SHIRE 2 LIVINGSTON 1

Shire pulled off a deserved shock win over Livingston in the third round of the Scottish Cup at Ochilview.

A goal from Eddie Forrest in the ninth minute gave Jim McInally's men the perfect start, but Liam Fox's 35 yard trundler broughht an equaliser which many believed would be the First Division side's escape route.

However, Shire had other ideas and Brian Graham's fantastic strike ten minutes into the second half was a goal good enough to win the Cup Final itself.

McInally opted to make two changes to the team thsat had shared a 1-1 league draw with Stenhousemuir the previous Saturday. David Dunn was preferred to Gary Kelly and, in a surprise move, Colin Cramb came in for Sean Anderson to give Shire three strikers.

The bold decision to play three up front against full-time opponents seemed vindicated after just nine minutes when Shire took the lead with a goal straight from the training ground.

Shire packed the six yard box with bodies for their opening corner kick but insead of flighting the ball towards them Dunn sent in an outswinging corner to the perfectly-positioned Forrest who volleyed the ball into the back of the net from the 18 yard line.

Livingston had plenty of the ball but could do little with it, although both Anthony McParland and Jean Cueca sent in lovely crosses from the right but couldn't find anyone to get on the end of them.

David McKay was booked early on for stopping a rampaging run from Cramb and from the resulting free-kick Graham headed just over the bar.

After 29 minutes a superb pass from Cramb freed Graham down the left wing and his cross was met by Andy Rodgers at the back post but his effort went across the face of goal and wide.

Just when it seemed Shire were starting to get on top Livingston found the equaliser in curious circumstances after 39 minutes.

Central defender Liam Fox tried to look for a pass from 35 yards out to a colleague closer to goal but couldn't find one.

With the Shire players standing off him, Fox then decided to try his luck with a daisy-cutter of a shot which somehow managed to beat Jamie Barclay and end up in the back of the net.

Shire got in level at the interval but the neutrals in the crowd wondered whether Livingston's equaliser would turn the tide in the First Division team's favour.

They got their answer ten minutes after the break. Paul Hay's pass to Graham wide on the left took him clear of the Livi defence and the on-loan Morton man cut into the box and curled a spectacular shot high into the far corner of the net.

And Shire should have made it 3-1 on 61 minutes. Rodgers intercepted a wayward midfield pass and released Cramb but his attempt to lob keeper Pierre Martini from the edge of the box was just too high.

Cramb and Graham were both withdrawn, along with the tireless Dean Richardson,and on came Gary Kelly, Sean Anderson and Marc McKenzie.

Squib was involved in a moment of controvery on 76 minutes when his cross from the left was clearly handled inside the box by McPake but referee Craig Charleston ignored the Shire pleas for a penalty kick.

The home fans cursed the Larbert whistler but had reason to thank him on 83 minutes when Rodgers appeared to foul Livi substitute Keeghan Jacobs. Mr Charleston not only refused the strong penalty claim but booked the visting striker for simulation.

Livi were running out of time and in desperation sent centre-half James McPake to join the forwards. He created one moment of panic in the Shire box but his looping header from inside the six yard box in the game's final minute cleared the crossbar.

SHIRE : Barclay, Hay, Richardson(Kelly 57), Forrest, Bolochoweckyj, Tully, Graham(Anderson 75), Dunn, Cramb(McKenzie 61), Ure, Rodgers.

LIVINGSTON : Martini, McKay, Talbot, McPake, Fox, Miller, McParland, Thomas, Smith, Cuenca(Jacobs 57), Hamill.

REFEREE : Craig Charleston.

ATTENDANCE : 563.