LIVI CLAIM THE POINTS

Shire were left to re-assess the chances of the team maintaining a challenge for the Third Division title after being beaten 2-0 by leaders Livingston.

It now leaves the club seven points behind the top side having played one game more.

Goals from Andrew Halliday and Robbie Winters, the same combination that had given them a 2-0 win at Ochilview less then three weeks before, again undid Shire who were never out of things but who couldn't find their touch in front of goal.

Shire coach Jim McInally was a disappointed man afterwards.

"The better team won and we were well beaten in the end," he said.

"We should have tried to go out and enjoy the occasion but we were a bag of nerves and when you look at it as a game of football we have no excuses."

The Shire coach was quick to praise Livingston.

"I thought they were quality," he said. "Their front two especially have good movement and are quick and lively and they just passed the ball around us.

"That said, there was not a great did in it in the first half apart from the goal. In the second period we conceded a goal far too earlyand they oozed confidence after that where we did not show any composure in any part of the game."

The defeat is a setback to a team who were hoping to maintain some sort of challenge to the leaders. Jim was quick not to write off those chances just yet but admits things are now far more difficult.

"It's not a situation we have to accept. We told the players we are disappointed because they ought to have shown a bit more self-belief. We knew how hard this was going to be and, if we are not going to win it, then we will just have to try and be second. Butwe are not giving up yet."