COWDEN’S dreams of a knock-out spot in the tournament lasted 38 minutes at the Tony Macaroni Stadium on Saturday.

Cowdenbeath needed to win to get through, at the expense of the Premier League side, but after a fine start from the visitors the home side gradually wore the Blue Brazil down.

However, it took an own goal to get Livi level and a second seven minutes from the break put the hosts on the right track.

Cowden put on a brave performance with the midfield and defence competing well and Liam Buchanan and Kris Renton always ready to take the game to the home side.

But a third goal early in the second period provided a mountain for the Blues that was too tall to climb.

Cowdenbeath started the game well and in nine minutes they took the lead. Renton Chested Ross Clarke’s cross to Liam BUCHANAN in a good position in the middle of the Livi box, and the striker fired a low shot into the corner of the net.

It shocked the hosts and four minutes later they had their first shot at goal when Cristian Montano fired over from a good position.

And in 21 minutes the equaliser came for Livi but it was a nightmare for Cowdenbeath.

Robbie Buchanan conceded a corner kick and from Andrew Shinnie’s set piece Jack Fitzwalter’s header hit Jamie TODD, and beat Cammy Gill.

Livi had by this stage put on James Penrice for Jackson Longridge and they then replaced Andrew Shinnie with Jaze Kabia with 13 minutes to go to the interval.

The home side had not forced Gill into any difficult saves but seven minutes from the break they went in front.

After good lead up work by Jack Fitzwalter Bruce ANDERSON got to the ball first less than ten yards out and in a scramble in front of the Cowden line the striker squeezed a low shot past Gill.

So the Blues went into half-time a goal adrift and needed to start the second period well but in 48 minutes Anderson hit woodwork from close range, and two minutes later Kabia brought out a fine save from Gill.

In 53 minutes Livingston got the key third goal when Kabia created the opening and Craig SIBBALD fired in a looping 20 yarder into the top left hand corner.

Cowdenbeath needed a goal to get back into the game and they moved the ball about well and 22 minutes from time Liam Buchanan’s left foot drive was only inches wide.

Livi decided to close things up and deny Cowden any real space to work with and chances became very limited for either side, but at the end of the day Livi got the result they needed to make the next stage of the competition.

Livingston: Barden (7); Fitzwalter (6)) (McMillan 65 (3)), Obileye (7), Kelly (7), Longrigdge (5) (Penrice 5 (7)); Holt (7) (Lewis 65 (3)), Pittman (7), Sibbald (7)); Shinnie (5) (Kabia 32 (6)), Anderson (8) (Reilly 65 (3)), Montano.

Cowdenbeath: Cammy Gill (7); Fraser Mullen (6), Ross Clarke (7) (Ross Pollock 85 (2)); Jamie Todd (6), Craig Barr (7), Kyle Miller (6) (Harvey Swann 77 (3)); Robbie Buchanan (6), Kyle Hutton (7), Kris Renton (6) (Luke Mahady 75 (3)), Liam Buchanan (7), Bobby Barr (6) (Blair Coulson 62 (3)).

Referee-Steven Reid (6).