Livingston fell to six points adrift at the bottom of the cinch Premiership despite a spirited second half comeback in Dingwall, losing 3-2 to Ross County. An Eamonn Brophy first half double was cancelled out by a Bruce Anderson second half brace, before a Josh Sims strike in added time broke the 262 travelling fan’s hearts.

Manager David Martindale opted for the same team that toppled St Mirren a week ago, with the only changes coming on the bench where Jack Hamilton and Cristian Montano were welcomed back following injuries.

Following a positive period of play from the Lions, it was the hosts who carved out the first real opportunity. Max Sheaf kept the ball well on the right side of the box before cutting back for Eamonn Brophy, his shot blasted high over the bar.

The Lions raced up the other end and carved a chance for themselves, with a nice lofted ball by Joel Nouble finding Jamie Brandon in space down the right wing. He drove into the box well and his cross-come-shot was parried by George Wickens in the County goal. The rebound fell to Jason Holt who played in Andrew Shinnie, but his shot was blocked with Holt’s follow up shot also blocked and rolling through to Wickens.

The Staggies earned a corner with 12 minutes on the clock, with Simon Murray attempting a cross that was blocked. The initial corner was looped in and cleared well by the Lions defence but only fell as far as Loick Ayina on the edge of the box and his fizzed shot stung the palms of Shamal George as he was forced to tip the ball over the bar for another corner.

The hosts were gaining momentum with Murray causing issues down the right. He gained possession on the by line, and his flick was set up nicely for Jordan White to head home, but the former Lion’s header fell past the far post for a goal kick.

And on 21 minutes, County had the lead. A through ball looked easy for Mo Sangare to deal with, however it managed to slip past him into the path of Brophy who made no mistake one-on-one with George to put the hosts one up.

Brophy made it two for him and Ross County five minutes later. A clever balled dinked over the defence by Murray was laced home on the half volley by the number 27, surviving a VAR check for possible offside.

Brophy turned provider as White looked to get in on the action. A nice cross found the head of the big striker, but again the attempt was off target, gliding by the near post.

Sangare almost atoned for his mistake ten minutes to the half. A cross to the back post from the right was almost bundled into the net by Tete Yengi however a County block saw the ball spin out to the edge of the box. Sangare was waiting, and his clipped effort looked destined for the top corner, with Wickens having to use all his height to top it over the bar.

The Lions ended the half more positively with little to show for it upfront; with a mixture of poor decision making and good County defending proving the difference.

Manager David Martindale opted to make two changes at half time, replacing Stephen Kelly and Andrew Shinnie with Dan Mackay and Bruce Anderson, with the latter making an instant impact. Yengi won a foul on the sideline, with Sangare taking the resultant freekick. It landed at the feet of Michael Nottingham who was unable to get the shot away, however Anderson did, smashing the ball low and hard into the bottom corner to pull one back for the visitors.

Livi won themselves a corner on the hour mark, with Anderson going down under a tackle which was waved on by referee David Dickinson. Sub Sean Kelly took the kick which found Yengi but his header was high over the bar.

The visitors were pushing for an equaliser, and almost found it. A ball played through to Yengi saw his shot saved well however the rebound fell to Jason Holt on the edge of the box. He teed himself up and smashed it low however his strike was blocked, and his follow up effort was taken easily by Wickens in the County goal.

Murray had the chance to extend County’s lead on 67 minutes. Driving down the left he was felled by Nottingham who earned himself a yellow card. Murray took the free kick and surprised all by going for goal, his shot brushing the top of the net on the way out.

It was Livi applying all the pressure and on 70 minutes almost found the goal they were craving. A long throw from the left hand side by Nottingham was header back to him. He managed to flick the ball to Holt who controlled with his chest before lashing a shot goal bound, only to be thwarted by a tidy Wickens’ save.

Jordan White forced George into a big save as the minutes ticked on. Picked the ball up from about 25 yards, his low stinging shot was turned round the post well by George, with the follow up corner coming to nothing.

And on 85 minutes, Livi were level. Yengi opted to take a touch with the through ball which confused the County defence. Turning goalwards, the Aussie opted to lay up Anderson who took a touch before slotting the ball low past Wickens to even the scoring.

However, any hopes of a miraculous comeback were slashed in extra time. With the Lions pressing forward, it opened up defensive frailties. A missed tackle from Obileye opened up play, with the ball played to Josh Sims on the left of the box. Cutting in, the substitute slid the ball under the onrushing George to prompt wild celebrations from County support.

The game wasn’t finished yet, and Livi almost grabbed another leveller late into added time. A wonderful touch by Kurtis Guthrie brought the ball down from a long ball to set up a strike. This was blocked and fell to Yengi on the right side of the box, his left footed curling effort just evading the top corner.

Livi pushed and gave as much as they could in the hunt for yet another equaliser. A late corner saw George join the attack, and although the initial ball was cleared it landed at Holt’s feet, whose looping cross found Guthrie at the back post. Nodding the ball back across it found Kelly at the back, his strike looked to have grabbed the Lions a point, however the rippling of the net was only as it hit the side netting to end the visitors chances of a draw.

Match Report: David Hastie

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