Livi continued their preseason preparations with a comfortable 3-0 win away to Alloa Athletic. First half goals from Sam Nicholson and Aidan Denholm were added to by a late Stevie May strike to give Livi the win, and their third clean sheet in as many games.

Lewis Smith had a great effort within 5 minutes, cutting in from the right on to his favoured left foot before bending an effort into the top left corner, only to be denied by an incredible diving save from Ross Stewart in the Alloa net.

With around 12 minutes on the clock, Aidan Denholm cracked the bar. A wicked cross from the left from Sam Nicholson found the head of Denholm, who did well to direct the ball goalwards despite being crashed into by an Alloa defender. His header looped towards goal but hit the bar and was cleared.

Two minutes later, and the Lions found the back of the net. A lovely ball forward found Nicholson who controlled the ball beautifully, cutting inside his man before despatching a driven effort passed Stewart for the opening goal.

Mitchell Robertson turned striker for a minute midway through the first half, as he broke forward to the edge of the box he unleashed a stinging low shot which had Stewart sprawling to his right to make the save.

He wouldn’t be able to keep the score at one for long though, as a minute later Livi doubled their advantage. Great build up play from Denholm, Nicholson and Robbie Muirhead saw great composure, with Denholm finding Nicholson on the left side on the box. WIth his angle not favourable, he cut the ball to Muirhead who rather than being greedy and taking the shot, cued up Denholm who slotted home in the bottom left-hand corner for two.

Nicholson was enjoying himself on the left wing and was making a real nuisance of himself. With 40 on the clock he cut inside off the touchline to curl an effort goalwards looking for his second, however his effort was saved well again by Stewart, who was having a great game keeping the scoreline low.

Alloa had their first look at goal on the stroke of half time. The ball fell nicely to Luke Rankin on the edge of the box and he was unlucky not to find the net with his driven strike, missing narrowly to Jerome Prior’s right.

Muirhead almost got himself on the scoresheet with the last action of the first half. Playing a clever one two with Denholm, he lashed a shot towards Stewart but his shot was saved well yet again.

With four changes at half time, it took Livi a little bit to get their rhythm back. Alloa came out with an intent to attack but the defensive side managed the pressure well. It took 8 minutes for Livi’s first attempt on goal and it was Muirhead again with the effort. The ball fell to him in the box but his shot struck the underside of the bar and bounced out to Stevie May, who fluffed his lines, allowing the keeper to collect.

Livi were still pressing for a third goal and were unlucky not to get it 20 minutes into the second half. A deft touch from Trailist allowed him to glide past the Alloa defender before laying the ball off to May, his effort saved once again by Stewart.

Livi hit the woodwork for the third time, this time from a free kick. Muirhead was fouled about 20 yards out to the right. Trialist stepped up and curled a ball left footed over the wall, crashing off the bar and out for a goal kick.

Alloa then had a free kick from a similar position up the other end, but failed to capitalise, with Josh Walker’s effort wide to the right of the goal.

The pace of the game lulled with substitutes and the heat affecting players, with neither team particularly laying a glove on the other as the clocked ticked closer to full time.

Livi did have a chance with 7 minutes to play, a through ball to May saw him one-on-one with sub keeper Lawton Green, but the angle made the finish difficult, and his effort flashed across goal and past the far post.

With three minutes to play, May would get his goal and Livi’s third. An incredible through ball from the left by Cammy Palmer allowed May to run past the defender and slot home through the keeper’s legs to make it ten goals in three matches.

It proved to be the last real action of what was a comfortable evening in Clackmannanshire, with Alloa having Ross Stewart to thank keeping the scoreline down.

Match report: David Hastie