Easton gets his chance in Lions romp

DYLAN EASTON may have only featured twice for the Livingston first team, but with his two appearances coming in last week’s 3-1 defeat of Partick Thistle and Saturday’s 4-0 demolition of Raith Rovers, the young midfielder is bound to be desperate for more.

Following on from the seven other players who came through the Livi youth ranks and featured in the matchday squad against Raith, the 17-year-old got his first sniff at first-team action when he came on as a substitute in caretaker manager Brian Welsh’s only match in charge last Saturday.

And he earned another appearance this weekend as John Hughes’ first game as Lions manager saw the home side romp to victory thanks to a Kyle Jacobs goal and a hat-trick from Marc McNulty.

The two showings may have amounted to no more than 30 minutes of football, but after displaying composure and drive in the middle of the park, Easton is keen to work hard for more chances.

He said: “It’s been great the last two weeks. The gaffer and Welshy [Brian Welsh] have given me a shot. I need to get my head down at training, work hard and hopefully I’ll get another chance.”

By the time Easton entered the fray, the Lions held their handsome four-goal lead after a blistering second-half performance. In the first half Raith had managed to keep possession well before Bobby Barr and McNulty combined to send the former through on goal, and, after his shot was saved by David McGurn, Kyle Jacobs belted home the rebound by way of a deflection.

Only a brilliant point-blank stop from McGurn stopped McNulty from doubling the lead. However the striker was not to be denied. With the second half only minutes old, Bobby Barr fed the ball through to him and he tucked coolly under an advancing McGurn. Keaghan Jacobs smacked the bar before his brother Kyle was thwarted by the Raith keeper, and on the hour mark it was three as McNulty rounded off a fine, sweeping counter attack.

He got his hat-trick from the penalty spot ten minutes later after Iain Davidson fouled the striker and saw red. Sub Iain Russell nearly made it five in the closing stages, but he dragged his shot wide.