LIVINGSTON 2 SHIRE 0

For the second time in as many weeks Shire failed to make any headway on Third Division leaders Livingston.

Just as at Ochilview, Shire were smothered by their full-time opponents who were able to get goals at vital times.

The defeat now leaves Shire seven points behind Livingston, who still have a game in hand, making the dream of sustaining a challenge for the title all the harder.

Coach Jim McInally pulled few surprises for the trip to top of the table Livingston. There was just one change from the team that had beaten Forfar Athletic 4-0 at the weekend and that was expected with Paul Weaver, suspended for the Forfar game, replacing David Dunn.

Neither Derek Ure or Dean Richardson were considered fit enough for inclusion in the team after their recent bouts of illness and both had to settle again for a seat on the bench.

Livingston kicked-off and created the first opening straight from the start, Liam Fox firing over a cross from the right that Jamie Barclay had to punch clear.

Shire were not slow to respond and after four minutes Andy Rodgers hooked a high ball into the Livi box which Simon Lynch headed towards goal but home keeper Roddy McKenzie was behind it.

The home team’s early tactic was to hit their forwards early and try to use their pace to put pressure on the Shire defence. That  saw Barclay have to race from his line to smother the danger at the edge of his own box. At least in those early stages that was something he did without any risk.

Just short of the quarter hour the home team got their first clean sight of goal when Robbie Winters fed Andrew Halliday but his shot from the edge of the box was wide of the target.

With 15 minutes on the clock a long throw-in from Ryan Harding created a half chance for Stephen McGuire but his shot lacked power and McKenzie made a comfortable save.

An Andy Rodgers mistake after 21 minutes on the edge of his own box gave Livingston their next opportunity. The Shire man missed his clearance and that gave Fox a clear sight of goal but his shot was weak and wide.

Two minutes later there was a chance at the other end. Lynch picked the ball up in midfield and drove for goal but his low shot was parried by McKenzie and Rodgers could not direct the rebound on target.

Neither team seemed able to get much of a grip on the game and, in such circumstances, a goal was always going to come out of the blue. That’s what happened on 33 minutes when a right-wing cross arrived at Jamie Bartclay’s back post and Halliday out jumped Craig Donaldson to head past the unprotected Shire keeper.

Just as they had in the game two and a half weeks before at Ochilview, Livingston tried to shut the game down once ahead.

Shire had their best period of possession at the start of the second half but could not make any inroads or create a meaningful chance. After 52 minutes a Paul Hay cross was met by a glancing Rodgers which flashed wide of the target.

But a minute later Shire were punished when Winters cracked in a shot from just outside the box that flew past Barclay into the net.

The home team played with a great deal more confidence after that although not with much more adventure. Hey ought to have made it 3-0 on 67 minutes when a break from Winters from inside his own half freed Halliday but the striker’s net bound shot was saved by Barclay’s outstretched leg.

Winter’s created another chance for Halliday late on but Michael Bolochoweckyj did enough to put the striker off and his effort went wide of the target.

Scott Johnston was a late substitute for Shire and he certainly looked lively and set up McGuire for a chance to reduce the leeway on 81 minutes but McKenzie got down low to save well.

LIVINGSTON : McKenzie, Brown, Malone, Tosh(Sinclair 70), Griffin, Watson, Fox, K. Jacobs, Winters(Hamilton 85), De Vita(Barr 79).

SHIRE : Barclay, Donaldson, Hay(Richardson 60), Forrest, Bolochoweckyj, Harding, Weaver(Ure 64), Stevenson, Lynch, McGuire, Rodgers(Johnston 70).

REFEREE : R. Madden

ATTENDANCE : 864.