Venue: The Home of The Set Fare Arena

Date: 16/5/25

Time: 19:45

Livingston are playoff final-bound, as they saw off Partick Thistle at home. A 2-0 win saw the hosts become an unlikely winner after a strong performance from the visitors. However, Livingston defended well, taking their chances better out of two teams.

An early free kick gave Partick Thistle the first chance of the match. As Steven Lawless rolled the ball to Logan Chalmers on the edge of the box, Chalmers fired his shot way over the bar. Leaving no test for Jerome Prior.

Thistle seemed keen to make amends for their defeat in the opening tie, keeping hold of the ball well and applying pressure on the hosts. After their early chance, they continued the search for an opener.

Thistles’ second chance came in the fifteenth minute, after the ball broke just inside the home teams’ half. It was Ben Stanway to latch onto it, driving at Livingstons’ defence, and eventually taking his shot. However, the effort was deflected wide and put out for a corner.

Once again, it was the visitors on the offence. As Kanayo Megwa whipped his ball into the box, after a stramash, the ball broke to Brian Graham. He took his touch and fired the effort goalbound, only to see it deflect off a Livingston defender and be cleared.

It took 22 minutes for Livingston to have an effort at goal, after a looping corner from Stephen Kelly, Danny Wilson was unmarked at the back post. His header flew just over the bar.

Then, just a minute later, Lewis Smith had an audacious effort at goal saved by David Mitchell. After cutting in from the right wing, whipping his shot goalward, he saw Mitchell parry it to safety.

The opener came 40 minutes into the match, with the hosts scoring what would be an important goal in the battle for promotion. The ball broke on the right wing to Jamie Brandon, who drove into the penalty area. Hitting his shot across goal, seeing it deflect in off Mitchell. The goal put Livingston 3-0 up on aggregate, making the second half a hard task for Thistle.

Half time came, and the hosts were a goal to the good. A strong finish from Brandon was the only goal separating the teams. Although against the run of play, it was exactly what Livingston were after.

Just six minutes into the second half, Danny Wilson almost turned the ball into his own net after Megwas’ cross. However, the deflection was steered wide of the post.

As the game reached the hour mark, Thistle continued to dominate. However, they couldn’t turn their possession and chances into goals. Ultimately leaving them a goal down.

In the 67th minute, the ball broke to substitute Stevie May, giving him an unlikely shooting chance. The striker turned and hit the ball on the volley, hitting the top left corner from around 20 yards out. A special finish to round off an impressive playoff fixture from Livingston.

The full-time whistle fell, and the hosts did exactly as required. Seeing out the second half, keeping a clean sheet and becoming deserved winners of this tie.

Lineups:

Livingston: J. Prior, R. McGowan, S. Pittman(R. McAleer) S. Kelly, R. Fraser, J. Brandon(D. Finlayson), L. Smith(S. May), R. Muirhead(A. Shinnie), M. Tait, C. Montano( T. Yengi), D. Wilson

Subs: J. Hamilton, M. Clarke, R. McAleer, T. Yengi, S. May, D. Finlayson, M. Nottingham, A. Shinnie, S. Lawal

Manager: D. Martindale

Partick Thistle: D. Mitchell, S. Bannigan(L. Dolan), B. Graham, L. Chalmers, S. Lawless, R. Crawford, L. McBeth, D. O’Reilly, A. Fitzpatrick (A. Jakubiak), B. Stanway(Z. MacKenzie), K. Megwa

Subs: L. Budinauckas, L. Cameron, A. Jakubiak, Z. MacKenzie, M. Falconer, N. Lockhart, L. Rooney, L. Dolan, J. Low

Manager: M. Wilson/ B. Graham

Referee: Kevin Clancy