spot in the table is on the horizon. But Hughes knows that with a Stokes in his side a place in the top six would have been a certainty. Expect the manager to spend summer sourcing another striker.

Falkirk substitutes: Latapy for Arfield 60, Moffat for Moutinho 77, Stewart for Finnigan 87 Not used: Olejnik, Ross, Barrett, Bradley.
Inverness substitutes: Duncan for Black 46, Bayne for McAllister 73, Vigurs for Niculae 80 Not used: Malkowski, Hart, Wyness, Kerr Booked: Proctor 80 Bayne 89
Referee: D Sumers
Att: 5631