Rampant Lions blow Brechin’s unbeaten record to bits

Sep 23 2010 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Rampant Lions blow Brechin’s unbeaten record to bits

RAFFAELE DE VITA blasted home an early contender for goal of the season to shoot down high-flying Brechin – now the Italian hitman hopes his wonder strike can seal his place in Livingston’s starting XI.

De Vita produced an outrageous piece of skill to pluck Keaghan Jacobs’ long ball out of the air and bamboozle Brechin stopper Gerry McLauchlan before the Livi forward drilled the ball into the bottom corner of the net from 14 yards.

It sealed the points for Livingston – who were already 2-0 up by this stage after goals from Iain Russell and Craig Barr – but it may have also secured De Vita’s name on the team-sheet and end a frustrating spell on the bench for the Italian.

“I scored a good goal but it was just good to get it to kill the game off — that was the most important thing,” said De Vita, who started his first league match of the season against Brechin on Saturday.

“I just wanted to put myself about and make an impression to stay in the team.

“For a striker, scoring a goal is a great feeling and I’m happy with that. It has been hard being on the bench every week but all you can do is do your best and play well when you come on.

“I have a great feeling about this year and I just want to do well for the team and if I start next week, I start, and if I don’t, I don’t.”

The Lions roared out of the traps at Glebe Park with Winters firing an early chance narrowly past the post.

Gradually City crept into the match and they began to threaten the Livi defence.

Charlie King forced a decent stop from Tony Bullock and Jamie Redman should have hit the target when the visiting back line backed off and backed off, but he dragged his shot wide from 18 yards.

But two goals before half-time handed the initiative to the visitors. A clever passing move on 43 minutes involving De Vita, Liam Fox and Winters allowed the Italian to hook the ball across the face of goal for Russell to tap in.

Barely 120 seconds later, they doubled their lead when Craig Barr glanced home a David Sinclair free-kick for his first in Livi colours.

De Vita got his stunning goal on 74 minutes to seal the points before Brechin grabbed a last -gasp consolation strike in stoppage time when Ewan Moyes bundled home from close range.

Lions boss Gary Bollan said: “We didn’t score any goals last week, so we thought sticking three up front would give us a goal threat. And we had Rafa and Russell both scoring, so the game plan worked.”

COURIER MAN OF THE MATCH: Keaghan Jacobs

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