LIVINGSTON breathed life into their survival chances with a win over Dumbarton on Saturday.

The West Lothian side moved to within a point of Dumbarton with a 2-0 win on Saturday. But Sons hit back by beating Alloa 3-1 on Tuesday night, putting them four points ahead of Livi and still with a game in hand.

Sons’ failure to capitalise on their early dominance of the game proved to be crucial when Liam Buchanan put Livi ahead after 29 minutes.

Substitute Jordan White got the second six minutes from time after latching onto a long kick upfield from goalkeeper Marc McCallum. The manner of both goals disappointed Sons boss Stevie Aitken after possession was given away cheaply then chances to clear weren’t taken for the first and White took advantage of Sons’ defence failing to deal with a high ball for the second.

Aitken kept faith with the same side which dumped promotion chasing Hibs 3-2 last week.

After a largely uneventful opening 15 minutes, Sons were gifted two chances to open the scoring. First McCallum inexplicably tried to pass the ball to Darren Cole instead of clearing his lines while under pressure from Christian Nade.

The French striker got a block on the clearance but miscontrolled when he looked set for a strike on goal and the ball was cleared for a corner.

Then a poor backpass form Jackson Longridge allowed Tom Walsh a sight at goal, his strike was easy for McCallum to deal with, a square ball with Sons players arriving in the box looked the better option.

Sons were getting the underhand, forcing several corners and crosses from Calum Waters and Mark Docherty posed a threat.

Walsh, playing from the Sons’ right, found space centrally and was played through. He looked certain to race clear of the Livi defence but hesitated and Cole came back to well to dispossess the on-loan Rangers man.

Dumbarton were soon made to pay for not taking advantage of their early pressure. Sons gave the ball away cheaply in midfield, Longridge picked up possession and squared from the left, Jamie Ewings blocked Buchanan’s initial effort but the striker bundled home at the second attempt.

Waters tried his luck from range soon after the restart, his crisp strike was well saved by McCallum.

Nade was next to have a sight at goal after another misplaced pass in the Livi defence. Cole’s wayward header put Nade clean through but the much travelled front man tried to cut back onto his left foot which allowed Ben Gordon to recover and the chance was gone.

Sons were next to risk conceding with some suspect defending. Gregor Buchanan took too long on the ball and was robbed by Sam Stanton. The midfielder was clean through on the left hand side but his shot was well blocked by Ewings.

Both defences were continuing to be the chief creator for their opposition.

Half-time 1-0

The second period started much the same as the first with neither side showing much in the way of quality in the final third. On the hour mark Ewings had to be alert to keep out a terrific 25-yard effort from Sam Stanton.

Nade had the home fans out their seats after a late challenge on Craig Halkett. As Livi raged referee Don Robertson decided a yellow card was suffice.

Aitken hooked Walsh to bring on Garry Fleming and pair him up front with Nade to try and salvage something.

But it was Livi who were next to go close. There was a handball shout when Buchanan’s ball struck Frazer Wright but the striker wasted no time in picking up the loose ball and threading a pass through for Josh Mullin, however he could only fire into the side netting.

However on 84 minutes substituted White ensured the points were staying in West Lothian.

A long kick from McCallum was not dealt with by the Sons defence. White held off a couple of desperate challenge from Wright to finish past the onrushing Ewings.

Sons might’ve had a lifeline when Jordan Kirkpatrick appeared to be clipped after he slalomed past a few challenges in the box. Referee Robertson was unimpressed despite the appeals from Dumbarton players and support.

Livingston: McCallum; Longridge, Cole, Gordon, Pittman, Fotheringham, Halkett, Buchanan (White 78), Stanton (Knox 85), Telfer (Sheerin 62), Mullin. Subs not used: Quinn; Kakay, Neill, Currie.

Dumbarton: Ewings; Docherty, Saunders, Buchanan, Cawley (McCallum 77), Barr, Waters (Kirkpatrick 70), Lindsay, Wright, Walsh (Fleming 62), Nade. Subs not used: Brown; Taggart, Routledge, Hopkins.

Referee: Don Robertson.

Attendance: 848.