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Livingston beat Partick to win promotion to Scottish PremiershipLivingston clinched promotion to the Scottish Premiership after beating Partick Thistle 3-1 on aggregate in the play-off final.The Lions ended a 12-year absence from the top flight of Scottish football after beating the Jags 1-0 in the second leg to send Alan Archibald's side down to the Championship.It is a second promotion in as many years for David Hopkin, whose side have exceeded expectations and backed up their 2-1 win at the Tony Macarnoi Arena on Thursday.Keaghan Jacobs scored his second goal of the tie to all-but finish it early in the second half and Conor Sammon missed a late penalty that would have only given the hosts a slim chance.There was a real edge to proceedings in the early stages, with Thistle keen not to let the visitors have it all their own way.Livingston gave as good as they got though, and for all their intent the Jags still struggled to string together any sort of attacking threat.The opening 20 minutes was littered with stoppages in play with the visitors happy to slow the game right down to the frustration of the crowd.Thistle enjoyed the majority of possession, but the little threat they offered in the opening half hour was from out wide and that played right into Livingston's hands as their three centre-backs were able to deal with crosses into the box, despite being forced further and further back.Jordan Thompson and Shaun Byrne each saw shots blocked inside the Jags' area before Blair Spittall forced a fine save - the first of the match - with a drive from outside the area that was heading towards the bottom corner.Despite their best efforts to gee the team on, a lively crowd grew steadily more anxious with their side 45 minutes away from losing their Premiership status.The killer blow came in the first minute after the break, and again it was Jacobs on target with his third of the season, stroking in from the edge of the area after a cross was knocked back into his path to open up a two-goal lead in the tie.The game returned to the pattern of the first half, with Thistle dominating but not threatening.Blair Spittall, Steven Lawless and Christie Elliott eventually had shots easily saved by Neil Alexander, but the hosts never looked like they believed they could close the two-goal gap.Home fans started to leave the stadium early as it became clear their five-year stay in the Premiership was coming to an end, and Sammon's miss from the spot merely compounded a bad afternoon as Livingston clinched promotion.6YPA Sport
Livingston seize initiative in play-off finalLivingston are one game away from Premiership football after seeing off Partick Thistle 2-1 in the first leg of the play-off final.No team has been promoted through the play-offs since 2014, but David Hopkin's side are just a draw away from the top flight after a deserved win over Thistle.They came into the final on a high after seeing off Dundee United, but after Kris Doolan scored early on it looked as though it could be a long evening for the West Lothian outfit.However, Keaghan Jacobs scored and Scott Pittman added a second after the break on a night when the hosts missed several chances to put the tie out of sight, despite going behind early on.Doolan had already threatened inside the area and he did not need a second invitation as he gleefully accepted Baily Cargill's brilliant cross from deep on the left to head into the corner.If any Livi fans were concerned their team could get blown away by the Premiership outfit, they were soon reassured as they regrouped quickly to hit back just three minutes later.It took an error from goalkeeper Tomas Cerny to level the scores, but it was Jacobs who claimed the goal after hitting a first-time effort back across Cerny from the right. The Thistle stopper could not get a firm enough hand to the ball and saw it slip through his grasp into the goal.Livingston have attracted attention for their physical approach this season, but there were hefty challenges flying in from both sides. However, the hosts' direct approach was paying off as the Jags dropped deeper inside their own half.Jordan Thompson should have hit the target when he drilled wide before Cerny pulled off a brilliant save to keep out Lee Miller's header as Thistle continued to live dangerously.The pace dropper after the break, but once again it was the second tier side who started to dominate as the game went on against a Thistle side that looked short on ideas and bereft of confidence.Pittman, who scored a memorable winner at Tannadice in the semi-finals, almost gave the Lions the lead just after the hour, but Cerny got down well to save with his feet after a jinking run from halfway.The hosts soon had the advantage they deserved after substitute Josh Mullin burst down the right and drilled a low ball across the area from the byline and Pittman made the run to the near post to prod it into the roof of the net.After seeing out the remainder of the game, Livingston ensured they would only need a draw at Firhill on Sunday to secure their place in the top flight.6YPA Sport
