U19s v Livingston

U19s get a mauling from the Lions at Almondvale

LIVINGSTON 5 DUNFERMLINE 0

Keeper Craig Bauld`s first touch was to pick the goal out of his own net in the third minute. After starting promisingly the Pars lost possession in midfield and got caught with a ball over the top that sent their left sided midfielder, Andrew HALLIDAY in to slot the ball home.

Four minutes later Sean KERR rose relatively unchallenged to head home a good cross from the right. The visitors response was a Lawrie Cannon shot that the keeper held before Livingston got in for a third in 14th minute.

This time David SINCLAIR was left unmarked at a corner from the right and he volleyed home. Five minutes later Jordan White on the counterattack lobbed a ball through for Connor Schivone but he dwelt on the chance and Livi`s keeper pinched the ball away.

You had to admire the home side`s free flowing, one touch football and Bauld`s save from Halliday on 20 minutes kept it to just three. Dunfermline had a another good opportunity five minutes later, when a Paul Willis free kick from the left was knocked back across goal by Stuart Dearden for Schivone to shoot but the keeper got lucky as his outstretched left foot kept his clean sheet in tact.

Bauld then kept beat away another netboind header out but could do little to prevent the fourth Livingston goal on 28 minutes. A through ball was pelted in from the right side of the penalty box and HALLIDAY turned the ball in from close in.

A Willis free kick from a central position just 25 yards out given after Chris Lennon was tumbled, was driven off the back of a defender and only a corner was won.

Half time; Livingston 4 Dunfermline 0

The second half continued with more good Livi chsnces and Bauld was kept busy. Willis had a header wide at the other end but it remained predominantly Livingston. Twice the crossbar came to Dunfermline`s assistance but Ryan Thomson`s challenge on sub Connor THOMSON handed Livi a penalty in 77 minutes that the sub got up and despatched to Bauld`s left as he dived in the other direction.

Dunfermline stuck at it but in the end the full time whistle was more than welcome for Hamish French`s side. They had tried hard but had been fairly and comprehensively defeated by a skilful, well organised Livingston eleven. In contrast the Pars looked like a team of individuals and certainly at a disadvantage against a side of full timers.