U19s v Livingston

U19s over run by Livingston at Almondvale

LIVINGSTON 5 DUNFERMLINE 1

MATCH PICTURES
Both these teams sit near the top of their league but Dunfermline were outplayed by a more competent Livingston team on the Almondvale Astroturf on Sunday afternoon.  The Pars welcomed back Steven Leslie and Grant Munro but first team squad players Jordan White and Ryan Thomson were not available this weekend. To celebrate the Old Firm derby, Ryan Goodfellow donned the bright green keeper`s strip with Aaron Sommerville on the bench. Livvy had familiar faces with two of last season`s Pars U19`s playing against their old team mates - Stefan Scougall and Lewis Turner.  17 year old Scougall was one of four opponents who had played in the Livingston first team this season.

First goal goes in with less than four minutes on the clock

From Dunfermline`s kick off Scougall immediately dispossessed Aaron Scott and Ryan Goodfellow was in action within ten seconds to deny Mark McNulty at the left goalpost. Livingston pressed with  two corners before in fourth minute a cross from the left was miskicked by the luckless Scott and Kyle JACOBS stuck the ball past Goodfellow to open the scoring.

Ten minutes later Goodfellow turned a good effort from McNulty around his right hand post and the header from the corner went high over the bar. The Pars keeper did well to hold a Sean Cummings shot after the midfielder had played a sweet one two off Scougall. Then in 18 minutes Kerr Young headed a net bound shot off the line after McNulty and Turner had produced the skill to defy the Pars defence.

Goodfellow did well to keep Turner off the scoresheet with a double save in 29 minutes while at the other end Murphy was barely tested.  He held a Byrne free kick in 31 minutes and then Ben Martin pounced on the rebound off a Livvy wall to shoot on target but again this was not going to test the Livvy keeper.

The hosts finished the half strongly with Neil Hastings firing a free kick over Goodfellow`s cross bar but the Fifers struck right on half time. Murphy was drawn out of his goal to the right side of his box in an attempt to take McWhirter`s pass. Leslie challenged the keeper and the ball broke to MacDonald on the right and his return was perfect for SCHIAVONE to head home at the near post.

Conor Schiavone heads in the equaliser

Half Time: Livingston 1 Dunfermline 1

Hamish French`s side lost another early goal in the second half and this time the situation was irretrievable. It was just 49th minute when Cummings fired over a cross from the left and McNULTY headed in at the far post. Within six more  minutes the Pars were further behind. Ross Gray swung in the ball from the left and Goodfellow did well to stop McNulty`s header but TURNER pounced fastest to stick the loose ball away.

Blair Henderson had come on for Leslie and within his first two minutes he fed Schiavone a chance but the keeper was right in line. Midway through the second half Goodfellow was swiftly out to take the ball away from the chasing Turner and at the other end MacDonald accepted a Scott lay off.  The right winger hit it well but narrowly over the top.

MacDonald then created a chance that neither Henderson nor Schiavone could get a touch on and the Livvy defence were first on to Chris Hackland`s inviting return. The match was put out of the visitors reach when in 77 minutes McNULTY ran on to a through pass and slotted the ball past Goodfellow and then to make matters worse, three minutes later McNulty was the provider for JACOBS to hammer in a fifth at Goodfellow`s right hand post.

Dunfermline were always chasing this game and there is no doubt that the better team won.