PARTY TIME
Livi live it up after finally securing League One title
Livingston .................2 Alloa .........................1 The Lions roared back into the Championship at the first time of asking after defeating closest challengers Alloa 2-1 on a sun-kissed Saturday.
Head coach David Hopkin made two changes from the side that saw off Brechin last week, with Josh Mullin and Jackson Longridge coming in for Sean Crighton and Nicky Cadden who both found places on the bench.
Livingston knew only a point was needed to secure the league title but it was Alloa who made the much better start at the Tony Macaroni Arena as both Jordan Kirkpatrick and Dylan Mackin hit the post inside the first 10 minutes.
Livi were struggling to match the visitors’ intensity but they took the lead against the run of play with a sublime strike from Scott Pittman.
A Josh Mullin corner was cleared by Alloa’s defence and with the ball bouncing f rom a full 35 yards out, Pittman connected to smash an unstoppable strike right into the top corner.
The goal settled the league leaders down and they started to take control of the game.
Danny Mullen was causing the Alloa defence all sort of problems and he fired just wide from the edge of the box.
He again went close when he brilliantly held off Jason Marr at the edge of the box, turned and rifled a crisp strike which went inches past the post.
The Lions went into half time with a one- goal lead and 45 minutes away from clinching the league title and returning themselves to the Championship.
Livingston got off to the best possible start after the break when they doubled their lead just four minutes after the restart.
Neat play found the overlapping Jackson Longridge down the left who drove into the box, cut back inside and coolly side footed past Neil Parry with the ball clipping the post on the way in. Livi looked in complete control now and Alloa were finding it hard to get in to the hosts’ final third.
The home side had the chance to make it three when Josh Mullin drove into the box and was fouled. The penalty was awarded and up stepped Liam Buchanan but his effort hit the post and he then knocked in the rebound. However, it was one for the rule book with the referee correctly chalking it off as no other player had touched the ball.
The miss would hurt the leaders as Alloa went straight up the other end and halved the deficit.
A Calum Waters corner found Mackin who headed beyond Liam Kelly.
Alloa pressed Livi for remainder of the game as the league leaders struggled to orchestrate any attacks.
Alloa sub Stefan McCluskey forced Kelly in to a smart save at his near post and Jason Marr had the final chance of the game but he could only head over.
The full-time whistle blew and there was joy in the stands and jubilation on the pitch as Livi sealed their return to the Championship with four games to spare.
A run of five straight victories means the West Lothian outfit’s players can now start preparing for life in the Championship next season.