Venue: Home of The Set Fare Arena
Date: 18/4/2025
Time: 19:45
A strong performance from Livingston saw them stroll passed Ayr United, and apply pressure to league leaders Falkirk in the race for promotion. Three first-half goals pretty much cemented Livingstons’ win and guaranteed them at least second place.
With just one win in five, Ayr United looked to be on the hunt for three big points in this race for second. Three points would take them just two points behind Livingston with just two games to go. However, a win away at Livingston will be hard to come by as they are undefeated here in their last five.
In what was a frantic start, Livingston opened the scoring just six minutes in. A Stephen Kelly strike from the edge of the box took a deflection when headed goalbound, leaving Harry Stone no chance at saving it.
The goal did not settle the game; in fact, it had the opposite effect. Ayr continued to battle, and Livingston struggled to keep hold of the ball, providing half-chances at both ends of the park.
It was once again Livingston providing the attacking threat. After some good link-up play between Cristian Montano and Robbie Muirhead played the ball was played through to Kelly, who once again had an effort at goal. This time, the shot was saved by Stone.
30 minutes had passed, and the game was yet to settle down, with neither team managing to take control or create consistent chances. Livingston continued to have the better attacking threat since they scored. However, they were yet to double their lead.
However, in the 31st minute, Livingston were awarded a penalty after Stone clattered into Montano. After a slight delay, Muirhead put his penalty down the centre of the goal, watching on as Stone dived to his right.
Just before the half-time whistle, Kelly added another to his account. After a long throw into the area, the ball bobbled out to the edge of the box, and Kelly was the man to meet it with a thunderous half-volley into the bottom right corner.
An impressive start for the Lions saw them grow in confidence as the half went on.
Livingston went into half-time three goals to the good, looking likely to secure second in their race for promotion.
A triple substitution for Ayr saw Jamie Murphy, Cole McKinnon, and Patrick Reading make way for Jake Hastie, Dylan Watret and Lenny Agbaire in an attempt to salvage something in the second half for the away team.
60 minutes had passed, and Ayr started to grow into the match a little. They created a couple of half-chances and dominated most of the ball. However, they were yet to find the net.
Livingstons’ first chance of the half came in the 64th minute, after a Daniel Finlayson cross was poorly cleared, Scott Pittman managed to get on the end of it. However, the shot was blocked.
Ryan McGowan received a yellow card in the 69th minute after a clumsy tackle on McAllister just inside his half.
A massive chance came Livingstons’ way in the 71st minute, after Kellys’ perfect corner to the back post was met by Finlayson. However, he sent his volley well wide of the post in a chance that was harder to miss.
In the 80th minute, Livingston added another to their tally. A great team goal saw Montano tap the ball in at the back post. A great performance from the Lions was made even better as they strolled past Ayr to add the fourth goal of the game.
As if four goals weren’t enough, Reece McAlear added a fifth for Livingston. The ball dropped to him on the edge of the box in the 91st minute, and he caught a volley as sweet as you like, rifling it into the bottom corner.
The full-time whistle couldn’t have come quick enough for Ayr United as they were played off the park by Livingston.
Lineups:
Livingston: J.Prior, R.McGowan, S.Pittman(R.MaCalear), S.Kelly, R.Fraser, J.Brandon(D.Finlayson), L.Smith(A.Shinnie), R.Muirhead(T.Yengi), M.Tait, C.Montano(S.May), D.Wilson
Subs: J.Hamilton, M.Clarke, R.McAlear, T.Yengi, S.May, D.Finlayson, M.Ubochioma, M.Nottingham, A.Shinnie
Manager: D.Martindale
Ayr United: H.Stone, N.McAllister, P.Reading(D.Watret), G.Oakley, C.McLennan(M.Rus), G.Stranger, J.Murphy(L.Agbaire), J.Henderson, M.McKenzie, S.McMann, C.McKinnon(J.Hastie)
Subs: R.Mutch, F.Musonda, J.Hastie, M.Rus, L.Agbaire, D.Watret
Manager: S.Brown
Referee: Steven McLean
Attendance: 1,606
Managers comments:
Martindale: “First half was really, really good, I felt, and then we managed the second half. We had a lot of chances with the game, I think the surface was really quick tonight, which really helped us with a couple of the goals”
Brown: “We bottled finishing second place, I take full responsibility… that’s on me. We’ve got to get that mentality into the lads… how to win games, when you come away from home, you’ve got to be horrible.”