Lewis Smith’s spectacular strike helped Livingston defeat Falkirk 3-1 within the battle of the William Hill Premiership’s promoted groups.
The Lions had been two forward on the break by way of objectives from Scott Pittman and Smith earlier than Robbie Muirhead’s penalty was saved by Bairns goalkeeper Scott Bain early within the second half.
The guests hit again by way of Ross MacIver however Livi, who took 10 factors from the 4 conferences between the perimeters final time period, sealed one other optimistic end result in opposition to John McGlynn’s males when Jeremy Bokila struck late on.
Smith scores to make it 2-0 to the hosts.
Lions boss David Martindale made two adjustments to the workforce that began the 2-2 draw at Kilmarnock as Sammy Lawal and Smith changed Daniel Finlayson and Mo Sylla.
There have been additionally two adjustments to the Bairns facet that drew 2-2 with Dundee United as MacIver and Aidan Nesbitt got here in for Scott Arfield and Brian Graham.
The guests began strongly, with Dylan Tait going shut with two glancing headers on both facet of a close-range header from MacIver that was beautifully saved by Jerome Prior.
Livi’s bid to realize a foothold was not helped when defender Danny Wilson was pressured off injured within the 14th minute, with Shane Blaney on in his place.
However the Lions went forward in opposition to the run of play 4 minutes later when Muirhead’s low supply from the appropriate was pressured house from shut vary by Pittman.
There have been two additional injury-enforced substitutions earlier than the break, with Falkirk’s Ethan Ross limping off to get replaced by Alfredo Agyeman and Livi’s Graham Carey making manner for Sylla.
Jeremy Bokila celebrates Livingston’s third
The Lions doubled their benefit in first-half stoppage time when Smith arrowed a powerful left-footed end from the sting of the field excessive previous Bain.
The hosts got here out hungry so as to add to their lead after the break and Muirhead crashed a shot from 20 yards out off the crossbar.
That they had the prospect to kill the sport after they had been awarded a penalty within the fifty fifth minute after Liam Henderson was deemed to have dealt with Andy Winter’s cross following a VAR intervention, however Bain received right down to his left to dam Muirhead’s spot-kick.
Falkirk took benefit of the let-off to get themselves again within the recreation as MacIver glanced house Calvin Miller’s inswinging free-kick from the appropriate within the 74th minute.
However Bokila eased the stress within the house ranks within the 88th minute when he ran onto a protracted ball from fellow substitute Cristian Montano and blasted an angled end past Bain from contained in the field.
