livingston 3 Pittman (67), Longridge (73), Hardie (85) brechin city 0

The fairytale continues in West Lothian as the dream of backto-back promotions goes from far-fetched fantasy to near reality as Livingston claimed second place in the Scottish Championship.

Brechin City tried to rein in their free-wheeling foes but ultimately succumbed to three second-half goals that left Lions manager David Hopkin in a state of delirium.

“It is a great achievement for a club our size with a budget our size to finish second,” the manager enthused. “Delighted for the players, delighted for the staff and the fans.

“I am delighted that we won’t have to play two extra games in the play-offs and I said to the players today, we deserve to be straight on to TV.”

City almost took a shock lead on the half hour as a quick breakaway allowed Issac Layne to try his luck from 25 yards. Keeper Neil Alexander was hesitant, leading to a lastsecond panic to tip the ball around the post.

The Lions thought they had taken the lead straight after the kick-off with a point-blank header from Rafa De Vita, but keeper Graeme Smith made an outstanding one-handed save.

The breakthrough came in the 67th minute thanks to a lung-bursting run down the right flank by substitute Josh Mullin. The winger delivered a pinpoint cross on to the head of the diving Scott Pittman inside the six-yard box.

Seconds after entering the fray, substitute Jackson Longridge became an immediate hero, bursting through to finish into the bottom corner.

Livingston’s last was their best as Ryan Hardie took it upon himself to produce the most sublime moment of quality, curling a 25-yard rocket into the top corner.

Brechin manager Darren Dods said: “The season is starting to take it’s toll on us.

“We are getting to the 60-minute mark and full-time teams are finding just that little bit more.”