THAT’S MAGIC
Johnston’s joy as Pars go third with battling victory
DUNFERMLINE boss Allan Johnston hailed his men for going toe to toe with Livi and collecting the win that gave them a big play-off boost.
On a night of full-blooded football in flurries of sleet and snow, Lee Ashcroft’s early strike helped move the Pars third in the Championship table.
Livingston’s defeat inches St Mirren closer to the title and the Lions will feel aggrieved at not taking anything after dominating for large spells.
But Johnston was just delighted with his side’s spirit. He said: “With Livingston you’ve got to match their attitude – they’re really physical – and we did that.
“It was a good performance and a big result.”
Livi were left furious when their late appeals for a penalty were waved aside in injury time.
Dunfermline took a dream lead in 11 minutes.
Kallum Higginbotham played a short give and go with Ryan Williamson from a free-kick and, when Tom Beadling flicked on his delivery, Ashcroft steered a volley beyond Neil Alexander.
The Lions almost roared back instantly. A brilliantly worked corner resulted in Ryan Hardie flicking a shot goalwards from close range. But home keeper Lee Robinson was alert to the danger and batted it away.
Ashcroft almost got his second when his long-range drive slipped narrowly past.
Livi responded with Hardie attempting another cheeky lob to match his goal from Saturday’s win over Dumbarton but this time he was too high.
The on-loan Rangers kid then set home nerves on edge five minutes from the break but Robinson got down smartly to hold his low shot.
It was end to end at the start of the second period and Pars striker Nicky Clark swept a cross wide before Scott Robinson headed wide for Livi.
Beadling, on loan from Sunderland, produced a magnificent saving clearance to deny Scott Pittman a certain goal in the 68th minute as Livi again piled on the pressure.
The Pars were hanging on at the end as the Lions claimed for a late penalty when Hardie went down in the box but to no avail.
Livingston manager David Hopkin said: “It was a stonewall penalty. The referee looks at it and he bottled it. Why would Ryan go to ground?”