Livi earned a good 3-1 win against Alloa Athletic at the Indodril Stadium in what was a great occasion to get minutes into the legs and for fans to see the new faces brought in. A Robbie Muirhead penalty was cancelled out by Connor Sammon, but two second half goals from Reece McAlear and Stevie May had Livi on easy street. 

There were starts for two of David Martindale’s new summer signings, with Connor McLennan and Mo Sylla getting the nod; Danny Wilson also starting following his re-signing.

Livingston looked comfortable in the opening blows, with a huge majority of possession being for the visitors in the home half. Despite this, there was no real chances of note that could test Tochukwu Ogayi in the Alloa goal.

Alloa did manage a half chance midway through the first. Calum Waters found some space on the left wing, and sent a marvellous ball to the back post begging for a player in a white shirt to knock home, but there wasn’t anyone forthcoming and the ball ran out for a goal kick.

Livi’s first real chance came on 25 minutes. A lovely reverse pass in the midfield from Lewis Smith found Robbie Muirhead on the right-hand side. His cross was inviting for Connor McLennan who got contact to turn it goalwards, but appeared to be fouled at the same time. The referee saw different, and Ogayi collected comfortably.

The referee did see a foul minutes later and pointed to the spot, Smith’s tricky feet plus an element of luck saw him dribble past a few defenders leaving him one-on-one with Ogayi. The winger nicked the ball over the onrushing keeper who then clattered into Smith leaving the referee no option but to award the penalty. It was Muirhead who stepped it and lashed it down the middle to give the Lions the lead.

Muirhead was making a nuisance of himself and causing the Alloa defence all sorts of problem. The Wasps were trying to play put from the back but it was the new Livi number 9 who managed to nick in and intercept the ball, trying a shot from the edge of the box which was high over the bar.

Smith was another who was getting involved in most of the action, and managed another mazy run from the right, stinging the palms of the Alloa keeper with a low shot to the front post.

Right on the stroke of half time, Alloa levelled things up. Livingston were poor defensively and a loose header back to Jerome Prior allowed Connor Sammon to latch on and lift the ball over the Frenchman to make it 1-1 with the last kick of the first half.

There were 9 nines for Livi in the second, with only Ryan McGowan and Reece McAlear staying on, Andrew Winter and Tete Yengi the only two to remain on the bench.

Former Lion Stefan Scougall grabbed the first chance of the second half. A trialist header was again intercepted by Sammon, who fizzed a pass wide left to Luke Watkins. He in turn hit the byline moving towards goal before firing a low ball across goal. This was blocked out to the edge of the box where Scougall was waiting, but he only managed to fire the ball over the top.

10 minutes into the second half and Livi regained their lead. A Stevie May corner was fumbled by Ogayi, and McGowan managed to get a toe to the ball to poke it to McAlear who blasted the ball home from 12 yards out.

Graham Carey had a shot from about 20 yards minutes later, but his effort was just over the bar.

Livi made it three with an absolutely outrageous goal on 70 minutes. Stevie May nicked possession and from the half way line, saw Ogayi off his line. Lifting his effort up it dropped just under the bar to give the Lions a two-goal lead.

Sam Culbert, who came on at half time, was having himself a particularly good game down the left wing, offering a new option in both attack and defence. His link up play was particularly good, setting up Shinnie with a lovely reverse pass, but the midfielder’s curled effort was high and wide.

However there would be no further goals as the visitors would coast to the win, as a perfect set up for their warm weather training camp in Holland next week.

Match report: David Hastie