Boss Gary Bollan was satisfied after Livingston battled to a well-earned point against promotion rivals Brechin City at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium on Saturday afternoon – maintaining their 18-point lead at the top of Division Two.

The 0-0 draw was the fourth and final time the two sides will meet this season – and proved to be yet another tightly contested affair – and Bollan was keen to point out that the draw was by far the better result for his side.

He said, “It's a better point for us than for Brechin as they had to win. We set our stall out to win but we'll settle for a point.

“There is absolutely no change in the league table anywhere from the morning so the ball is still in our court."

The Lions had the better of the opening 45 minutes, and on several occasions came close to breaking the deadlock. Keaghan Jacobs – back in the side following a spell out injured – broke free down the right hand side, but his cross was deflected over for a corner.

A fine passing move involving brother Kyle Jacobs, Liam Fox and Iain Russell then set up Fox on the edge of the box, but the captain’s effort was drilled narrowly wide.

Kyle Jacobs was next to threaten when he found himself a half-yard of space in the box, but the midfielder’s effort flashed wide of Craig Nelson’s left hand post.

And on the stroke of half time, defender Craig Barr got on the end of a Joe Hamill free kick, but the header was bulleted straight at Nelson.

After the break, while Brechin began to create chances Livi always looked the more likely to edge in front. Barr threatened again in the air as he headed a Hamill corner over, while substitute Rafaelle De Vita tested Nelson with a snap shot that the veteran keeper held at the near post.

As the game entered its final stages, Brechin looked to snatch all three points against the run of play. Rory McAllister was booked for throwing himself to the ground under pressure from Livi keeper Tony Bullock, before, at the other end, De Vita set up Russell one on one with Nelson, and while the striker finally beat the keeper, he saw his effort rebound off the post.

Jim Weir’s men then saw an effort cleared off the line from a corner, while Daniel McKay’s low shot narrowly evaded Bullock’s left hand post. In the closing minutes, Neil Janczyk found himself in space on the edge of the box and sent a powerful drive off the bar and over.

Livingston: Bullock, D.Jacobs, Talbot, C.Barr, Watson, Hamill, Fox, Ky.Jacobs, Kn.Jacobs, Deuchar (De Vita 67), Russell
Subs not used: McDowall, Sinclair, Winters, Conway

Brechin City: Nelson, Cook, McBain, McLauchlan, Moyes, Janczyk, Fusco, Molloy, McAllister, Megginson (McKenna 62), Kirkpatrick (McKay 62)
Subs not used: Scott, White, Byers

Att: 1553

Ref: B.Winter

Report: Calum Leslie