Falkirk clinch semi-final spot

Sibbald guided home Luke Leahy's driven cross in the 35th minute at an extremely windy Palmerston Park to prevail in the all Scottish Championship clash.

Falkirk were playing with the wind in the first half but it proved difficult for both teams to deal with chances few and far between in the early stages.

Iain Russell made a good run into the box for the hosts but could not get a shot in and David Smith tried his luck with a left-footed strike at the other end which Zander Clark spilled but grabbed hold at the second attempt.

Falkirk striker Rory Loy blazed well over from a difficult volley before the visitors took the lead.

The goal came from Leahy's throw-in, with the left-back getting the ball back from a team-mate and sending in a powerful volleyed cross which swerved beyond the home defence.

Sibbald ran on to it and got the slightest of touches to steer it away from Clark and into the far corner.

Falkirk goalkeeper Jamie MacDonald kept his side in front at half-time when he blocked Gavin Reilly's shot from a tight angle and the Bairns held out well in the second period.

Peter Grant and Reilly headed off target at either end as the teams continued to be evenly matched.

The closest the home side came was when substitute Dan Carmichael beat Leahy and put in a dangerous ball which was half-cleared to Russell, but the forward's shot bounced into the ground and up into MacDonald's arms.

Falkirk suffered two injury blows in the final 10 minutes. Loy went off with an ankle knock and Leahy looked to be knocked out cold by team-mate Grant's boot as the left-back headed clear a cross.

There were seven minutes of injury-time after Leahy was carried off on a stretcher but Falkirk stood up to an aerial barrage to make the last four for the second time in three seasons.