A first half hat trick from striker Marc McNulty and a Rory Boulding effort had the Lions 4-0 at the break, before Kenny Deuchar and Bobby Barr added to the tally in the second half.
The Medda welcomed Livi after defeating Second Division Arbroath at the same venue two years ago – in doing so becoming the first junior outfit to defeat senior opposition in the cup – before they eventually went down 3-0 at Easter Road in the fourth round.
But on this occasion there was to be no repeat of those heroics as Gary Bollan’s side quickly went ahead. Less than five minutes were on the clock when McNulty worked space for himself at the edge of the box, before stroking the ball into the bottom corner past Michael Wardrope.
Meadow then created a glorious chance to equalise, but Richie Barr side footed the ball wide from only five yards out when it looked easier to score.
The home side was left to rue that miss, as Livi piled on the pressure. Deuchar was unlucky after his half volley went wide, before McNulty’s header from a Boulding cross bounced the wrong side of the post.
Bollan’s men eventually got their second in the 26th minute. McNulty latched on to a deft through ball and drilled low across Wardrope, before Bobby Barr had a great chance to add to Livi’s tally but he dragged his shot off target.
The young striker then completed his hat trick not long after with a carbon copy of his first effort, his low drive again evading the grasp of Wardrope. Boulding got his first and the Lions’ fourth within a minute when his twenty yard shot dipped under the home keeper and into the net.
The travelling support started the second half in carnival mood, and Livi got their fifth only six minutes after the break. Good work from Bobby Barr and sub Iain Russell set up Deuchar for a simple tap in.
The game remained comfortable for the First Division side, who were clearly enjoying passing the ball about on Meadow’s magnificent surface, and in stoppage time Bobby Barr notched the sixth with a low shot from twelve yards.
First published in the Edinburgh Evening News on 21/11/11
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