One more point for promotion
Buchanan brace seals Livi’s away win over Brechin
Liam Buchanan scored a brace as Livingston completed a whitewash over Brechin City at Glebe Park on Saturday with the victory sending the Lions within one point of the title.
Head Coach David Hopkin elected to make two changes from the side that beat Airdrie as Sean Crighton and Nicky Cadden came in for Josh Mullin and Jackson Longridge who both dropped to the bench.
There was also a place among the subs for Keaghan Jacobs.
Livi started the game very brightly and could have been ahead within minutes.
Nicky Cadden’s corner from the left found Declan Gallagher completely unmarked but he got his header all wrong and the ball sailed harmlessly wide of Graeme Smith’s goal.
Cadden was next to pass up a great chance for the visitors when he skewed an effort wide from a couple of yards out after the ball was flashed across goal.
The league leaders were looking the far more threatening side and it didn’t take long for the pressure to pay off.
Alan Lithgow’s long free kick from the half way line found Crighton who drilled the ball across for Buchanan to poke home from ten yards and give the visitors a deserved lead.
Livi continued to look the more dangerous side without carving out any real chances.
Then former Lion Liam Watt created the host’s best chance midway through the half when he managed to beat a couple of players before firing a low shot from the edge of the area which was well gathered by Liam Kelly.
The second half started in a similar pattern to the first with the visitors looking the more dangerous side. The mounting pressure paid off fourteen minutes into the half when Livi doubled their lead with Liam Buchanan again getting on the scoresheet. Danny Mullen did well to win the ball near the half way line where he played a clever through ball which sent Buchanan down the right. The striker drove into the box and emphatically smashed the ball past Smith from a tight angle for his 25th goal of the season. Keaghan Jacobs was introduced for his second Livi debut replacing Raffa De Vita on the hour mark as the Lions continued to dominate the game.
The travelling support were eager to see Buchanan grab his hat trick and he would have done so if it wasn’t for a stunning point black save from Smith.
The striker did have another opportunity near the end but he could only fire straight at Smith.
Livi’s defence looked comfortable and determined as they kept Brechin at bay making in seven clean sheets from their last eleven games.
With Alloa only managing a draw at home to Albion Rovers the Lions can wrap up the league on Saturday when they face Alloa at home with a point all that is needed to secure promotion.