Livi back in title run

Mar 12 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

A TRULY sensational second-half display saw the Lions tear rivals Dunfermline apart and leapfrog the Fifers in the league table.

Livingston’s first win in six games moved them up to third in the table and to within 10 points of leaders St Johnstone.

Teen sensation Leigh Griffiths was on the scoresheet again and the 18-year-old is now the second highest goalscorer in the country - behind only Kris Boyd.

His tally of 17 goals has him ahead of the likes of Celtic’s Scott McDonald and anyone in the lower leagues despite the fact he missed two months of the campaign through injury.

Both sets of supporters contributed to a poignant minute's applause prior to kick-off in memory of Mary Leishman, the wife of former Livi boss Jim, who passed away last month.

The Pars had won on their last visit to West Lothian and they looked to be in the mood for a repeat performance as they dominated the early exchanges.

Roddy McKenzie was the busier keeper in the opening quarter but it was Livi who took the lead with their first effort of the match.

Griffiths was involved as his cross was knocked to the edge of the box where Tony McParland smashed home from 20 yards.

The winger’s goal proved to be the difference at the interval largely thanks to McKenzie in the Livi goal.

But after the break he was powerless to deny the Pars a leveller when Steven Bell steered a volley into the top corner.

At the other end 17-year-old Andrew Halliday embarked on a mazy run which took him into the Dunfermline box where he was crudely cut off by Scott Wilson.

The Pars skipper made no attempts to play the ball and simply stepped into Halliday’s path. Had it occurred anywhere else on the park then it would have been a foul but the referee waved away the grounded teenagers penalty appeal.

Livingston did regain the lead on 66 minutes when Murray Davidson stroked home from the edge of the box left-footed.

It was a lead Livi held for less than a minute as David Graham burst forward and almost tore the roof out of the net with a thunderous drive from 30 yards which was still rising when it nestled in the top corner.

The visiting fans barely had time to celebrate their sensational equaliser when they found themselves trailing again.

Just two minutes after conceding a leveller Davidson found the net again when he rose unmarked to glance a header inside the far post.

And Griffiths sealed the win on 75 minutes when he controlled a Keaghan Jacobs pass and lashed the ball past Paul Gallacher from 12 yards.

Dunfermline boss Jim McIntyre was stunned at seeing his side take nothing from a match they had dominated in spells.

He said: "We passed them off the park in the first half but weren't ruthless enough.

"People looking at this score and match reports after this game won't realise how much we dominated."

Livingston: McKenzie, McDonald, Talbot (Keaghan Jacobs 36), Griffin, Davidson, Innes, McParland, Hamill, Griffiths, Halliday (Torrance 64), One (De Vita 52). Subs not used: Winters, McDowall.