Barney Stewart scored his first professional hat-trick as classy Falkirk thumped Hibernian 4-1.
The striker, who was playing for Heriot Watt University just over a year ago, displayed his poacher’s instinct with three tap-ins from close range.
Hibs defender Rocky Bushiri had given the visitors hope of a fightback by making it 2-1 after the break.
But after Stewart, who now has 11 goals in 17 games this term after a productive loan spell at Dunfermline, scored his third, substitute Louie Marsh added further gloss to the scoreline with a well-taken late strike.
The result moves the Bairns to within two points of fifth-placed Hibs in the Scottish Premiership table.
Falkirk started on the front foot and it was no surprise when they went ahead in the 17th minute.
The lively Calvin Miller got a yard on Kanayo Megwa on the right side of the area and his menacing low cross into the six yard box was tucked away by Stewart.
Hibs struggled to get any foothold in the game but at least forced goalkeeper Scott Bain into a save.
A Jordan Obita free-kick into the box was met by Grant Hanley, but the Scotland defender’s head back across goal was brilliantly tipped over by the Bairns keeper.
That chance was Hibs’ only meaningful opportunity in the first half, with Falkirk continuing to be the aggressors at the other end.
Full-back Keelan Adams cut on to his left foot inside the area, but his shot drifted just wide of the far post.
Hibs goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger then had to get down to his left to keep out a well-worked free-kick that saw Miller attempt to catch out the Austrian at his near post.
Falkirk doubled their lead two minutes before the break with a brilliant team goal. After patiently keeping the ball at the back, the Bairns broke forward in devastating fashion. A Dylan Tait pass to Stewart was flicked on to Miller and the winger sprinted past Hanley before cutting the ball back for Stewart to stroke into the net from close range.
The visitors needed a response after the break and they got it in the 59th through Bushiri.
The defender met Obita’s corner to head past Bain from close range.
That set up a frantic and entertaining end to the game, with chances coming at both ends.
Stewart had a great chance to complete his hat-trick after Hibs got caught at the back but fired wide from 10 yards.
However, the striker was not to be denied in the 83rd minute with another tap in from just yards out following a pass from Marsh.
And the substitute got in on the act himself six minutes later with a stunning strike into the far corner from an angle from just inside the box.
