Whitburn held to draw by Livi United

Nov 17 2011 by Kieran Westbrook, West Lothian Courier

A LATE Charles Pearson strike spoiled things for Whitburn as Livi United grabbed a point.

Whitburn started well without really threatening the Livingston goal and out of the blue it was United who took the lead.

An Aaron Gillespie kick-out was headed on by ex-Whitburn man Andy Roberts to Paul Byrne who showed great composure to side-foot the ball into the bottom corner of Franny Carlin’s net.

Whitburn’s first real chance came from dangerman Bryan King who linked up well with Michael Browne but his shot was deflected wide.

Browne threatened again soon after but his effort was well saved.

On the half-hour mark, Whitburn were handed a penalty when Fraser Spence drove into the box and was tripped by left-back Craig Gibbons.

King stepped up and netted the spot-kick to grab an equaliser.

Minutes later King doubled his tally to send Burnie ahead with a back post header from a Willie Rodger corner.

King could have had a hat-trick when he had a good shot saved after being put in by Spence from the right side of the box.

Livi looked rocked and were struggling to contain King.

Whitburn brought on Dewi Taylor in the 73rd minute for Mark Sharp and six minutes later he set up King who tried a great chip which came off the underside of the bar and was grabbed by the keeper.

But despite the pressure, United snatched a point from a glaring Burnie error.

After almost having a two-goal deficit, it was Livi who struck back.

A poor punch by Carlin landed gratefully for Pearson who bundled the ball over the line.

With almost the last kick of the ball Pearson could have snatched all three points when a loose ball fell to him in the box but thankfully for Whitburn it spun just wide.

But both sides had to settle for the draw which keeps Whitburn third and Livi United ninth.