Livingston claimed the Petrofac Training Cup for the first time in their history with an empathic 4-0 win against Alloa at McDiarmid Park on Sunday.
Goals from Scott Pittman and Callum Fordyce had Livi in command and top scorer Jordan White came off the bench to net a late double and complete what was the biggest final victory since the tournament back in 1990/91 as the Centenary Cup.
Alloa boss Paddy Connolly named an unchanged side from last weekend’s 2-2 draw at the Indodrill Stadium in the Championship while Livingston manager Mark Burchill made three changes, with Burton O’Brien, Petrofac Training Cup talisman Myles Hippolyte and Danny Mullen replacing Craig Sives, Ibra Sekajja and White.
The teams emerged to sea of flames on an afternoon of glorious spring sunshine in Perth as McDiarmid Park staged its ninth final in this competition.
Alloa were appearing in their third final, having lifted the trophy in November 1999, on penalties against Inverness Caley Thistle after an epic 4-4 draw, before losing to Airdrieonians two years later while Livingston’s only previous final was in 2000/01 when they lost to Airdrie on penalties.
Kevin Cawley had an early header saved by Livi keeper Darren Jamieson before Livingston took the lead in 21 minutes. Hippolyte did well to muscle his way beyond a defender and squared for former Bo’ness United man Pittman to drive the ball beyond Craig McDowall.
The crucial second goal arrived just after the hour mark when the Alloa defence failed to clear their lines following a corner and defender Fordyce lashed the ball home from close range.
It was a massive blow for Connolly’s men but they almost hit back immediately, only for the post to deny former Newcastle striker Michael Chopra his first goal for the Wasps.
Hippolyte was narrowly wide with an overhead kick then Alloa substitute Isaac Layne cracked a 30-yard drive off the top of the crossbar before Kyle Jacobs hit the post at the other end.
White made sure the cup was heading back to West Lothian with a close-range finish from a cross from fellow substitute Gary Glen in 86 minutes and the big striker beat McDowall to the ball to head the fourth in stoppage time for his 13th goal of the season.
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