Cowdenbeath 2 - 3: Livingston: Thriller at Central Park

JIMMY Nicholl has been left in no doubt as to the cost of Cowdenbeath being relegated this season and this stunning late collapse in the first game of his second spell in charge highlighted the extent of the problems he faces.

The experienced former Dunfermline, Aberdeen, and Hibs No.2 departed for Kilmarnock in 2011 after presiding over the Blue Brazil’s fall into the third tier and, with the likely money-spinning elevation of his old club Rangers into next season’s Championship, Nicholl has twin reasons for success this time round.

A 56th-minute strike from Kane Hemmings and a second from the former Rangers striker 13 minutes later gave the second-bottom Central Park men a two-goal lead and reason for optimism before they succumbed to Livingston’s comeback.

“It’s the same old story,” said Nicholl. “We’ve lost 11 goals in the last 15 minutes of games and we could just see the tide turning at 2-1. There’s massive games and a massive challenge ahead.”

Marc McNulty’s header 12 minutes from time gave Livingston impetus and Andy Barrowman bundled in the equaliser with four minutes left before McNulty rifled in a rebound in injury-time.