IRN BRU Scottish Football League
Division Three
Saturday 31st October 2009
Montrose 0 Livingston 3

Despite matching their full-time opponents for almost the entire 90 minutes, Montrose found themselves well beaten in an ill-tempered Hallowe’en clash with Livingston at Links Park.
In a match which saw two red cards and three beookings, Montrose succumbed to three second half goals, a result their performance did not warrant.
Livingston took the lead through Raffaele De Vita early in the second half, before Andrew Halliday and substitute Marc McNulty added two late goals to seal the win.
It was a sore result for Montrose, who had been equal to their opponents throughout the match. They had started brightly, Marek Tomana giving an early indication of his intent, setting off on a mazy run through the heart of the Livingston defence before sending a 25-yard shot at goalkeeper Roddy McKenzie. Livingston also looked dangerous, a Robbie Winters shot from inside the box well blocked by Alan Campbell.
Tomana came close again in the 17th minute, Sean Anderson providing him with a great through ball, but the Slovakian playmaker blazed his shot over the crossbar.
The first moment of controversy came in the 21st minute, Jonathan Brown shown a straight red card for a two-footed challenge on John Gemmell. The card literally added insult to injury, the Livingston player limping off having been dismissed while writhing in pain following the challenge.
From the resultant free kick, Chris Hegarty curled a 25-yard shot narrowly wide of the post.
Montrose seemed to sense that their numerical advantage could be the foundation upon which they could record a first league win of the season. Hegarty sent a free kick into the box, Hugh Davidson connecting with a diving header which came off the top of the crossbar before bouncing out of play.
Despite being a man down, Livingston continued to attack, forcing Montrose into same solid defending. Young Cameron McDonald came closest, sending a 20-yard shot wide of the target.
Montrose’s one-man advantage was wiped out in the 35th minute when Anderson was shown a straight red card, although what he had done to deserve such a punishment was unclear. Livingston striker Halliday seemed to overreact to a challenge, writhing on the ground clutching his face, and despite the protestations of his teammates, Anderson was dismissed.
The home side continued to look lively after the break, Hegarty again testing McKenzie with a long-range free kick and Gemmell shooting over after bamboozling his markers on the edge of the box.
As the second half wore on, Livingston began to exert more authority, forcing goalkeeper Steven Coutts into a number of excellent saves. Coutts did well to turn a De Vita shot wide in the 51st minute after the Livingston player had turned Campbell.
Montrose also caused their visitors problems, Aaron Sinclair’s ambitious run and shot forcing McKenzie to make a save.
But just a minute later, Livingston were ahead. A long ball into the box found De Vita, who had time to control the ball before sending a low shot into the bottom corner.
The introduction of Daryl Nicol as a substitute seemed to invigorate Montrose, the young forward causing Livingston problems with his direct running. One such run in the 60th minute saw him lay the ball off to Paul Watson, whose shot was deflected wide. From the corner, Nicol crossed to Gemmell at the back post, the striker heading into McKenzie’s arms.
Coutts produced another good save in the 61st minute, reacting well to a long range Liam Fox shot.
Nicol and Davidson linked well shortly afterwards, a quick one-two sending Nicol into the box, but the youngster shot narrowly wide.
Young Livingston centre back Cammy MacDonald came close to extending the visitors’ lead in the 71st minute, embarking on a solo run through the middle of the park before curling a shot wide from 20 yards.
Montrose continued to seek an equaliser, player-manager Steven Tweed heading a Hegarty free kick over the crossbar. Seconds later, Livingston launched a quick counter attack, Coutts pulling off a point blank save to deny De Vita on the half volley.
With Montrose seeking a route back into the match, Livingston secured the win by exploiting space at the back, Halliday with time in the box to slam his shot into the net.
Montrose continued to battle gamefully, Tweed heading over from a corner. But with the match into stoppage time, Marc McNulty, introduced as a substitute just seconds earlier, had time and space to finish.

Match Report by Mark Rae