Lewis Budinauckas saved three penalties for Partick Thistle who claimed the bonus point and remained top of Group E following a 1-1 draw with Livingston at The Home Of The Set Fare Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Livingston took the lead in the 60th minute through Robbie Muirhead before Alex Samuel leveled the game for Thistle in the 80th minute.

The first chance of the afternoon fell to the hosts in the opening few minutes, Stevie May won a free kick on the edge of the box after a good ball was played over the top by Robbie Muirhead. Summer signing Tyrese Sinclair would send in a low cross with Lewis Budinauckas in the Thistle goal comfortably gathering.

From then onward the game seen very little quality from either side, despite Livingston having the better of the possession and looking a threat going forward.

On the 25th minute, Robbie Muirhead forced the Thistle backline into losing the ball in a dangerous area, Muirhead picked out Cristian Montano who struck a powerful ball towards goal from range with a last ditch block clearing the ball away from danger.

On the stroke of half time, Sam Culbert, Montano, May and Muirhead all combined excellently in the final third for Livingston before teeing up Stevie May who made a darting run into the box, but his effort was poor with Budinauckas collecting without any worry as the sides went into the interval level.

Thistle had struggled to maintain the ball throughout the first 45 as Daniel O’Reilly came on to replace Lee Ashcroft for the second period.

Livingston started the second half on the front foot and were inches away from netting a first goal of the afternoon in the 50th minute when Culbert fired a volley narrowly wide of goal.

Moments afterwards, Montano latched onto another ball over the top as he met the out-rushing Budinauckas, who made himself big before Montano failed in an attempt to chip the ball over the Thistle goalkeeper.

After sustained pressure from Livingston, they eventually opened the scoring on the hour mark. Tyrese Sinclair did well to win the ball back in the middle of the park before finding Muirhead who found the top corner with a brilliant strike from 25 yards out to put his side ahead.

The visitors were still struggling to create any clear cut chances which forced them to make a triple attacking change after going behind, with Tsoanelo Letsosa, Seb Drozd and Alex Samuel all entering the field of play.

Mark Wilson’s changes sparked a response from Thistle as they were level in the 80th minute, Oisin Smyth’s initial effort from a tight angle was pushed away by Jerome Prior before the rebound fell to the feet of Alex Samuel who reacted quickest to fire the ball high into the net and beyond Prior to bring his side on level terms.

As the game entered the final ten minutes, both teams were unable to find a winner as the match went to a penalty shootout to determine who was awarded the bonus point.

Lewis Budinauckas was the hero for Partick Thistle in the shootout, saving three penalties in a 3-2 victory.

Next up for Livingston in the Premier Sports Cup is Forfar Athletic at home on Tuesday evening, whilst Partick Thistle face Stenhousemuir at Firhill the same evening.