Much-travelled Jeremy Bokila was the toast of fans at the Home of the Set Fare Arena with a late goal which wrapped up a first William Hill Premiership win of the season for Livingston and confirmed the West Lothian club’s recent dominance over their Central Scotland near neighbours.

The 36-year-old Congolese striker, who joined the Scots from Dutch club, Willem II, Tilburg, after training with the Livingston squad during their pre-season camp, lashed the ball home, giving Bairns goalkeeper, Scott Bain, no chance.  

His strike two minutes from time secured the three points and temporarily lifted Livingston into top spot in the 12-strong table, a lofty perch, but this is early in the season and other clubs have yet to play their second games.

However, Livingston are on four points after an opening day, 2-2 draw, at Kilmarnock, but nobody in the former New Town is getting carried away as they now face a tough run of fixtures in all competitions with Hibs, Celtic, Hearts, Aberdeen and Rangers looming.

Earlier, a gusty wind, which some feared would spoil the game, buffeted the Home of the Set Fare Arena before kick-off, but it was the visitors who threatened to blow The Lions away in the first 19 minutes.

They were on the front foot early, forcing Livingston goalkeeper Jerome Prior, to save low down after a neat move involving Ethan Ross and Ross MacIver and a Dylan Tait header in the opening minutes.

Calvin Miller then threatened down the right, but the danger was cleared, however the eager Bairns won second balls and forced the pace.

A free-kick, awarded when Graham Carey brought down Bradley Spencer, resulted in Ross threatening with a close-in header.

Livingston responded and Lewis Smith won the ball in the right. Robbie Muirhead challenged, but the danger was cleared. A warning.

At the other end, MacIver saw a header saved by Prior who had to catch a cross before reacting to a Dylan Tait shot. It was all Falkirk and Livi were struggling to get out of their own territory.

The home side’s boss, David Martindale, was clearly unhappy, waving his arms in frustration and shouting instructions from the home dugout, and the Livi boss was forced into a change when experienced defender, Danny Wilson, was forced to leave the field after 14 minutes. Shane Blaney replaced him.

Another corner for The Bairns was wasted as Livingston continued to struggle to find any rhythm, but  the game changed suddenly following a breakaway after 19 minutes.

Smith picked up a loose ball, drove forward after Lewis Neilson, on loan from Hearts, had been caught in possession mid-way into his own half, and he fed Muirhead who squared for Scott Pittman who found himself in space on the edge of the six-yard box. He finished clinically as he closes in on the club’s all-time scoring record. It was Livingston’s first real attack.

Falkirk boss John McGlynn was also forced into an early change when Ross went down. Alfredo Agyeman was introduced, but the loss of the goal rocked the Bairns who were roared on by a large travelling support.

Livi, however, became dominant and made that count with a second three minutes into injury time. Goalkeeper Prior started the move and it was continued by busy Tait, on loan from Hearts, who found Smith with a diagonal ball to his right. The former Hamilton Academical player cut inside and sent a left foot curler into the top corner. Bain had no chance and it was a superb strike. The home fans were on their feet.

It was the same pattern at the start of the second-half when Livi threatened again. Tait had an opportunity to break but the move was blocked, however the ball was recycled to Muirhead who let fly from 25 yards. The ball flew inches over.

There was then a VAR check on possible hand ball by Liam Henderson and the referee was eventually called to the monitor before awarding a penalty. 

Muirhead stepped up and fired for the bottom left hand corner but Falkirk goalkeeper, Scott Bain, guessed correctly and saved low down. Bairns fans celebrated and hoped that would spark a comeback.

Livingston, however, continued to press and Smith was again involved, curving a left foot shot just wide, and it was obviously not Falkirk’s day as a threatening header inside the box hit one of their own men and was cleared.

Then came a breakaway and Tait sped down left wing, swung over a cross which was miskicked by a defender and flew agonisingly for home fans just over the crossbar.

However, Falkirk began to get a foothold and first-half substitute Agyeman broke down the right and his cross threatened, but Falkirk failed to capitalise once again. It was a sign that things were turning and that move injected some urgency from the visitors.

A VAR check was needed after a foul but it judged to be just outside the box, only by inches. The ball was launched into the box by Calvin Miller and MacIver headed home neatly to give McGlynn’s men some hope of salvaging something from the game. A VAR check confirmed the goal after 74 minutes. There was still time.

The visitors powered forward and another free-kick flew high into the home box but nobody was there to take advantage and Livingston were undoubtedly on the back foot, battling to preserve their slender advantage.

Desperate defending saw the West Lothian combine kicking the ball away on several occasions to eat up time, and the home fans were tense, but all the anxiety was extinguished when Bokila found himself in acres of space on the left.

He drove towards goal, probably surprised that he had so much space, and, from angle on the left, slammed home with left foot after a slick pass down the line from substitute Christian Montano had caught most of the Falkirk side up-field. Time 88 minutes.

The fourth official signalled eight minutes of stoppage time, but a large percentage of Bairns fans had left the building and it was no surprise when Martindale expressed himself happy with his day at the office.

He said: “I thought it was a professional performance and there were a lot of pleasing aspects.”

His opposite number, John McGlynn (pictured by Nigel Duncan), said he thought his men started well, but we lost our way. We have to stick together.”

Livingston: Prior, Montgomery (Montano 45, he was booked), McGowan, Pittman, Muirhead (booked) (Bokila 67), Carey (booked) (Sylla 37), Smith (Yengi 67), Winter, Tait, Wilson (Blaney 14), Lawal. Substitutes: Hamilton, Blaney, May, Bokila, Shinnie, Sylla, Montano, Culbert, Yengi

Falkirk: Bain, Adams, McCann, Henderson (booked), Spencer (booked), MacIver (Arfield 76), Nesbitt (Graham 45), Neilson, Tait, Ross (Agyeman 26), Miller. Substitutes: Hogarth, Graham, Agyeman, Cartwright, Oliver, Allan, Mackie, Walker, Arfield.

Referee: Chris Graham