Livingston 2 - 2 Partick Thistle: SPL challengers serve up hugely entertaining fare

SCORERS:

Livingston - Andrew 28; McNulty 90

With so much still being mulled over with regards league reconstruction and the widespread assertion that change is needed to breathe new life into our ailing national sport, these teams made the most of the opportunity afforded them by the SPL winter shutdown to serve up a match which had a little bit of everything and a massive helping of entertainment.

And this in a league that remains the most tightly contested in terms of deciding the title. So much for a fear factor: with so much still at stake these teams showed that passing, fluid football can be successful as well as entertaining. In front of Livingston’s biggest crowd of the campaign (1,762), both sides deserve credit for the way they kept the ball on the deck and provided the kind of football that warms the heart.

Partick had been knocked off their perch at the top of the table in recent weeks but started the day just two points behind leaders Morton, while Livingston were a further ten points behind. But both teams have games in hand and know that picking up points keeps them well in the mix.

Despite having played each other twice this season already, they spent the first 20 minutes sizing each other up, the shots on target few and far between as the composure they showed on the ball in open play often deserted them when they made it in front of goal. Paul Patton’s third-minute strike soared over, while Stuart Brannigan’s speculative long ranger in the 23rd minute was gathered comfortably by Andy McNeil. In between, Livingston combined well, before a ball into the centre was picked up by Liam Fox, whose curled shot on the turn was sneaked narrowly past the outside of the keeper’s right post.

But, while the goals weren’t coming, the play was captivating as both sets of players were crisp and concise with the passing, taking a composed approach, where they kept the ball moving, playing out from the back and passing their way forward.

Where Partick had the slight edge was in their better use of the wide areas, Aaron Muirhead and Aaron Sinclair playing a massive part in their side’s attacking forays.

For all the pretty passages of play, though, the opening goal was the result of a goalmouth stramash and the ball squirming over the line. Breaking into the box, Kris Doolan was initially tackled by Craig Barr before the keeper got down at his feet but the ball squirted free and trickled over the line to give the Thistle player his sixth goal of the season.

That was in the 25th minute and injected some bite into proceedings, with Livingston now desperate to restore parity. They did so three minutes later and it was a screamer. In a central area about 20 yards out, Tony Andrew skelped a shot low past Graeme Smith in goal.

But these teams offer more than just fluid football, they also have a feistiness and within four minutes Thistle had come back at their hosts, exploiting their superiority on the flanks. It was a wonderful delivery from Sinclair and Steven Craig rose in the box to send his header home.

It was a flurry of goal activity in a game that ebbed and flowed but specialised in little bursts of heightened excitement. Kevin McCann and Steven Scougall had efforts for the home team before half time, with Stuart Bannigan responding for the Firhill visitors.

Then Marc McNulty, pictured left, started the assault on the Partick goal as the second half got going and Iain Russell quickly followed suit with a glancing header but neither could find the net. The home side never gave up the quest for the equaliser their play increasingly merited. But Thistle weren’t for caving as both still sought out another goal.

In the 74th minute Craig had the chance to kill off the game but one on one with McNeil, the keeper came out on top, charging out to block. A minute later it was a similar scenario at the other end, this time it was substitute Jordan Morton who was through but he was foiled by the Thistle keeper who replicated the feat of his counterpart.

With three minutes left, Morton cracked a free-kick off the bar and two minutes later Callum Booth cleared off the line at the other end before Sean Welsh rattled the rebound off the bar. Welsh was then sent off for a second yellow as Livingstone broke upfield.

It seemed the game, which had offered so much, simply could not offer any more but with the seconds slipping away Livingston’s McNulty pounced to grab the equaliser. No one, not even Thistle, denied they deserved it.

Livingston: McNeil, McCann, Booth, Tena, Barr, O’Brien, Andreu, Fox (Mullen 65), McNulty, Scougall, Russell (Morton 56). Subs not used: Fordyce, McDonald, Jamieson.

Partick Thistle: Smith, Muirhead, Sinclair, Patton, Balatoni, Archibald, Bannigan, Welsh, Craig (McGuigan 80), Forbes, Doolan (Erskine 73). Subs not used: Lawless, Murray, Fox.

Referee: G Salmond. Attendance: 1,762.