Livingston booked their place in the next round of the KDM Trophy following a 2-0 win against The Spartans. Second half goals from Shane Blaney and Robbie Muirhead secured safe passage to the round of 16.

Manager Davie Martindale rang the changes boasting the strength of the squad depth, with changes: Jack Wilkie, Aidan Denholm, Tyrese Sinclair, Sam Nicholson, Cammy Palmer, Bradly Van Hoeven and Shane Blaney coming in; Ryan McGowan, Cristian Montano, Robbie Muirhead, Emmanuel Danso, Stevie May, Bruce Anderson and Jordan Doherty dropping out.

Livi started brightly, with a couple of corners within the first minute. However Spartans hit on the counter attack and a cross from the left found Zander McAllister, who drew an incredible save from Jerome Prior at point blank range, with the Frenchman never to know the Spartans man had strayed offside.

Livi had a free kick on the right of the box on eight minutes. Drilled into the near post by Sam Nicholson, he found Tyrese Sinclair, his header missing at the front post.

As to be expected, the game was being controlled by the visitors, who were enjoying the run of the ball. On twelve minutes they had a great chance, with Cammy Palmer rushing into the box from the left, squaring to Sinclair who was denied by a last ditch tackle.

And the Lions had yet another chance on 16 minutes. A corner from the right from Nicholson found Brooklyn Kabongolo at the back post but he misjudged his jumped and headed over the bar.

And less than a minute later Sinclair forced Blair Carswell into a clever save. A nice ball from Liam Polworth found Nicholson who found Sinclair on the penalty shot. He turned his defender to find space for the shot which stung the palms of the Spartans keeper.

On 20 minutes it was Prior’s turned to be tested. Jamie Dishington collected the ball about 25 yards out and struck the ball down the middle, with Prior getting down and palming the ball away to be cleared by the Livi back line.

There was an air of nervousness from the visitors the longer the game went on without a goal. Spartans were playing a very low block which, whilst Livi were having good possession in the hosts half, they were struggling to get anything near the box. Anything getting in was finding 15 plus players, making it difficult to find space. Although Sinclair once again managed to test Carswell from the edge, but it was easy for the keeper.

Three minutes into the second half and Livi hit the bar. Tidy play from Sam Nicholson saw the ball nodded across the goal where Pittman was waiting. His header looped high onto the bar and cleared for a corner which came to nothing.

Minutes later and Bradly Van Hoeven had an effort from about 30 yards which threatened to beat the keeper, instead nestling on the roof of the net.

Spartans were fighting for their life and cleared another off the line. A cross from the right found Nicholson who nodded towards the bottom corner. It looked like it was going to drop in but was booted off the line and cleared.

Martindale brought Muirhead, Anderson and Doherty on for Sinclair, Wilkie and Nicholson in an attempt to grab the all important first goal. Spartans were defending resolutely and Livi had been unable to break down the stubborn defensive display from the hosts.

With 71 minutes on the clock, a bad tackle found Blaney in the book and Spartans a free kick in the centre of the goals about 25 yards out. Up stepped Dishington who whipped an incredible effort over the wall, crashing off the bar and cleared by the Livi defence.

Livi were pounding against the door looking for the opening goal and with the clock ticking and 10 to play, they found it. A corner from the left from Cammy MacPherson eventually found Blaney who helped the ball into the back of the net for 1-0.

The goal forced Spartans out as they looked to force an equaliser. They managed a duo of corners however did not manage to cause many issues, with Prior eventually snatching the ball out the air.

And just as the clock ticked over to 90, Livi had the tie won in the most Rolls Royce of fashions. A ball crossed over from Doherty was cleared high. Falling at the feet of Muirhead, he took a touch to control before effortlessly curling the ball into the top corner, with the referee calling time moments later, securing passage to the next round.

Match report: David Hastie

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