Livingston beat Dundee United to edge closer to top-flight returnLivingston battled through to the Ladbrokes Premiership play-off final with a 4-3 aggregate win over Dundee United, following a 1-1 draw at the Tony Macaroni Arena.The Lions led 3-2 from a thrilling semi-final first-leg at Tannadice and defender Alan Lithgow stretched that advantage with a close-range header after only six minutes.Midfielder Scott Fraser drew United level in the 21st minute with a fine finish to give Csaba Laszlo's side hope of a comeback but they could not get any closer during a frantic and at times feisty 90 minutes.David Hopkin's men will likely play either Ross County or Partick Thistle - Hamilton are all but safe as they are three points and 13 goals better off than second-bottom Jags with one game remaining - with their respective fates being decided on Saturday.The first-leg of the final is on Thursday with the return game on the following Sunday.After such an encouraging result on Monday night, Livi showed only one change with midfielder Keaghan Jacobs in for Scott Robinson, who dropped to the bench.United were without captain and midfielder Willo Flood, who was sent off in the first leg, with Grant Gillespie taking over and defender Mark Durnan coming in for Jamie Robson.With fans still streaming into the ground the home side forged ahead.A searching free-kick by Jacobs was headed across goal by Jackson Longridge and the on-rushing Lithgow had the easiest of tasks heading it over the line.The Taysiders' response was impressively robust and they deservedly equalised when veteran striker Scott McDonald set up Fraser who twisted and turned inside the box before firing the ball low past keeper Neil Alexander and in off the far post.United edged the rest of the half and at the interval many of their big support moved behind the goal they were shooting into in the second half.However, the first of the action came at the other end when Scott Pittman beat United keeper Harry Lewis with a drive which rattled the post, the Tannadice goal surviving with some desperate defending.United looked more proficient in attack and the West Lothian rearguard were asked further questions which were answered, occasionally at a stretch.Livingston edged forward with increasing confidence as time began to run away from United. In the 68th minute, from a Lithgow throw-in into the box, Tannadice defender Bilel Mohsni appeared to handle in his attempt to clear but referee Don Robertson ignored the penalty claims.At the other end Billy King forced a decent save from Alexander with an effort from the edge of the box and the former Rangers keeper made a better save from McDonald's close-range shot, after Livi substitute Robinson had crashed a shot off the bar.However, the visitors ran out of belief and ultimately time, leaving Livingston one step closer to a top-flight return.6YPA Sport
Longridge snatches dramatic draw for LivingstonTen-man Livingston snatched a 1-1 draw with Morton in a dramatic finish in the Ladbrokes Championship.Morton's Scott Tiffoney and Gary Oliver had penalty appeals waved away in a goalless first half, with their side needing a sharp double save by Derek Gaston from Josh Mullin and Raffaele De Vita to stay on terms.Livingston's Shaun Byrne collected a second yellow card for a foul on Gary Harkins, who was then booked for simulation in a separate incident.Alexander parried Michael Tidser's effort and Frank Ross fired over as Morton went in search of a winner - which looked to have arrived with two minutes left when Tiffoney's cross was not cleared and Oliver pounced.There was still time for another twist, however, as Livi's Jackson Longridge blasted home from 20 yards deep into stoppage time.6YPA Sport
Livingston 2-1 Dundee UnitedRyan Hardie scored a stoppage-time winner as in-form Livingston continued their pursuit of Ladbrokes Championship leaders St Mirren with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Dundee United.Livingston took a 22nd-minute lead when Scott Robinson fired home from the edge of the area but they were pegged back in the 75th minute when Matty Smith netted his first league goal for United.That equaliser looked set to see the spoils shared at Tony Macaroni Arena, but Hardie scored right at the death to earn Livi a fifth win in their last six league games.It allowed them to close the gap on St Mirren to eight points, having thrashed the pacesetters 4-1 last weekend with Hardie netting twice and Robinson also on the mark.United, meanwhile, have lost four of their last six matches and, while they remain third for now, they fall six points behind Livi.6YPA Sport
Dunfermline settle for draw against LivingstonDunfermline failed to break down 10-man Livingston and were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw at the Tony Macaroni Arena.Dunfermline forward Declan McManus dragged an early effort wide while, at the other end, Nicky Cadden curled a shot straight at Lee Robinson from 25 yards.Pars striker Nicky Clark tried his luck after 18 minutes but was off target and McManus saw a close-range shot saved by Neil Alexander at the start of the second half.Livingston midfielder Jordan Thompson, on loan from Rangers, was then sent off in the 69th minute for a foul on Andy Ryan.James Craigen tested Alexander in the closing stages but Dunfermline still moved into the Ladbrokes Championship play-off places despite failing to find a winner against second-placed Livi.6YPA Sport
Livingston leave it late to level at 10-man InvernessA late Alan Lithgow header earned Livingston a share of the spoils as they held 10-man Inverness to a 1-1 draw.The hosts broke the deadlock after just six minutes when Aaron Doran curled a low strike into the back of Neil Alexander's net from the edge of the area.Inverness came close to increasing their lead in the 28th minute when Doran's ball in from the right flank hit the bar.Caley Thistle were reduced to 10 men two minutes before the break when midfielder Iain Vigurs was shown a second yellow card.The home side remained an attacking threat in the second half, with Brad McKay and Nathan Austin forcing good saves from Alexander.However, they failed to keep Livingston out at the other end as Lithgow headed the visitors level in the 82nd minute.6YPA Sport
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