Owen Coyle hit three goals for Falkirk

Player-boss Owen Coyle grabbed a hat-trick at Brockville to secure the First Division title for Falkirk.

And it condemned Arbroath to relegation to the Second Division.

Falkirk needed to win and hope that Clyde beat second-top St Johnstone.

Clyde did the business at Broadwood and Falkirk, whose game kicked off 10 minutes late to let in the large, expectant crowd, followed suit thanks largely to Coyle.

Falkirk send SPL message

It was by no means a classic performance by the central Scotland side, who took the lead in the 25th minute.

Jamie McQuilken laid the ball off to Davie Nicholls, who crossed for Coyle to hook it home from close range.

The home side continued to struggle to hit top form but doubled their advantage on the hour-mark.

Falkirk now have to win an SPL vote to secure promotion

Coyle sidefooted the second goal from a McQuilken cross.

It was all over five minutes later, as Mark Kerr drilled the third goal from 14 yards.

The visitors pulled a goal back out of the blue in the 74th minute, when John Cusick glanced a lovely header past goalkeeper Craig Hinchcliffe.

But, a minute from the end, evergreen Coyle hit a rasping left-foot shot to claim a fitting hat-trick.

Falkirk: Ferguson, Reid, McQuilken, MacKenzie, Hughes, Nicholls, Kerr, Miller, Coyle, McPherson, Taylor. Subs: Christie, Rodgers, Henry, Samuel, Hill.

Arbroath: Hinchcliffe, McMullen, Dow, Currie, Ritchie, Forrest, Henslee, Cusick, Feroz, Cargill, Swankie. Subs: McAulay, Brownlie, Heenan, Graham, Woodcock.

Referee: D Smith.