Livingston FC for their first home tie of the 2024/2025 campaign hosted Dunfermline Athletic at The Home For The Set Fare Arena in Scottish League Cup Action. Livingston wanted to continue the momentum from their 2-0 victory against Forfar within the group stage and build upon the three-point advantage.

While the Pars were coming into this game hoping to gain three points for a chance to remain in contention for the cup following a tough start to their campaign.

Both sides made minimal changes to the starting lineups with Dunfermline opting for Rhys Breen to replace Taylor Sutherland who was on the bench as a substitute. Livingston’s change was Olly Green coming in for Daniel Finlayson.

Lewis McCann for Dunfermline kicked off the game looking to breakdown Livingston’s defense and achieve an early goal by providing early offence for the Dunfermline side.  The first throw in came within minutes for Dunfermline, forcing Livingston to push back and defend the net.  Stephen Kelly was rewarded with a free kick after a tackle from Dunfermline resulting in a near miss. Livingston got their first corner in the match after the third minute free kick was headed behind the goal.  The left-hand side corner taken was cleared and Deniz Mehmet confidently saved a rebound shot denying Livingston their first goal. Cristian Montano deflected a good defense from a Dunfermline throw in to keep pressure on the Dunfermline side.

Matthew Clarke takes a throw in and passes to Stephen Kelly which is broken down from Tete Yengi. Again, Cristian Montano defends in the box from David Wotherspoon. This resulted in a goal kick for Shamal George. Jamie Brandon the new captain took another throw in then passed towards Stephen Kelly who then passes forward too Ryan McGowan which got back to Keiran Ngwenya straight into Shamal George.

Dunfermline was denied the opportunity to take an early lead when Aaron Comrie’s pass was played into the right-hand side of Shamal Georges box by Kane Ritchie-Hosier where David Wotherspoon took a left footed shot on target that was blocked by the Livingston side. In the eleventh minute the Livingston Lions pushed towards Dunfermline’s box where Robbie Muirhead seen off Mehmet to launch the ball past Mehmet, breaking the deadlock, making it 1-0 to Livingston.

The game continued with a good run from Tengi Yengi leading to a header for Robbie Muirhead resulting in a near miss. Shamal George continued to support the Livingston offence with a goal kick after a failed shot from Chris Hamilton. David Wotherspoon called for a free kick, but referee Colin Steven advised that the play continue.

The 18^th minute seen a cross from Kieran Ngwenya from Wotherspoon, but another opportunity was lost as the ball went over the crossbar. Sam Fisher attempted to bring the game back to a deadlock by picking up a pass from Ritchie Hosler in front of the Livingston goal and taking a shot, but Shamal George confidently saved. In the 23^rd minute Shamal defended his net once again by jumping near the crossbar for another save. Olly Green passes back to Shamal George for a straight kick out into Dunfermline’s side of the field but as Shamal comes out the ball passes by him but is successfully turned into a goal kick.

Livingston continued with strong offence to secure a two-goal lead going into the half-time break. Olly Green tried to break through the Dunfermline defense with a run through the middle, but he was denied.  Mathew Clarke had another attempt on goal by aiming for the far-right post which was defended successfully closely followed by another shot on target by Clarke which was denied as Livingston continued to mount pressure on Dunfermline’s defense.   In the closing moments of the first half a header from Hamilton to level the game went over Livingston’s cross bar.  Ngwenya takes another strike before the half-time whistle, which is also sent over the crossbar. In the final minutes of the first half Dunfermline was awarded their first corner kick but this could not break down the strong Livingston defense and a free kick from Wotherspoon in the final few seconds failed to deliver ensuring Livingston went into the second half with a one goal lead.

As the second half began, Livingston made one substitution as Lewis Smith replaced Liam Sole. Dunfermline had the opportunity to level the game early into the second half as Breen gained control of the ball from a Shamal George free kick as he took aim at the left post. Shamal George responded well to Dunfermline pressure as both teams pushed for a goal.  Livingston tried to enhance the lead with a strike from Muirhead, blocked leading to a corner.  Mehmet managed to successfully clear the ball at the near post. Kelly continued to control possession by finding Yengi for a header leading to a near miss as Mehmt clips the ball over the bar to give Livingston a corner. The corner again finds Yengi who gets a tap on the ball which was proved no threat to Mehmet as it glided into his hands.  Livingston continued to maintain overall possession of 61% compared to Dunfermline’s 39%.

Another substitute was in the 57th minute of the game as Taylor Sutherland replaced David Wotherspoon. Sutherland made a positive start winning a corner from a Ritchie –Hosler cross but could not break down the Livingston defense. An attempt by Yengi to give Livingston the lead went wide.  Stephen Kelly was also denied another goal scoring opportunity in the 60^th minute as a successful header from Hamilton prevented the ball from crossing the line.

Dunfermline pushed forward to gain the equalizer and played more offensively during the second half.     Shamal George was kept busy as he kept out a confident strike by McCann. A Muirhead shot crashed off the crossbar denying Livingston an opportunity to further their lead.   At the 69^th minute Dunfermline made a change as Andrew Todd replaced Aaron Comrie. Todd had an immediate impact as he found McCann who attempted to head the ball past Shamal George but was saved preventing the equalizer.

A Muirhead corner found Cristian Montano who headed the ball to the far right.  and powered a header wide right. Dunfermline made their final substitutions introducing Joe Chalmers and Craig Wighton in place of Breen and McCann in the 76^th minute. Livingston a minute later also made changes as Yengi and Muirhead were replaced by Winter and Korboa.  Winter was unlucky not to exceed Livingston’s lead as Mehmet succesfully blocked Winter’s cross which Winter closely followed with another successful cross forcing Mehemt to dive and secure the ball.  The only card of the game came in the 83^rd minute as Dunfermline’s Benedictus received a yellow card for a poor challenge.

In the final ten minutes of the game, the weather changed, but the rain did not deter Livingston’s defense. The Pars were attacking more and trying to push forward but could not penetrate the Lions defense. Dunfermline had one final chance during extra time with a shot from  Wighton which went wide allowing Livingston to secure their first home win of the new campaign.

Match Report: Scott Carlile

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