An additional 30 minutes of football was needed for Livingston to secure passage to the fifth round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup with a 3-2 win against Ross County. A Robbie Muirhead penalty, Cristian Montano goal and a last gasp 119th minute winner from Andrew Shinnie sent the 215 away fans into sheer jubilation.

Two changes to the starting eleven besting Airdrie in midweek was the call of the day for David Martindale, Dan Finlayson and Reece McAlear replacing Stephen Kelly and Andrew Shinnie, with the latter dropping to the bench.

The game started with two sides feeling each other out, with very little to show for it. Ross County, who had been forced to switched halves in the first half appeared to struggling with the low sun in their eyes. It didn’t stop James Brown from taking a shot from the right hand side of the box 13 minutes in, forcing Jerome Prior to tip the ball onto the crossbar for a Staggies corner which was cleared well by Ryan McGowan.

Livi looked threatening just moments later, with really good link up play between Cristian Montano, Stevie May and Robbie Fraser result in a Robbie Muirhead effort glancing just over the bar.

May himself almost produced a moment of magic from outside the box, Muirhead feeding him the ball, with the St Johnstone loanee cushioning the ball with his chest before striking the ball goalwards, forcing Jordan Amissah to palm the ball wide for a corner.

On a pitch that wasn’t exactly conducive to a fast flowing game of football, chances were few and far between, however Livingston would surely be wondering how they weren’t ahead just after the half hour mark. Fraser linked up well with Montano, with his low cross being cleared for a throw in. The long throw beat everyone along the line with no players, either in navy or amber could get on to it rolling harmlessly away.

The same phenomenon would occur with eight minutes left in the half, this time from the right hand side. A Muirhead corner would evade everyone and bounce at the back post, with everyone expecting it to be turned in to give the visitors the lead. The result however would be a goal kick for County.

With minutes to half time, there was an absolute moment from madness from the County defence. A free kick towards the back side of the box appeared to be going out for a throw, however a Staggies defender threw up a hand, stopping the ball, leaving referee Chris Graham with no choice but to point to the spot. Up stepped Robbie Muirhead who dispatched the ball expertly into the bottom corner, sending Amissah the wrong way in the process to fire the Lions into the lead.

Livi took the momentum into the second half as they looked to grab another goal to settle some of the Championship side’s nerves. After some good play, the ball fell to Fraser on the edge of the box who took a touch before striking the ball, the effort whistling over the bar to the relief of the home fans.

Ross County weren’t without their chances, holding the ball well on the edge of the Livi box, looking for space to create the chance. When the space came for Zac Ashworth, his shot was high and wide, causing no concern to Jerome Prior in the Livi goal.

Ten minutes into the second half and it was indeed Ross County who levelled the score. Forward driving play from Noah Chilvers drew a foul from May about 30 yards outside the box. The resulting freekick was floated to the back post where Kacper Lopata passed the ball low across goal for former Lion Jordan white to tap home.

On the hour mark, Livi regained the lead. A long throw from Robbie Muirhead fell to the feet of Cristian Montano, whose fancy footwork found a scrap of space in a packed box to blast the ball into the net left footed from 10 yards out.

The woodwork came to County’s rescue on 69 minutes, a ferocious Muirhead freekick from the right found the head of Fraser, who bruised the post. The ball fell back to youngster, but his follow up shot was blocked for a corner.

It was chance after chance for Livi, with the corner finding Danny Wilson who rose highest, Amissah taking two chances to secure the ball.

And moments later it was May’s turn to test the County defence. Montano broke from midfield and moved the ball wide to the number 17, whose effort slid past the far post.

Despite the pressure, the Lions couldn’t make it count, and were punished on the 74th minute. A long ball fell to the feet of Jack Grieves, who had beat the offside line, his low ball across goal finding Ronan Hale, who finished well into the top corner with only the keeper to beat to level once more.

Livingston were playing some good football in their attempt to take the lead for the third time, and almost made the hosts pay for poor defending. A long ball sent forward was poorly handled by Akil Wright, who in an attempt to get away from the pressing Montano played the ball straight to May. The veteran striker took control and struck the ball low, forcing Amissah into a diving save to his left, the ball being cleared to safety from there.

The Staggies had their chances too however. James Brown, who was having a good game going forward, was looking threatening down the right, with his initial cross being cleared back to him to attempt to shot, although that would find the stands rather than the net.

In what was a feisty end to the 90 minutes, Muirhead, Montano and Kenneh would find themselves in the book, however there would be no further incidents on the footballing side as the game headed to extra time.

The home side started the brighter of the two as extra half got underway, with Brown finding Kieran Phillips around 30 yards out, his shot right down the throat of Prior.

Half time in extra time brought Livi’s first changes of the game, as Andrew Shinnie and debutant Meshack Ubochioma were introduced, May and Montano making way.

Ross County had huge chance to win the game three minutes into the second half of extra time. A scrappy ball into the box found Phillips in the box, who took a touch and blasted high at the goal, forcing Prior into an outstanding reaction save to keep the score level.

At the other end, McAlear’s shot from the edge of the box was saved at the second attempt by the diving Amissah, following good hold up play from Shinnie.

And a nice reverse pass from McAlear found Muirhead on the left, his low cross to the front post going wide courtesy of a Shinnie flick gone wrong.

25 minutes into extra time and County again forced Prior into another huge save. A free kick just inside the Livi half from Chilvers found Lopata, whose first time strike was saved brilliantly by the Frenchman.

Just as the game looked like the game was going to penalties, up stepped Andrew Shinnie. An incredible ball from the left by Meshak Ubochioma to the back post was met by the head of Andy Winter, who nodded to the feet of Shinnie who had the freedom of Victoria Park to take his time and slot the ball low past Amissah, firing the Lions into the next round of the Scottish Cup.