Livingston held to Galabank blank by Annan

Mar 18 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

LIVINGSTON defender Cammy MacDonald insists his side still have work to do to win the Third Division title after the Lions were held at Annan on Tuesday night.

The goalless draw at Galabank extended Livi’s lead at the top of the table to 11 points ahead of closest rivals East Stirlingshire’s scheduled clash with Albion Rovers last night.

And irrespective of the Shire’s result against the Coatbridge side, MacDonald is adamant that no one in the Almondvale dressing room is taking anything for granted, despite Livingston’s comfortable gap at the top of the table.

“Every point gained is a point closer to the title, but no one here at Livingston will rest on their laurels until the Third Division trophy is ours,” said MacDonald.

“Until then, we’ll let people on the outside do the talking and we’ll concentrate on trying to win games.”

Having won five matches on the bounce, Livingston made the long trek down to Annan on Tuesday night but couldn’t find a way through the Borderers’ defence.

The stalemate wasn’t too much of a surprise for MacDonald, who expected the Galabankies to make it tough for the league leaders.

“Annan gave us a fright at Almondvale a few weeks ago and they scored five at Forfar, so we were wary of them,” he said.

“We knew they would be tough – and so it proved – and a draw was probably a fair result.”

Livingston enjoyed plenty possession in the early going but they failed to test keeper Craig Summersgill.

It took half an hour for the league leaders to create their first real opening of the match.

Midfielder Stevie Tosh swung in a free-kick to the back post, which was knocked down to Liam Fox on the edge of the box.

Fox mis-hit his volley into the ground but the ball fell kindly for Raffaele De Vita but Saturday’s goal hero at Elgin blasted over.

Annan’s Scott Anson rifled a shot into the side netting from the inside left position just before the break as the sides went in level.

Livi boss Gary Bollan shuffled his pack during the interval, making a bold switch by sending on striker Jim Hamilton in place of left-back Jason Talbot.

But it was Annan who almost made the breakthrough when Jack Steele’s header across goal crashed off the woodwork before being hacked clear by MacDonald underneath his own crossbar.

The Galabank side almost had the last word – and the points – when Phil Storey led a counter-attacking charge up the left hand side before cutting in field and forcing a diving save from Roddy McKenzie with a low shot in stoppage time.

Annan manager Harry Cairney was delighted to see his side earn a point but he reckoned it could have been even more.

He said: “It was a good performance from us against a side that are well clear at the top of the league.

“I felt we took the game to them and put them under a bit of pressure and we could have won it at the end.”

Livingston manager Bollan said: “Galabank is a tough place to come for any team and we knew we’d be in for a difficult game and Annan deserved a draw.

“We are always looking to win, but it is another point earned on the road.”

Livingston: McKenzie, Griffin, Talbot (Hamilton), MacDonald, Paul Watson, Keaghan Jacobs (Barr), Tosh, Fox, Halliday, De Vita, Winters, Subs: Malone, Sinclair, McDowall.