Falkirk 1-0 Kilmarnock: Will Vaulks strike edges Bairns ahead

A stoppage-time goal from Will Vaulks secured a 1-0 win for Falkirk over Kilmarnock in the first leg of their Scottish Premiership play-off final.

Killie wasted a number of decent chances to edge ahead in the tie and were instead dealt a sucker punch late on when Vaulks drilled home to leave Peter Houston's side in control.

The visitors were without top goalscorer and Northern Ireland Euro 2016 hopeful Josh Magennis but they started well enough in their bid to maintain their 23-year stay in the top flight.

Falkirk goalkeeper Danny Rogers had to backtrack to palm away Gary Dicker's cross, with his defence then helping him out after Kris Boyd turned the ball back into the goalmouth.

At the other end, Jamie MacDonald held a Blair Alston shot at the second attempt as Falkirk began to get on top, although the first real chance of the contest did not arrive until a third of the way into the game.

Bob McHugh turned inside Lee Ashcroft and got away a shot which MacDonald again spilled, but John Baird wastefully volleyed the rebound over from six yards.

Kilmarnock might have had a penalty late in the half but Tope Obadeyi stayed on his feet when he could have gone down after he was caught by Luke Leahy's sliding challenge.

Obadeyi continued to cause problems after the break and his run ended in a 53rd-minute corner which almost led to the opening goal.

Craig Slater's low delivery made it through to Boyd 16 yards out but his left-footed shot was headed over by Craig Sibbald as it looked to be heading for the top corner.

Boyd soon set up a glorious chance for Obadeyi when he lobbed the ball over the top of the back four, but the Englishman delayed his shot and could only find the side-netting after taking a heavy touch.

Houston's men came back into it but MacDonald had an escape after he failed to hold Baird's cross, only for the striker and Sibbald to both shoot off target from the edge of the box.

Boyd had one more chance to score when Slater's back-post cross gave him a free header but Rogers was fully behind his effort to block.

MacDonald again looked unconvincing as he palmed away Vaulks' bouncing effort before Boyd sliced wide from the edge of the box.

But a packed Falkirk stadium came alive when Vaulks pounced late on, firing through a sea of bodies after Sibbald had cut the ball back to him, with referee John Beaton then blowing for time as soon as Kilmarnock kicked off.

The second leg will take place at Rugby Park on Sunday.