LIVINGSTON succumbed to their second home league defeat of the season yesterday at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium as visitors Falkirk notched up a second successive win over the Lions.

The second placed visitors came out on top as Farid El Alagui’s header and Kallum Higginbotham’s deflected free kick sandwiched Marc McNulty’s goal for Livi in front of a crowd of 2,967 – the biggest at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium for a league game for over five years.

The early stages saw the home side dominate as Bobby Barr saw a low cross cleared for a corner and then forced Michael McGovern into a fine save before Kenny Deuchar headed wide from a Keaghan Jacobs cross.

Falkirk rallied, however, and with their first real attack took the lead. David Weatherston’s chip across goal found the head of Farid El Alagui and the striker turned the ball past Andy McNeil.

Livi in turn responded, and within minutes Deuchar was fouled as he looked to break away from the visiting back line but referee Brian Winter flashed only a yellow card at Darren Dods. Kyle Jacobs then saw a speculative cross-cum-shot drift just over before McNeil was alert to smother a low drive across the box.

After losing both Deuchar and Maurice Ross to injury Gary Bollan’s side started the second half well, and sub Iain Russell almost pulled the home side level as he saw his header from a Bobby Barr cross bounce wide of the post.

McNeil twice did well to keep Livi in the game with a block and flying punch thwarting Pressley’s men as the visitors steamed forward, but it was Livi who would grab the game’s next goal when McNulty turned defender Darren Dods to drill a low shot beyond McGovern.

The lead lasted only six minutes, however, as Higginbotham blasted a free kick into the box, and Paul Watson and Mark Fotheringham combined to deflect the ball into the bottom corner.

The final fifteen minutes saw neither side manage to fashion further opportunities, and Pressley’s men held out for the win.

Livingston:
McNeil, Ross (Fordyce 45), C.Barr, Watson, B.Barr, Ky.Jacobs, Fox (Boulding 80), Kn.Jacobs, Fotheringham, Deuchar (I.Russell 36), McNulty
Subs not used: Murphy, Scougall

Falkirk:
McGovern, Duffy, Dods, Wallace, Scobbie, Sibbald, Millar, J.Fulton (D.Fulton 63), Weatherstone, El Alagui, Higgenbotham
Subs not used: Bowman, Bennett, Kingsley, Alston

Att: 2967

Ref: B Winter

Match report by Calum Leslie

Half Time Draw:

1st Prize: 111350 
2nd Prize: 111251 
3rd Prize: 110577