St Johnstone 1, Livingston 1
Livingston won 4-2 on penalties a.e.t.
SCOTLAND'S newest football club put itself firmly on the map as
Livingston pulled through a tense penalty shoot-out to pile on the
problems for St Johnstone manager Paul Sturrock.
The dramatic conclusion to a game dominated by the punchless Perth
team signalled the return of one-time Dunfermline manager Jim Leishman
to a grander stage, following a spell in the wings with Rosyth juniors.
The bespectacled would-be poet laureate of Scottish football is
well-versed in the fluctuating fortunes of the game, and he was happy to
wax lyrical about international notables Horace Stoute and Dave Alleyne,
who did more than most to set up a home tie -- albeit at Meadowbank --
against Partick Thistle.
Barbados-born goalkeeper Stoute answered his manager's exaggerated
touchline prayers with two decisive saves in a 4-2 penalty kick contest.
A delighted Leishman said: ''Horace and Dave left behind their
families, their friends and their country to come to Scotland -- and a
result like this makes it all worthwhile.
Livingston, who won't be ushered into their new town ground until the
autumn, rode their luck after a George O'Boyle goal levelled an early
opener from Lee Bailley. Troubled Perth manager Paul Sturrock groaned:
''We seem to have a death wish.''
Livingston ace Stoute, who admitted his biggest cultural challenge
since coming to Scotland was comprehending his manager's broad Fife
accent, said: ''I can't remember the last time I saved a penalty, but I
told my buddy Dave I would stop at least one.''
He admitted the controversy accompanying Meadowbank Thistle's
transformation into Livingston hadn't quite reached his Caribbean home,
where English and Italian football enjoy high profiles -- but news of
his Coca-Cola Cup exploits certainly would. He said: ''I'm sending all
the cuttings back to Barbados.''
The former soldier, enticed to Scotland by club chairman Bill Hunter,
admitted the summer heatwave suited him down to the ground.
A goalkeeper more accustomed to temperatures in the nineties said:
''This was a cool day for me. In fact, I went out for the warm-up
wearing a T-shirt, goalkeeper's jersey, and a sweatshirt. The guys said
I would burn up, but I was very comfortable.''
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