BIRTHDAY BASH IS A BIG 4 OH NO
Devlin wrecks Goodwin’s day
Nicky Devlin burst Jim Goodwin’s 40th birthday balloon with a stunning equaliser two minutes from time.
Paisley boss Goodwin looked all set to make an extra toast to Jamie McGrath as part of his milestone celebrations.
The Saints playmaker scored a superb 25-yarder to give his side the lead with his first goal since July.
But, typically, Livingston never stopped scrapping and gained a sensational and thoroughly deserved leveller.
The two excellent goals stood out a mile in a poor contest.
The dramatic finale was yet another sickener for Saints who sneaked into the top six but rued another win that got away.
Goodwin sighed: “We’ve had 14 league games and drawn half of them – and that’s not good enough.
“We need to turn two or three of those into victories and that would make a hell of a difference to the league table.
“Obviously we are extremely disappointed with the result, it feels like a defeat. To not manage to see the game out in the dying moments is really frustrating.”
Livi were lively and tidy with the ball early on and Cristian Montano’s flick let Devlin in, but he shot weakly at Jak Alnwick.
When Devlin returned the favour, the Colombian flashed a header wide.
Livi’s best chance of the first period came from Max Stryjek’s long punt. It was cushioned well by Bruce Anderson and played into the path of Odin Bailey.
He shuffled on to his right foot to fire low at goal but Alnwick scrambled to save.
Montano was such a threat in attack but his slip served up a rare opportunity to Saints.
Richard Tait played a ball in for Alan Power but it was a touch behind him and the Irishman scooped his shot over.
Skipper Joe Shaughnessy made a terrific block to thwart Montano on the turn, but the
Livi livewire was soon back for more and Alnwick was at full stretch to force away his header from a wicked Bailey delivery.
Sa int s needed the spectacular to break the deadlock and that was provided impeccably by McGrath.
Stephane Omeonga’s foul on Tait looked like drawing a freekick from ref Steven McLean but McGrath wasn’t waiting around.
After a quick glance at goal, McGrath whipped a stunning shot over Stryjek and into the top corner.
Livi, buoyed by a triple David
Martindale switch in the 75th minute, refused to go away.
Sub Alan Forrest fired in from Jason Holt ’ s cutback but Alnwick once again blocked.
As the ball broke to Devlin on the right, the full-back conjured up a cracking first-time finish which swerved in at the far post to leave the keeper with no chance.
Saints fans next to the dugout were unhappy with some of the celebrations in the Livi technical area.
Martindale and No.2 Marvin Bartley then moved to play peacemaker with the angry home supporters.
The fan rage was swiftly directed towards McLean when Harry Panayiotou seemed to handle the ball making a stoppage-time clearance.
McLean immediately blew for time up and Goodwin had no complaints.
He said: “At the time I was screaming for it but having watched it back it would’ve been terribly harsh to give it.
“The boy heads it on to his own arm.
“It was a complete accident and I’d have been disappointed if it had been given against me. I think the ref got it right.”