Livingston consolidated their position at the top of Division Two after a comfortable 2-0 victory over promotion rivals Brechin City.

Goals from Iain Russell and Robbie Winters were enough to see the Lions home, while Brechin found themselves down to nine men before the end as Rory McAllister and Gerard McLaughlin both saw red in the second half.

Livi started brightly, with Russell and Deuchar up front causing problems for Craig Nelson and his defence with the support of Keaghan and Kyle Jacobs from midfield.

And Russell gave the Lions the lead after a fine challenge from Kyle put a halt to a visiting counter attack. The ball broke to the former Brechin striker twenty-five yards out, and he drove the ball high above Nelson and into the top corner.

Gary Bollan’s men thought they had doubled the lead just before half time. A whipped corner from the left found the head of Deuchar, who rose above everyone to bullet a header back across the keeper and into the net.

However, referee Charlie Richmond ruled the former Gretna forward had impeded an opponent in doing so.

At the start of the second half, Brechin came back at Livi, with Rory McAllister proving the most potent threat. Having failed to take advantage of two good opportunities in the six yard box in the first half, McAllister tested Bullock with a speculative effort from the edge of the box that the big keeper tipped over the bar.

Any potential comeback from Jim Weir’s side took a blow with twenty minutes remaining. McAllister, already on a booking and having tangled with Craig Barr minutes earlier, tripped the Livi defender after losing possession, and was shown a second yellow card.

Already dominant, Livi ramped up the pressure with the one man advantage, and Deuchar twice and sub Robbie Winters were thwarted by a resilient Nelson in the away goal.

Bobby Barr was causing havoc down the left flank, and was hauled down by McLauchlan went sent clear by Winters.

Despite the challenge being out wide, referee Richmond judged it was a clear goalscoring opportunity and gave the Brechin defender his marching orders.

Livi finally made the pressure pay off in the last minute. Robbie Winters latched on to a Barr through ball, and the experienced striker remained composed to casually lift the ball over Nelson and give the home side the crucial victory they desired.

Livingston: Bullock, C.Barr, Talbot, Hamill, D.Jacobs, Watson, Ky.Jacobs, Kn.Jacobs, Deuchar (Winters 75), Russell, B.Barr
Subs Not Used: Sinclair, Hastings, De Vita, McDowall

Brechin City: Nelson, Cook (Kirkpatrick 30), Hill, McLauchlan, McLean, Moyes, Molloy, Janczyk (Fusco 61), Redman, McAllister, McKenna (Archdeacon 68)
Subs Not Used: White, Scott

Att: 847

Ref: C.Richmond

Report: Calum Leslie