Forfar Athletic 1 Livingston 2

It is two cup exits in one week for Forfar Athletic as they were defeated 2-1 by Livingston in the second round of the League Cup.

Lyndon Dykes and Scott Pittman netted for the visitors while Dale Hilson gave the Loons hope as they ran the Premiership side close at Station Park.

After their midweek Challenge Cup defeat, Jim Weir fielded almost the same side that beat Stranraer the previous Saturday, with Darren Whyte the only absentee.

In the fourth minute, Forfar almost went ahead as Dale Hilson was chasing a long ball on the right-wing; the striker managed to get a volley away from a tight angle but Matija Sarkic pushed the ball over the bar.

Captain and former Livingston defender Michael Travis went even closer from the corner as his header hit the post.

In the fourteenth minute, Livingston hit the woodwork, as well as Aymen Souda, saw his effort rattle the crossbar before his rebounded effort was pushed over by Marc McCallum.

Ross Forbes hit the side netting with a free-kick shortly after following a deflection while the corner was eventually fired over the bar by Gary Irvine.

The visitors took the lead just after the half-hour mark from a corner; Steven Lawless’ set-piece headed home by the unmarked Lyndon Dykes.

Marc McCallum pulled off a couple of saves to dent Livingston either side of half time, however, he was unable to stop Scott Pittman seven minutes after the break as the winger fired home to double the lead.

Forfar pulled a goal back in the 63rd minute when Alan Lithgow was easily dispossessed by Hilson who made his way towards goal before slotting past Sarkic.

Callum Tapping fired over the bar in one of very few chances after this as Livingston held on despite Loons pressure.

Despite the result, the side can be pleased with their League Cup campaign after navigating their way through a tough group to reach the second round.

Forfar Athletic: McCallum, Meechan, Burns (Bain 69), Travis, Docherty, Tapping, Hilson, Irvine, Jackson, Forbes (Aitken 81), Kirkpatrick (Coupe 69)

Subs not used: Robertson, Mackintosh, McGuff

Livingston: Sarkic, Devlin, Lithgow, Lamie (Savane 83), Bartley, Pittman, Dykes, Lawless (Erskine 74), Crawford, Souda (Robinson 46), Guthrie

Subs not used: Sibbald, Tiffoney, McMillan, Stewart

Match report by Lee Smith