Livingston substitute Colin McMenamin lifted his team off the foot of the Bank
of Scotland Premier League with a priceless equaliser against Motherwell at
Almondvale.
A 19th-minute mistake by Livi defender Greg Strong allowed Fir Park striker
Scott McDonald to fire Motherwell into a single-goal half-time lead as the CIS
Insurance Cup finalists took control.
But, with nine minutes left, McMenamin volleyed a shot from 16 yards, which
took a wicked deflection off Well defender Stephen Craigan, to end up in the
corner of the net.
Dundee United's defeat at Kilmarnock allowed Livi to move above the Tangerines
in the race for SPL survival.
However, the early signs were ominous for Livi and the visitors could have
raced into the lead with only two minutes on the clock.
When McDonald played a one-two with wide-man Jim Paterson, Livi goalkeeper
Roddy McKenzie inexplicably raced from his line to leave the Australian striker
with an open goal.
But his attempted chip from the edge of the penalty area was poor and the
danger was eventually averted.
McKenzie made up for that error when he dived smartly to his right on two
occasions to save powerful long-distance drives from Well midfielder Martyn
Corrigan.
In the 17th minute, following a Kevin McBride corner on the left, Paterson's
header from 12 yards was cleared off the line at the far post by Burton O'Brien
but the visitors' goal was only delayed.
Strong looked to be in control of Paterson's through ball into his own area,
but dithered and was robbed by the effervescent McDonald, who gratefully slammed
the ball home from 12 yards out.
In the 28th minute, the visitors almost doubled their lead with fine shot from
the rampant McDonald from the edge of the penalty area which McKenzie did well
to fingertip behind.
Eight minutes later, a Steven Hammell corner from the right was met by
Paterson, again unmarked 12 yards out, but this time McKenzie clutched firmly on
the line.
After the interval, Well striker Richie Foran came on for Paterson but there
was no discernible change in the flow of the game.
In the 50th minute, there was a decent chance for the Almondvale side when
Strong's header inside the Well penalty area was helped towards goal by Livi
midfielder Jason Dair.
However, Craig Easton scooped his shot from 10 yards up in the air and
Barry-John Corr saved easily under his crossbar.
At the other end, the tireless Corrigan had another effort from 20 yards which
was tipped over the bar by the impressive McKenzie.
In the 53rd minute, in a moment of farce, Strong almost compounded his earlier
mistake when his attempted headed clearance from a McBride cross brushed his own
post before going past for a corner.
Moments later, following a penalty box scramble, McDonald's volley from 14
yards had McKenzie diving to his left to concede another corner which Motherwell
failed to capitalise on.
Livingston could not get going and, in the 74th minute, Foran's mis-kick from
10 yards out prevented Motherwell doubling their lead.
But, with nine minutes left, the home side were level.
Easton's blocked shot from 16 yards spun to substitute McMenamin, on earlier
for Dair, and the striker's volley from 12 yards deflected off Craigan and into
the back of the net.
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