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Daily Record
Sport
Callum Carson

Livingston reach Premier Sports Cup last-16 with victory over Kelty Hearts

Livingston reached the last-16 of the Premier Sports Cup thanks to a 2-0 win over League One side Kelty Hearts.

Results elsewhere - namely Dunfermline Athletic failing to beat Alloa Athletic and Hamilton v Queen's Park going to a penalty shoot-out - ensured the Lions progressed as one of the best three runners-up.

The game got off to a worrying start when Livi's Cristian Montano and Kelty striker Nathan Austin clashed heads just three minutes in with the Colombian unable to continue but thankfully able to walk off the pitch.

His replacement, Phillip Cancar, was involved almost immediately when he was clipped inside the box by Alfredo Agyeman with Sean Kelly sending ex-Livi keeper Darren Jamieson the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick to give the hosts the lead.

The top flights hosts would take near total control of proceedings but struggle to create genuine chances. Jamieson produced a smart save to palm away a Joel Nouble angled drive while Bruce Anderson would go close around the half hour mark but could only fire wide while off balance.

Dylan Bahamboula showed silky skills to jink in between two defenders but would scuff his effort harmlessly into the arms of Jamieson just before the break.

The Lions went into the interval knowing a goal-fest was likely needed in the second half and they squandered a wonderful chance to double their account on 51 minutes when Anderson was found unmarked 10 yards out by Nouble. The striker, though, was unable to get a clean hit and fired a tame effort on goal.

Despite needing to find the net, there was a distinct lack of cutting edge and urgency to Liv's play at times but they would finally double their lead 14 minutes from time. Substitute Stephane Omeonga somehow managed to wriggle his way off the floor and beyond three defenders before rolling the ball into the path of Cancar to slam home.

Results elsewhere were also going Livi's way with both Dunfermline and Hamilton having conceded equalisers - that didn't prevent the hosts searching for more as Ayo Obileye's thunderous free-kick was parried by Jamieson but further goals weren't needed.

Livingston: Konovalov; Devlin, Fitzwater, Obileye, Montano (Cancar 6); Shinnie (Holt 59), Kelly (Omeonga 65), Pittman; Nouble, Anderson, Bahamboula (Mullin 59). Subs not used: Maley, Longridge, Brandon, Bitsindou.

Goals: Kelly (11 pen), Cancar (76)

Kelty Hearts: Jamieson; Philp, Cameron, Hill (Sandison 79), Peggie; Barjonas (Barbour 89), Tidser (Owens 89), McNab (Reilly 21), Cardle; Agyeman, Austin (Docherty 26). Subs not used: Campbell.

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