Blue Toon hold league leading Lions to draw

Sep 16 2010 West Lothian Courier

Peterhead 0 - Livingston 0

THERE was a top versus bottom clash at Balmoor on Saturday - but the game ended in complete stalemate.

Division Two league leaders Livingston were held to a scoreless draw by basement boys Peterhead.

But at the end of the game it was the Lions who were most relieved at escaping with a point after surviving a late penalty scare.

Skipper Liam Fox looked to have handled the ball in his own box just three minutes from the end but to the relief of the travelling support and boss Gary Bollan, whistler John Beaton waved play on.

Top man for Livingston on the day was keeper Tony Bullock who produced a series of top stops to deny the lively Dennis Wyness and earn his side a share of the spoils.

The pick of the bunch from the keeper came early on when Bullock showed tremendous reflexes to claw away a Wynes overhead kick which seemed destined for the net.

Bullock denied Wyness again after the break on two occasions.

However, it was not all about the Blue Toon’s chances for at the other end Livi’s Robbie Winters had a sniff of goal when he peeled off into space but he could only guide his header straight at Jon Bateman in the home goal and the chance was lost for the leaders.

Livi substitute Raffaele De Vita went close with an excellent header from a Bobby Barr cross before the spot-kick row when Fox looked to have controlled a ball in the box with his arm but whistler Beaton waved away the frantic protests of the home side.

After the match Peterhead boss Neale Cooper said: “I thought we thoroughly deserved all three points but we didn't get them and have to settle for the share of the spoils.

“ I think everyone in the stadium thought we should have had a penalty but the referee's made his decision and hasn't given it.

“I couldn't ask for any more from my side but Livingston keeper Tony Bullock deserves a lot of praise as he had a couple of great saves.”

Livingston: Bullock, C Barr, Talbot, Keaghan Jacobs, O'Byrne, Watson, Fox, Sinclair (Kyle Jacobs), Russell (De Vita), Winters, B Barr.