By Alexander Cruickshanks

The Falkirk Stadium was jumping this afternoon for the SPFL Trust Trophy final between Queens Park and Livingston. The opening stages of the match were tightly contested with both sides battling it out for control.

It looked to be the Lions who were beginning to get their teeth in when the Spiders hit back with some great attacking play. Holding up the ball in dangerous areas, growing into the game and Zak Rudden had a tremendous opportunity in the opening 10 minutes that was saved well by Jerome Prior.

Queens Park continued to create but then David Martindale’s men put together a fantastic move switch the play to skipper, Jamie Brandon, who’s cross found Robbie Muirhead. He scored a cracker, flicking it up and hitting it on the spin, past Calum Ferrie into the net for 1-0.

Livingston continued to threaten with Brandon down the right-hand side being their main attacking outlet. Dangerous deliveries and speedy passing. Textbook fullback play.

Livingston continued from then and dominated and in the 44th minute their dominance paid off. A long ball up to Teti Yengi, was nodded down the Stevie May who played a one two with the Aussie and slotted it past Ferrie for 2-0 going into half time.

Just after the half it was three and this time it was the big Aussie, Yengi, who dinked the keeper. The stadium was absolutely jumping as the Livingston fans could taste victory and a piece of silverware.

Queens Park looked flat. Second to every ball, no control, Livingston had all of the positive play. And they just looked like they wanted it more.

The pressure continued as Yengi had an excellent chance for the fourth in the 58^th minute, missing from six yards out.

Frustration began to creep in for the spiders as they were committing petty fouls, taking out their anger after this dismal performance.

The Livingston fans were enjoying their day as in the 61^st minute, ‘Stand up for the Livingston’ chants rang out around the ground in support of their side’s excellent performance.  

Queen’s Park did have some opportunities but Prior pulled of a magnificent double save despite being unchallenged for the majority of the game.

But Livingston went again pressuring, the Queen’s Park goal, a downward header from Ryan McGowan forced a magnificent save out of Ferrie. But his day would keep getting worse as in the 82^nd minute Andrew Shinnie made it four with a deflected effort leaving Ferrie to agonisingly watch it go past.

Just to compound the misery, Reece Evans missed a guilt edge opportunity in the 89^th minute for a consolation.

To cap off a five-star performance, Jamie Brandon made it five with a stunning volley form 25-yards. Livingston and Martindale are well deserved winners of the Trust Trophy.

Martindale was happy for his players and the fans but in terms of himself and the season it’s clear there’s still a lot to do. Martindale said: “In the big picture if you’d asked me at the start of the season what the primary objective was it wasn’t winning a cup. It was getting the club back to the Premier League.”