Queen of the South 0-2 Livingston

Saturday 22^nd October 2011 – Queen of the South FC 0-2 Livingston FC

After securing a hard-earned point at home to Morton the week previous, Gary Bollan would have been desperate to get all three points from a trip to Palmerston. History wasn’t on his side though, with Livingston not having won in Dumfries since a 7-0 Scottish Cup victory back in January 2000.

With the team having failed to score from open play in the previous three games, Bollan opted to shuffle the pack a bit. Kenny Deuchar came in to partner Marc McNulty upfront at the expense of top-scorer Iain Russell and both Keaghan and Kyle Jacobs came into the midfield in place of the injured pairing of David Sinclair and Stefan Scougall.

Only 6 minutes on the clock and this shuffle looked to be working wonders. A Queens goal kick was won in the air by Kyle Jacobs and his header found McNulty 40 yards from goal. The young striker got the ball under control and drove forward before firing a shot from 20 yards which Queens ‘keeper Lee Robinson could only palm off the post and into the net. It was a dream start for Livi with the team still on the hunt for their first away league win of the season.

With an early goal under their belt, Livi looked very settled and began passing the ball about well, despite the poor conditions. However, the next chance of the match came from the home side. A cross into the box was headed clear by Kyle Jacobs, only as far as veteran winger Allan Johnston who collected the ball and curled a shot at goal that just went the wrong side of the post.

Some heavy pressure and nice one-touch play seen the Lions create a shooting opportunity but Mark Fotheringham’s shot was easily saved by Robinson

Livi then had a penalty shout denied by referee Brian Winter. Some good play from Keaghan Jacobs seen him find Barr out wide and his cross looked to have found Deuchar at the back-post but as the big striker went up for the header, he was bundled over by defender Mark Campbell. The Livi appeals were led by Deuchar himself but Winter was adamant and no penalty was awarded.

Soon after, ex-Livi midfielder Scott McLaughlin was should have levelled the match. Kevin Smith played Alan Reid down the wing and his cross was headed into McLaughlin’s path by Tom Brighton but he scuffed his volley and Craig Barr cleared the ball to safety.

Before half-time, Livi were beginning to enjoy a fair bit of pressure and McNulty was involved twice as the Lions came close to doubling the lead. Showing some fast footwork, he managed to wriggle past 3 Queens defenders but Deuchar snatched at that shot as the ball ran loose. Moments later, a nice bit of interplay between Barr and Talbot seen the latter play in McNulty but his left-footed shot was straight at Robinson.

The second-half begun in much the same manner with Livingston still looking for goal number two. A Bobby Barr cross into the box was so nearly met by the out-stretched boot of Deuchar but he couldn’t get there quick enough and the ball rolled clear. Another cross from Barr was met with the same outcome but this time it was Kyle Jacobs who couldn’t get the touch needed to knock the ball in.

Barr by this point was becoming a real nuisance for the Queens back-line and after cutting inside from the wing, he slipped McNulty in this time, but his shot went high over the bar. Robinson then denied McNulty his second goal of the game with a brilliant save after Keaghan Jacobs had played him in.

In a rare attack, Queens were gifted a brilliant opportunity to square the game. As Kevin Smith drove into the box, he was tracked by Bobby Barr and as the ball looked to be heading out for a goal kick, Barr appeared to shove Smith, sending him tumbling to the ground - winning his side a penalty. Smith picked himself up and dusted himself down before rifling the penalty straight down the middle. However, as McNeill dived to his right, his trailing legs blocked the ball and it ricocheted away, denying Queens an equaliser.

With Livi having already been dominating before the penalty, the save seemed to give them an extra lift and it wasn’t long before the three points were sealed. Fotheringham picked the ball up deep inside his own half and drove forward, unchallenged, before passing wide to McNulty. The youngster only needed one touch as he drove the ball back across goal and as McGuffie and Robinson both tried to clear, the ball fell perfectly for Fotheringham who smashed the ball into the net and grabbed his first goal for the club.

It was a goal that looked to have been coming for a while and it seemed to end any fight that Queens had left in them. They did have one last effort with McLaughlin driving a low shot goal wards but McNeill got down excellently to tip the ball round the post.

Even late on, Livi were still looking dangerous going forward and McNulty fired a brilliant shot just wide after some good work from Barr. Substitute Iain Russell, who replaced McNulty, done well to find Keaghan Jacobs and his lay-off sat nicely for Fotheringham but he lashed his effort over the bar. It was to be the final chance of the game as the referee blew for full-time and confirmed a first away win of the season for the Lions.