Nine man Shippy sunk at the death.

In a dramatic finale Livingston United scored a one hundred and first minute penalty to knock nine man Shippy out and secured their place in the next round of the East of Scotland Qualifying Cup. Although there were two penalties awarded and two red cards shown, it wasn’t a match that was full of incident with neither team ever gaining control of the match. There were competitive debuts for Daniel Brockie, Tony McAndrew, Liam Taylor and Kieran Crielly. Ryan Couser and Darrell Anthony made returning debuts as both have had previous spells with the Shipyard. One thing that did remain constant was the usual array of players missing for one reason or another.

The new season kicked off in warm and sunny conditions at Station Park, how long will that last everyone will ask, with the Shipyard creating the first opportunity in the 2^nd minute when Taylor’s pass found Michael Gibb inside the box but Gibby couldn’t get his shot on target. At the other end Couser saved from Livi’s Conlon Burchill. Ethan Bauld headed a Jordan Galloway corner wide and at the other end Daniel Duncan drove wide. Couser saved a low drive from Zac Avinou before the Shippy spurned a golden chance to take the lead in the 29^th minute. Taylor was tripped in the box and the youngster dusted himself down to take the kick, however, Dominic Duffy saved well as he dived low to his right to stop the shot. This turned out to be a double whammy for the Shippy as the hosts broke the deadlock two minutes later when Lee Kelly fired the ball home from fifteen yards out. Good work from Cammy Lewis set up a chance for Taylor but he stabbed the ball wide.

Matty Robertson replaced the injured Mark James for the second half and he would not have been expecting to be involved in two major incidents later in the game. A forceful run from Taylor set up a chance for Gibb but the shot was blocked. Couser misjudged a cross into the box but Livingston could not put the loose ball on target as the ball flew over the bar. There were loud claims from the home team for a penalty in the 54^th minute but the referee saw nothing untoward in the handball appeal. The Shipyard lost another player to injury as Lewis left the field with a cut to the back of his head following a challenge just outside the area. Kieran Crielly was his replacement. Following a long delay Anthony headed Galloway’s free kick off target. The Shippy drew level after another Galloway free kick in the 76^th minute. The set piece was only partially cleared and Gibb’s strike deflected off Robertson on its way into the net. Burchill saw an attempt come off the junction of the post and bar as both teams sought a winner. The Shippy’s hopes were dealt a blow when Taylor received a second yellow card as he tracked back and his rash challenge merited a caution. Kai Beard came on for McAndrew as the midfielder was sailing close to the wind should he have committed another foul. Nine minutes into added time it looked like the Shippy might seal the win as Gibb broke through the middle of the Livi defence but agonisingly for the Shipyard his lob landed on the top of the net. Then came the decisive moment a few seconds later as Livingston were awarded a penalty. Robertson tangled with the Livi forward at the corner of the six yard box and grabbed the player’s leg. It was also a second yellow for him which meant that the Shipyard were down to nine men. Matty spoke after the game and he said “I have apologised to the boys in the dressing room. As we were on the ground it felt like the boy dug his nails into my hand and in a rush of blood to the head, I grabbed his leg and brought him down right in front of the referee. Apparently, there was only five seconds remaining.” When the dust had settled in the 11^th minute of added time Dan Duncan tucked away the spot kick to earn his side the win.

Livingston United: D. Duffy; R. Allan; L. Kelly; D. Lennie; D. Duncan; E. Arthur (R. Guy); J. McKnight; Z. Avinou; C. Burchill; J. Barclay (K Whyte); M. Sampson. Unused Subs: E. Quinn; J. Gilchrist; C. Bryans; B. Chetowski.

Burntisland Shipyard: R. Couser; D. Brockie; E. McQuade; E. Bauld; M. James (M. Robertson); D. Anthony; A. McAndrew (K. Beard); J. Galloway; C. Lewis (K. Crielly); M. Gibb; L. Taylor. Unused Sub: C. McBay.

Referee: R. Macartney.