Match Report

Competitive action returned to Ainslie Park for the first time since March with the visit of Premiership outfit Livingston in the BetFred Cup.

The visitors came out the traps quickly, moving the ball at pace and spreading the play well. It took only seven minutes for them to open the scoring, Calum Antell did well to stop a shot, but the ricochet ended up falling nicely for Scott Robinson to head home from inside the six yard box. Five minutes later however City could have been on level terms, a great cross found Danny Handling unmarked but his powerful header was superbly saved by the Livingston keeper Stryjek. Livi continued to threaten and doubled their advantage on 22 minutes, when Josh Mullin rounded Antell and stroked it into the net. A third followed just before the break, Mullin again the scorer from close range after an excellent cross took out the City defence.

HALF TIME: CITY 0 – 3 LIVINGSTON

Although the score reflected Livingston were the better side, City competed well and tried to pass out of defence and take responsibility in possession throughout. The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Premiership team having the better of the possession and although a few half chances were shared in the early stages of the half, it was City who created the best opportunity just before the hour mark, when Ouzy See burst through the Livi defence and again the keeper pulled a save straight out of the top drawer to deny Ouzy a goal on his second competitive debut! Livi made it four shortly after with Poplatnik the beneficiary of a questionable off-side call to score from close range. Only minutes later however City did get on the scoresheet, Liam Henderson was fouled in the box and Danny Handling showed a cool head to slot home from 12 yards. Sadly for us Livi added a fifth on 77 minutes when another of the substitutes on the night Lokotsch headed home after a good cross from Mullin.

FULL TIME: CITY 1 – 5 LIVINGSTON

Reflecting on the game although the scoreline sounds bleak the performance was positive in many ways, especially considering our full time opponents were 10 games into their Premiership campaign. The match was a contest throughout and had it not been for two exceptional saves from the Livingston goalkeeper things may have been closer.

NEXT MATCH: STENHOUSEMUIR | BETFRED CUP | SAT 10/10/2020

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