A dramatic late Kris Boyd winner gave Kilmarnock all three points in the Bank of Scotland Premier League game at Falkirk.

Both sides contributed to a poor first half but, five minutes after the interval, Killie midfielder James Fowler drove a wonderful shot from 25 yards to give the visitors the lead.

However, the home side refused to buckle and Kenny Milne's 74th-minute equaliser from close range after a goalmouth scramble looked to be enough to ensure a share of the spoils.

But, after Allan Johnston's drive was parried by Matt Glennon in injury time, Boyd nipped in to score a dramatic winner with his 17th strike of the season.

It was a heavy blow for the Bairns and the defeat extended their winless run at the Falkirk Stadium to 10 games.

Falkirk had looked determined at the start, forcing a couple of corners in the opening moments.

But it was the visitors who had the first real effort on goal in the third minute, Boyd side-stepping Milne to drive a shot from 16 yards past the far post.

The corner count mounted for the home side and defender Craig Ireland did have the ball in the net from a Russell Latapy cross from the left.

But referee Kenny Clark ruled Killie keeper Alan Combe had been fouled in the build-up.

In the 14th minute, a fine turn at the edge of the Killie penalty area by Pedro Moutinho gave the Portuguese midfielder the chance to fire in a low drive but Combe saved with ease.

Ireland had the ball in the net for the second time from an Alan Gow corner but, this time, the effort was ruled out because the ball had gone behind.

Killie striker Steven Naismith came close with a terrific angled volley, which Glennon did well to tip over the bar for a corner, which proved fruitless.

Within a minute of the restart, following some careless defending by Ireland, Fowler set up Naismith 16 yards from goal but the teenager's strike went wide of the target.

In the 50th minute, Fowler gave the visitors the lead with a spectacular goal.

After taking a pass from Gordon Greer, the Falkirk defence opened up in front of the Killie midfielder, who fired a 25-yard shot with his left foot high past the despairing Glennon.

Confidence shot through the Ayrshire side who threatened to add to their lead in the ensuing minutes, although Boyd's optimistic swipe from 20 yards soon after went high and wide.

The home side gingerly began their fightback but their disabling lack of penetration in attack was evident for all to see.

In the 66th minute, Killie midfielder Danny Invincibile made his first real contribution to the game when he robbed the hesitant Moutinho 30 yards from goal, burst into the Falkirk box and then slashed his right-footed shot just wide of the upright.

At the other end, Ireland headed a Russell Latapy free-kick just wide from eight yards out when he may well have scored.

But, in the 74th minute, the home side were back level after Naismith clumsily fouled Craig McPherson wide on the left.

From McPherson's free-kick, Combe did well to save an Andy Lawrie header from close range although the ball seemed to have crept over the line.

However, the visitors failed to clear properly and were punished when Bairns defender Kenny Milne managed to squeeze the ball in from a tight angle.

The rejuvenated home side pressed forward, but the Rugby Park side grabbed an injury-time winner through Boyd after Glennon had parried a Johnston shot from distance.

Teams:

Falkirk Glennon, Lawrie, McPherson, Ireland, Milne, Moutinho, Latapy (McStay 69), Scally, Lima, Duffy, Gow (McBreen 65).

Subs Not Used: Ferguson, Rodrigues, O'Neil, McSween, Twaddle.

Booked: Scally, Moutinho.

Goals: Milne 74.

Kilmarnock Combe, Greer, Hay, Ford, Wright, Invincibile, Johnston, Fowler, McDonald, Boyd, Naismith (Wales 78).

Subs Not Used: Smith, Lilley, Dodds, Dillon, Murray, Campbell.

Booked: Hay.

Goals: Fowler 50, Boyd 90.

Att: 4,804

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).