Simon Lappin earned St Mirren their first victory in the Bank of Scotland Premier League since the end of September with a wonderful second-half strike against Falkirk at Love Street.

Lappin curled a beautiful effort into the corner of the net in the 67th minute to ease the Buddies' fears of being dragged into a relegation fight.

Alan Gow and Anthony Stokes wasted inviting openings for Falkirk as Gus MacPherson's side moved eight points clear of Dunfermline at the foot of the table.

MacPherson shuffled his resources following the 5-1 defeat at Hibernian on Saturday, handing recalls to forward Mark Corcoran, midfielder Garry Brady and stalwart defender Andy Millen.

But it was Falkirk who were the first to threaten when Stokes timed his run in behind the home defence perfectly and pulled the ball back for Gow just inside the penalty box.

The Bairns striker, one of the most technically gifted players in the SPL, was far from sure-footed on this occasion though, slicing his effort horribly wide in the third minute.

The Buddies' first chance arrived 10 minutes later when Brady won the ball in midfield and set Corcoran free in the inside right channel with a well-weighted pass.

The former Hamilton winger's fine first touch gave him the opportunity to strike at goal but, with Scott Higgins advancing quickly off his line, he dragged his effort wide of the left-hand post.

The chance nevertheless settled MacPherson's side and they enjoyed the better of the game for the subsequent 10 minutes, although Bairns midfielder Patrick Cregg should have made more of an opening created by Stokes after 21 minutes.

The best move of the match came in the 33rd minute when Russell Latapy - drafted into Falkirk's starting line-up at the expense of Vitor Lima - earned himself a bit of space in midfield with a wonderful piece of control before threading a lovely pass to Stokes.

The Irish striker collected the ball in his stride and crossed dangerously into the box where Kirk Broadfoot was well-placed to clear his lines.

Three minutes before the break, Cregg found Stokes in acres of space on the edge of the box, but the highly-rated striker could only blast the ball at the advancing Chris Smith, who was deputising for Tony Bullock.

The Bairns started the second half brightly and worked the ball cleverly to Latapy on the edge of the box in the 49th minute and it took two St Mirren defenders to deflect the former Rangers schemer's shot away for a corner.

The home side thought they had a case for a penalty five minutes later when Corcoran collected John Sutton's chest down, but referee Steve Conroy correctly adjudged Stephen O'Donnell - booked in the first half - had won the ball cleanly.

Stokes, who has made such an impression in the first half of the SPL season during his loan from Arsenal, wasted another opening just after the hour mark when he shot weakly - with Gow well placed to receive a potentially decisive pass.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 67th minute when Buddies midfielder Lappin used his cultured left foot to great effect, curling in a wonderful shot from just outside the box which beat Higgins and nestled in the left-hand corner of the net.

Hughes reacted to his side falling behind by withdrawing Gow, who had endured a frustrating afternoon, and replacing him with former Hibs striker Tom McManus.

In the 76th minute, Stokes curled a fine free-kick just over the bar and moments later MacPherson made his first switch, replacing the ineffective Sutton with Scott Gemmill.

Hughes' side threw men forward in a bid to salvage a point but St Mirren's ageing defence stood firm.

Their only glimmer of a chance came in the last minute when McManus found himself unmarked 12 yards out, but his weak prod at goal failed to worry Smith as the Buddies held on for three welcome points.

Teams

St Mirren Smith, van Zanten, Millen, McGowne, Broadfoot,Murray, Brittain, Brady, Lappin, Corcoran (McKenna 90),Sutton (Gemmill 77).

Subs Not Used: McColgan, Potter, Maxwell, Reid, McCay.

Booked: Murray.

Goals: Lappin 67.

Falkirk Higgins, Ross, Barr, Dodd, Milne, Craig, Cregg,O'Donnell, Latapy, Gow (McManus 70), Stokes.

Subs Not Used: Lambers, Uras, John Stewart, Scobbie, Thomson,

Lima.

Booked: O'Donnell, Milne.

Att: 5,212

Ref: S Conroy (Scotland).