Livingston’s first home game in the William Hill Scottish Championship came after their sucker punch of a game last week that resulted in an early cup exit from a last-minute goal. However, Livingston responded with a positive bounce back with a 2-0 win to kickstart the campaign against the visitors Dunfermline Athletic FC.

Livingston made three changes from the eleven that faced Dunfermline two weeks prior, Olly Green, Cristian Montaño and Robbie Muirhead being replaced by Dan Finlayson, Andrew Shinnie and Michael Nottingham. The home side showed a serious threat just seven minutes into the game when Liam Sole came running in from the right finding Scott Pitman from twenty yards out switching the ball to Shinnie but his shot was eventually cleared.

Dunfermline threatened in the first half, especially in the first fifteen minutes and could see the concerns shown by the fans and manager for the home side but both teams were even and kept their formations tight. Mcann had the first opportunity on goal for Dunfermline that he could not keep down. Livingston responded with Shinnie curling a ball over at the other end. Aaron Comrie passed his lines with an opportunity but failed to go past Shamal.

 Dunfermline ruined their chance at the last minute when David Wotherspoon missed a penalty after Ryan McGowan’s challenge on Lewis McCann, the spot kick was fired onto the left-hand side post then even the rebound header fell short.

A very pristine McCann clearance from a neat flick on by Comrie had sent Sutherland running down the left channel within the 18^th minute but Livingstons captain Jamie Brandon made good work off winning back possession.

Stephen Kelly’s free kick from twenty yards out proved to be Livingston’s only real chance of the first half but had his effort saved by the Dunfermline goalkeeper. Despite both teams’ determination, the first half was goalless.

Livingston found an extra gear in the second half.  The first goal came from Scott Pitman in the 49th minute, Andrew Shinnie’s effort landed at the feet of Scott Pitman and from lose range he managed to adjust his body and smash the ball into the back of the net.

In the 56^th minute Livingston were forced into making their first change of the game as Liam Sole limped off and was replaced by Lewis Smith. Dunfermline’s player Sam Fisher was injured in the sixty-first minute, resulting in a facial injury.  Benedictus stepped up and defended a block and in the 63^rd minute Chalmers became Dunfermline’s second substitute of the game. Minutes later Dunfermline made further changes with Wighton replacing Sutherland with the hope that fresh faces would help even the score.

Lewis Smith made his presence known in the 71^st minute, running onto a terrific though ball from McGowan, he showed fantastic footwork to create a yard of space to find Kelly who fired his shot past the recovering Dunfermline defenders into the back of the net to double Livingston’s lead.

There was late drama when Dunfermline were awarded a penalty from a Ryan McGowan challenge. Wotherspoon would step up to take the penalty but would see his effort bounce off the cross bar so the score line remained 2-0 which Livingston managed to see out ensuring a positive start to life in the William Hill Championship for the West Lothian side.

Match Report: Scott Carlile

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