SHIRE 1 LIVINGSTON 2 (After Extra-Time)

Shire’s Co-operative Insurance Cup campaign may have ended at the first hurdle but no-one could fault the players for effort.

They matched First Division Livingston for 80 minutes at Ochilview and even after Liam Fox gave the visitors the lead, Shire came back to equalise with the last kick of the ball through substitute Brian Graham.

But with thoughts of a penalty shoot-out or even a dramatic extra-time win in their eyes Shire had the hope of victory taken away from them by substitute Gordon Smith with seven of the additional 30 minutes left.

Jim McInally made good his promise to shake up his team after Saturday’s defeat at Berwick Rangers. No fewer than six starters from Shielfield were either left out or on the bench.

Craig Tully came into the side for his competitive debut in defence while Colin Cramb partnered Marc McKenzie up front. Derek Ure filled in at left-back while Sean Anderson partnered Tully in the centre of defence, with Michael Bolochoweckyj given the night off.

The game began in a torrential downpour but Shire’s start was reasonably sunny. After just three minutes Gordon Moffat’s deep cross from the right found David Dunn at the back post but his diving header was just wide of the target.

Dunn came closer on the ten minute mark. Cutting inside from his outside left berth the former Ayr United man cracked in a low shot which smashed off the near post with Livi keeper Martini well beaten.

The Lions were limited to a few long range efforts, although John Hillcoat had to look smart to save a powerful Liam Fox free-kick and a header from Chris Innes also caused the Shire defence a moment of bother.

On the quarter hour a lovely move involving Jimmy Gibson and Cramb sent McKenzie clean through on goal but the visiting keeper was smartly off his line to block the Shire man’s effort.

The rain continued to fall and the game went through a dull period which was suddenly brought to an end in the 35th minute by Leigh Griffith’s 20 yarder which Hillcoat had to dive full-length to turn round the post for a corner. Thee minutes later a Griffith’s cross was headed wide of the target by Davidson from the back edge of the penalty box.

A minute later Tully mis-kicked a Griffith’s cross inside the six yard box and a mixture of Hilcoat and Anderson managed to clear the ball to safety. Half-time was reached with neither team having made a clear-cut scoring opportunity.

The First Division side noticeably uped the pace at the start of the second half and within two minutes of the re-start danger man Griffiths saw his half volley from the edge of the box blocked on the by Craig Donaldson.

Tully was then called into action to block a netbound effort from Davidson with his head. A minute later Gordon Moffat flicked the ball over the Livi defence for McKenzie to plant the ball into the net but the Shire striker was flagged offside. Not long after a poor crossfield ball sent McKenzie clear but his progress was ended by a blocking tackle from McDonald on the edge of the penalty area.

After 77 minutes Shire should have had a penalty when Cramb was clearly fouled in the act of shooting on the six yard line by McDonald  but referee Craig Charleston waved play on.

Three minutes later the West Lothian side took the lead. Fox picked up the ball 30 yards from goal and without a passing option ahead of him simply hit a cracking drive that beat Hillcoat.

Shire never gave up and substitutes Andy Rodgers and Brian Graham should have equalised but were thwarted by fine stops from keeper Martini. Just when it seemed time had run out on Shire, Graham made enough room for a shot from inside the six yard box for the equaliser with what turned out to be the last action of the 90 minutes.

Davidson should have given Livingston the lead in the second minute of extra time but his angled drive from a tight angle flew across the face of Hillcoat’s goal and wide.

Shire responded on 99 minutes with a Gary Kelly cross from the left which Rodgers headed just wide of target. In the second period of additional time Donaldson’s superb pass released Rodgers down the right but his cross could find no takers.

The First Division side managed to take the lead again on 13 minutes. Talbot’s deep cross from the left seemed to be held by Hillcoat but substitute Smith bundled both ball and keeper into the net.

Graham might have given Shire a leveller in the final minute but he blasted his effort wide from the inside-right position.

SHIRE : Hillcoat, Moffat, Ure, Anderson, Tully,Gibson, Donaldson, Kelly, Cramb(Forrest 77), McKenzie(Rodgers 69), Dunn(Graham 69).

LIVINGSTON : Martini, Miller, Talbot, McDonald, Fox, Innes, K. Jacobs, Davidson, Cuenca(Sinclair 89), Griffiths(Smith 87), Hammill.

REFEREE : C. Charleston

ATTENDANCE : 360.