LIVINGSTON 1 Jacobs (46)
PARTICK THISTLE 1 Erskine (14)
LIVINGSTON proved they will be a force in the Championship this season by outshining Premiership opponents Partick Thistle.
The Jags were lucky to hold on for a share of the spoils in their Group H Betfred Cup tie before the match went to penalties.
Inexperience from Matthew Know handed Thistle their first chance as his poor pass out of defence allowed Chris Erskine to try his luck from outside the box but Neil Alexander saved.
The home side re sp o n d e d wi t h Da l e Carrick clean through on goal but superb reflexes from Tomas Cerny allowed the keeper to get a hand to the ball.
You can always count on Erskine to entertain and the striker did not fail to deliver after 14 minutes, twisting and turning while driving at the home defence, before curling a delicious effort into the top corner.
A slip from Adam Barton ju s t be f o re ha l f - t i m e almost handed David Ho pk i n s ’ me n their equaliser as Scott Pittman was played clean through on goal. The midfielder had all the time in the world to bear down on Cerny but the Czech keeper would not be beaten, blocking Pittman’s effort.
The Hopkins half- time pep talk worked wonders for the Championship side as Keaghan Jacobs pulled Livingston level with a thunderous drive from just outside the box.
Jacobs almost added an even more spectacular strike to his tally with 10 minutes remaining, looking to lob Cerny from 35 yards but the keeper produced a superb save to keep the tie level.
In the shoot-out, keeper Neil Alexander had the perfect start to his second stint in West Lothian, saving spot- kicks from Elliot, Spittal and Doolan to secure Livi a bonus point.