Arfield scored his tenth goal of the season against Hamilton
Scott Arfied scored the only goal to beat Hamilton Accies and lift Falkirk off the bottom of the Scottish Premier League with two matches left.
In a low quality affair, Hamilton had the best effort of the first 45 from Brian Easton's curling shot which was saved by Dani Mallo.
The Bairns were denied a second-half penalty when Neil McCann was felled by Tomas Cerny.
But Arfield sealed a vital win with a sweet left-footed strike on 60 minutes.
Given there was so much at stake, it was perhaps little surprise to find a game that was, for long spells, cagey and scrappy with little goalmouth action to speak of.
But as the first period wore on, Falkirk found it difficult to deal with the combined threat of James McCarthy and Easton on the Hamilton left.
And full-back Easton nearly put the home team ahead on 21 minutes with a rasping 20-yard effort, which was destined for the top-corner until Bairns goalkeeper Mallo got a finger-tip to it.
Eight minutes before half-time, McCarthy looked to be through on goal after pushing the ball passed Steven Pressley.
But the Scotland coach blocked the teenage midfielder, and was perhaps lucky to escape with just a yellow card.
At the other end Pressley should have tested Cerny in the Accies goal with a header, but could not direct his effort under the crossbar.
And with a minute of stoppage time in the first half to go, Michael Higdon passed up the away side's best chance, heading Carl Finnigan's cross wide when free at the back post.
Falkirk had what appeared to be a valid claim for a penalty waved away by referee Mike McCurry on 57 minutes when McCann was grounded by Cerny after the winger had rounded him.
But moments later the Bairns took the lead with a wonderful goal by Arfield, who curled a left-footed shot in off the post past Cerny from 20 yards.
Hamilton pushed more men up front in a 4-2-4 formation in the final quarter of the match, and in stoppage time were denied when Lee Bullen produced a fantastic covering tackle to block McCarthy.
And Accies were unable to find an equaliser with Falkirk taking a massive step towards top-flight survival.
Hamilton manager Billy Reid:
"I thought first half we were brilliant, the best side by far - especially with Brian Easton and James McCarthy on the left - but we couldn't get a finish.
"Falkirk came out the better side in the first 20 minutes of the second half and what a finish by Scott Arfield.
"We then hit them with everything. But it wasn't to be.
"We had a man sent off on Sunday for intent, and tonight McCarthy - the best player on the park at that point - was taken out with a crude challenge (by Falkirk's Steven Pressley).
"In football you don't always get what you deserve, and nobody could deny we deserved at least a point from this game."
Falkirk manager John Hughes:
"I'm, honest to say that was a murder game of football, but it was all about getting the result tonight.
"I'm proud of the boys; they've really dug in and showed a lot of spirit.
"The fans know we're trying and they came out and supported us today.
"But what a wonderful goal to win a football match from Scott Arfield, and I thought we should've had a penalty before that when Neil McCann was brought down.
"I'm delighted to get the three points, and it's just great to be off the bottom of the league."
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