Match Report v Livi

Last updated : 12 May 2004 By Ally

Thistles last away game of the season, away to Livingston who have had a great season. Thistle lined up against the CIS cup winners, having won their previous two games. The BBC live match was tagged a meaningless end of season match. The pundits were proved wrong.

Thistles loud travelling support were great and have stuck by their team even although they are statistically down.

Thistle started brightly and got a justifying reward within five minutes. Rowson swung in a perfect cross and Adrian Madasachi beat Livi’s defender Marvin Andrews to the ball and headed home past Livi keeper Roddy McKenzie. Livingston got a boost from this and were determined to draw level. David Fernandez hit a shot but Kenny Arthur saved comfortably. From then on in Livingston certainly looked the hungrier and this was shown when on twenty-two minutes Burton O’Brien hit a deflected shot past Arthur.

Livingston continued to shine and came close when McAllister hit a shot, which Arthur spilled but fortunately for the Jags Colin McMenamin couldn’t hit the target and Kenny Arthur saved with his leg.

Thistle had another chance when Willie Howie leaped above the Livi defence, only to be denied by McKenzie resulting in a Thistle corner. The inswinging corner fell to Billy Gibson who had lost his marker but a fantastic challenge from Frenchman Emmanuel Dorado prevented Billy Gibsons first goal for Thistle.

In an end to end half Thistle had another chance through David Rowson the midfielder whose future is uncertain hit a powerful shot which was well saved my McKenzie.

Kenny Arthur kept the scores level at half time. He pulled off a fabulous stop preventing the Livi striker an 8th SPL goal.


Half-Time

1-1

The Second half startted off totally different to the first. The players were tired and there was not much action for the first thirteen minutes until O'Brien was involved again crossing the ball for McMenamin who headed narrowly wide.

The Thistle captain Grant Murray was lucky not to conceed a penalty after the ball clearly struck his hand inside the box.

Thistle regained the lead midway through the second half, the small striker slid in fairly on the keeper and had an easy tap in for his 13th goal of the season.

Livi equalised for the second time in the match, through McMenamin when substitute John Paul McGovern threaded a neat, perfectly timed through ball which McMenamin slotted past keeper Arthur.

Full Time

2-2