Lions keep pressure on at top
LIVINGSTON boss Gary Bollan praised his side's ability to win ugly after the Lions kept up the pressure on table toppers Brechin with a battling 1-0 win over Peterhead.
Veteran striker Robbie Winters grabbed the winner with just under half an hour left on the clock, allowing the Lions to consolidate their position in second place and stay level on points with the Jim Weir's Brechin City.
Bollan was delighted with Winters, who nipped in front of visiting keeper John Bateman to poke home from a corner, while admitting the performance left a lot to be desired.
Bollan said: "Robbie's an intelligent player, he's got himself in the right place at the right time, and he's got himself an easy finish.
"We're happy enough with the three points, but a bit disappointed with the performance. There's been a few occasions this year where we haven't played well and won so you have to give the players credit for that."
Matchwinner Winters wishes teams would stop trying to prevent them playing football at home. The veteran said: "They were wasting time here and there but once we went ahead they increased the tempo and tried to play.
"I think teams should do that more rather than trying to stop others playing."
Peterhead did start the game in positive fashion, but Greame Sharp and Conor Gethins both failed to trouble Livi keeper Tony Bullock after getting a sight of goal.
Livi responded with Craig Barr heading over from a David Sinclair corner, before Peterhead's Stuart Anderson forced Bullock into a wonderful save after he smashed a volley towards goal from only eight yards.
Livi weathered the storm, and after going with three up front for the start of the second half – striker Raffaele De Vita replaced midfielder Aaron Conway – started to test Bateman in the away goal.
The pressure eventually paid off, with the impressive Winters getting on the end of a Mick O'Byrne knockdown to force the ball home, after Sinclair's in-swinging corner caused confusion in the Peterhead defence.
The Lions had their tails up, and almost made it two when Winters tried to catch Bateman off his line, but he could only blaze wide of the target.
Peterhead were lucky to keep 11 men on the pitch after Sharp flattened right back Barr off the ball, but referee Frank McDermott only produced a yellow card for the midfielder.
Paul Emslie had a late chance to claim a point for Neale Cooper's men, but after skipping past Fox and McDonald he shot meekly at Bullock.
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Monday 21 May 2012
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