John Baird grabbed a first-half hat-trick as Falkirk smashed bottom-of-the-table Alloa Athletic 5-0 to move within five points of Scottish Championship leaders Rangers this afternoon.
Only 11 minutes elapsed before Baird opened the scoring at the Falkirk Stadium, gliding past his marker before slotting his 11th of the season.
The 30-year-old was in the thick of everything shortly after, sending two headers over the bar, but the visitors failed to heed the warning signs.
On 31 minutes, it was two when Baird was on hand to tuck home a rebound after Craig Sibbald's initial effort was blocked as the hosts looked on course for a fifth straight win.
Alloa would have reduced the arrears on 39 minutes if not for Danny Rogers, who raced back to clear Michael Chopra's effort off the line in what would swiftly prove a key moment.
On the stroke of half time, Baird completed his treble by slotting home following a corner to effectively seal the points and make it eight goals in four games for him.
If the points were not already safe, then they were just after the hour mark when Bob McHugh tucked home a Luke Leahy cross, with Leahy then adding a looping header on 81 minutes to cap a five-star display.
Shane Callaghan
