Livi jumped into second place today with a battling win over Airdrie Utd in an entertaining 90 minutes.

On the back of last week's 10-man win over Dumbarton, the Lions could have been excused for expecting an easier ride, however the visitors from Airdrie clearly had other ideas.

Livi were under the cosh for the opening minutes of the game, and the Diamonds took a deserved lead through Scott Gemmill's neat prod into Bullock's left corner.

Airdrie continued to pressure the Livi goal, however the game began to turn in the home side's favour, and on-form striker Iain Russell was on hand to fire home the equaliser after a melee in the Diamonds' goalmouth.

It was now Livi's turn to take the upper hand, and the Airdrie men must've heaved a sigh of relief when the half time whistle brought and end to the onslaught.

The second half was a much more even affair, but Italian super sub Raffa de Vita gave Livi the lead with 17 minutes to go, latching onto a Craig Barr cross to leave Ridgers stranded.

Livi survived a late scare, making two goal line clearances in succession to deny the Diamonds an equaliser, but held out for the win.

Livingston: Bullock, Talbot, Ky.Jacobs, C.Barr, Hastings, Russell (McNulty 88 ), Fox, Kn.Jacobs, Sinclair, Winters (De Vita 65), B.Barr
Subs Not Used: Conway, Malone, McDowall

Airdrie Utd: Ridgers, McGregor, Stallard, Grant, Gibson, McCord, Donnelly (Burns 71) , Keast (Watt 46), Devlin, Gemmill, Johnston (Sally 79)
Subs Not Used: Cane, Corvi

Att: 1,863

Ref: B.Colvin