Six-goals shared as Livingston being Second Division campaign

Aug 12 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

GARY BOLLAN watched his Livingston side held to a draw by Alloa in a six-goal thriller in the clash of the title favourites — but after the match he was more concerned with stricken stopper Cammy MacDonald than two-dropped points.

First-half goals from Kyle Jacobs and Iain Russell looked to have the home side on easy street before the Wasps levelled the match with two quick-fire goals from Darren Smith and Bryan Prunty.

A Declan McAvoy own-goal edged Livi back in front before a last minute penalty earned Alloa a share of the spoils.

Although later X-rays showed no serious damage to MacDonald, after the match Bollan was clearly concerned that the young defender had suffered a fractured eye-socket admitting the worry had overshadowed the result for the Lions.

He said: “MacDonald has been taken off to the hospital and he doesn’t look too great if I’m honest with you.

“He is badly concussed and I think the worry is he’s had a fracture of the eye-socket. All the thoughts of the club are with Cammy at the minute.

“Football’s a game and someone’s health takes priority over that so something like this brings everything else into perspective.

“We warned the players at half-time that the third goal in a game is always crucial and they got it, got their tails up then scored again following an individual error from our point of view.

“But we showed great recovery to score again but then the penalty at the end got Alloa level again. But I’ve seen pictures which suggest Liam Fox’s late effort was over the line which is disappointing.

“We probably were the better side but you have to give Alloa credit as they were two-behind at half-time then 3-2 behind but they came back to gain a point.

“The game was end to end and played at a fair pace and hopefully every week is not like that. We’re disappointed not to have won the game but we’ll dust ourselves down and look forward to next week.”

A couple of bone-crunching challenges in the opening minute sent Bobby Barr and Kyle Jacobs flying but the latter made the most of the resulting free kick as he nodded home Liam Fox’s delivery for his first ever senior goal.

Then on 21 minutes Livingston doubled their advantage following a moment of opportunism by Russell.

Keaghan Jacobs won the ball on the edge of his own box and sent Russell clear down the right.

The new-boy was almost hugging the right touch-line but he spotted keeper Steven Robertson slightly off his line and from more than 30-yards out he bent the ball into the top corner.

It was the perfect reply to the visiting fans from Russell who had been giving their ‘old boy’ some serious stick from the stand.

Alloa should have thrown themselves a first-half life line ten minutes before the when Kevin McDonald fired a low cross into Prunty who had found acres of space, but his shot on the turn bounced straight into Tony Bullock’s arms.

The visitors made a double change at the break and their bold move paid dividends when they pulled a goal back less than ten minutes after the restart with Darren Smith smashing the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box.

A remarkable turnaround was complete four minutes later when MacDonald misjudged a ball allowing it to run through to Prunty who slipped it under the advancing Bullock.

The Wasps should have taken the lead when sub Jim Lister’s flick on fell for Prunty but his fierce drive was tipped over the top.

But it was Livi who regained the advantage on 64 minutes when McAvoy put a Robbie Winters cross through his own net under pressure from Russell at the back post.

Winters then went close to adding a fourth for the Lions with a mazy run across the front of the 18-yard box but his low shot rolled narrowly wide.

Jacobs, who had notched his first ever senior goal in the first-half, had a great chance ten minutes from the end to score his second but he headed straight at Robertson in the Alloa goal.

It was a chance Livi were left to rue as Alloa were awarded a penalty eight minutes from the end after MacDonald felled David Gormley in the box, with MacDonald being carried off the field on a stretcher to add to the Lions’ woes.

Andrew Scott stroked the resulting spot-kick home for Alloa.

There was still time for some more late drama after skipper Fox burst into the box and poked the ball through keeper Robertson’s legs but McAvoy hacked clear to ensure the visitors earned a share of the points on a day when the neither of the title heavyweights could quite land a knock-out blow.

Pictures after the match seemed to suggest the ball had infact crossed the line when McAvoy cleared denying Livi a late winner.

Alloa boss Allan Maitland said: “At half-time I thought it could have been any score. I thought Livingston played really well but I felt we contributed to our own downfall with our defending.

“We didn’t deserve a point. They were better than us so we’re thankful for the point.

“It was a great point but not a great day for us and we’ll need to improve dramatically if we want to do anything this year.”

Attendance: 1389

Courier Star Man: Iain Russell

Livingston: Bullock, C Barr, Talbot, Kyle Jacobs, O’Byrne, MacDonald (Conway), Fox, Keaghan Jacobs (Sinclair), Russell (De Vita), Winters, B Barr. Subs: McNulty, McDowall.