Late conversion as Livi lift points
Darren Young’s men were still buoyant after their midweek heroics against Queen of the South in the Scottish Cup, which set up a dream tie with Celtic.
Livingston forged the first real chance of note as Nicky Cadden fired over from just inside the Rovers box.
The Lions had the outstretched fingers of Liam Kelly to thank five minutes before half-time as the keeper managed to get across his goalmouth to deflect a 25-yard effort from Ross Davidson that was destined for the bottom corner of the net.
Rafa De Vita is enjoying his second spell in West Lothian and the striker should have won the match for the visitors. Kelly spilled an acute angled shot from Buchanan into the path of the winger but De Vita mishit his shot with the goal gaping.
With a minute remaining, Ross Dunlop barged into Dale Carrick in the box and referee David Munro had no hesitation pointing to the spot. Nicky Cadden converted the penalty.
Alan Reid then received his marching orders for the home side for a second bookable offence.
PETERHEAD 2 AIRDRIEONIANS 4
PETERHEAD looked keen from the kick off and a Scott Brown 20-yarder in the third minute was well struck but straight at Rohan Ferguson.
Nicky Riley then weaved himself into space on the left side of the six-yard box before running out of steam. The floodlights then did likewise with Balmoor Stadium left in the gloom for around 10 minutes during which we had a flurry of goals.
The visitors took the lead with their first serious attack in the 13th minute, Ian Russell cutting the ball square from the right side of the penalty area for Andy Ryan to side foot a simple opener, his 11th of the season.
Two minutes later, it was 2-0 when a corner from the right was not cleared and the ball was played to full-back Sean McIntosh to score his first league goal from six yards with a header.
The embarrassment continued in the 19th minute with a mirror image of the first goal, this time Ryan squaring from the left for Russell to sidefoot from close range. Three goals conceded in six minutes. Peterhead pulled a goal back after 32 minutes, Brown with a shot that Ferguson could only push away and the ball fell to Nicky Riley, who rifled a shot high into the roof of the net.
Five minutes before the break, substitute Kevin Dzierzawski stunk the fingers of Ferguson with a shot from 25 yards.
Five minutes after the restart, that Russell-Ryan combination almost worked again, the latter seeing his shot saved.
In the 55th minute, the Blue Toon could have scored Scott Brown from distance well saved by Ferguson.
On the hour, Adam Brown should have made the game safe but Graeme Smith made a fine one-handed save.
Four minutes later, there was a penalty for the home side. Riley was brought down by Joe Gorman but Kevin Dzierzawski’s well-struck spot-kick was well saved by Ferguson.
McIntosh had a golden opportunity to pull one back after 78 minutes but blazed his shot high over the crossbar.
With five minutes remaining, the home side were awarded another penalty, Riley going down and this time McIntosh made no mistake from 12 yards.
Three minutes into added time, Ryan scored his brace to seal the win.
QUEEN’S PARK 2 BRECHIN CITY 0
ROSS MILLEN’S penalty and Ryan McGeever’s header helped Queen’s Park make it three wins in four games as Brechin City were seen off 2-0 at Hampden, with Gus MacPherson’s side climbing into fifth spot.
The Spiders threatened early on in the game through Dario Zanatta but visiting shot-stopper Graeme Smith denied the striker.
Queen’s goalkeeper Willie Muir stopped Ross Caldwell twice in quick succession just before the half hour mark.
The hosts’ David Galt fired inches over before the breakthrough came six minutes from half-time when Smith fouled Zanatta and Millen knocked in his fourth spot-kick of the season.
Gareth Rodger looked to bring Brechin level on 63 minutes with a wellstruck 25-yard drive that was only held by Muir at the second attempt.
Aron Lynas sentan effort from distance just past the home goal shortly afterwards.
Queen’s doubled their lead 15 minutes from time when skipper McGeever nodded in from close range following a Sean Burns corner.
Former Queen’s Park favourite Alan Trouten sent the ball past Muir with 10 minutes to go but his effort came back off the post.