Falkirk have secured a spot in the second round of the Scottish League Cup following an emphatic 5-0 victory over East Stirlingshire at Falkirk Stadium.
The visitors pushed for an early goal when Billy Vidler curled a dangerous-looking cross in towards the back post, but Luke Leahy was there to put it behind for a corner.
However, it was Falkirk who opened the scoring when Aaron Muirhead struck the ball on the volley from just outside the box, hitting it in off the underside of the crossbar.
The home side struck the woodwork twice more before half time but were unable to extend their lead as David Smith saw his effort tipped onto the bar by Richard Barnard before Blair Alston was denied by the post.
Jon Tully came close to getting East Stirling back on level terms early in the second half as he rifled a dipping volley towards the Falkirk goal, but it ended up on the roof of the net.
The hosts doubled their advantage with less than 60 minutes gone though, as John Baird finished a quick break with a lob beyond Barnard.
Falkirk soon made it three as Bob McHugh was played in on the left-hand side of the box before seeing his strike deflected in off Vidler, who was credited with an own goal.
McHugh claimed one of his own just three minutes later after the visitors failed to clear a cross, allowing the striker to blast it into the top corner.
Things got worse for the visitors before full time as Alston made amends for hitting the post in the first half after sprinting into the box and slotting the ball under the legs of the keeper.
McHugh wanted another before the end of the match as he tried his luck with an overhead bicycle kick just a couple of minutes from full time, but it was comfortably claimed by Barnard.
Sian Cowper
