LIVINGSTON MATCH REPORTS:
Trialist Oyenuga impresses as Lions grab a draw
Livingston put in a much improved performance in their second preseason game as they held Championship outfit Greenock Morton to a draw.
Livi had the brighter of the opening stages and took the lead after just seven minutes when trialist striker Kudus Oyenuga cut in from the left and slotted past Morton goalkeeper Derek Gaston and into the far corner.
Morton should have equalised less than five minutes later when Gary Oliver was clean through on goal after a defensive mix-up but he could only chip the ball harmlessly over the bar.
Young starlet Matthew Knox saw his shot blocked just after the halfhour mark with the rebound falling to Josh Mullin but his effort was blocked.
Morton, on the counter- attack squandered a great chance when Oliver fluffed his lines attempting a bicycle-kick.
Former Albion Rovers winger Mullin then passed up two great chances in quick succession just before the break, firstly being unable to steer home an Oyenuga rebound after Gaston had made a neat save, before shooting weakly at the keeper less than a minute later.
Against the run of play, the visitors grabbed a leveller with the final action of the half as Scott Tiffoney beat trialist goalie Gary Maley at his near post with a fizzing effort.
Much like the first half, Livingston were on the front foot in the early stages after the break.
Knox fired narrowly wide from 20 yards, while Cadden’s delightful cross was just too high for half-time substitute Danny Mullen to head home.
At the other end, Ton trialist Jamie McDonagh fizzed a free-kick narrowly wide of Maley’s left-hand post from 22 yards out.
Mullen, making his first appearance of the pre- season, wouldn’t have to wait long to get on the scoresheet as he was on hand to tap home after former Livingston keeper Andrew McNeil spilled Cadden’s curling effort right into the path of the striker to restore the home side’s advantage.
Barely a minute later, Morton almost equalised for a second time when defender Ricki Lamie clattered an effort off the post with Maley beaten.
A flurry of substitutions saw Livi lose all momentum and that led to Tiffoney netting a second leveller for the visitors as he once again fired neatly across Maley.
Jon Scullion, a transfer target for Livi last season, blazed a great chance over the bar in the dying stages as the game petered out into a draw.
Next up for the Lions is a home friendly on Tuesday night against SPFL Premiership side St Johnstone, before their season begins on August 16 at home to St Mirren in the Betfred League Cup.
Meanwhile, David Hopkin’s men have arranged another friendly on August 23 when English League Two outfit Hartlepool United will be visiting the Tony Macaroni Arena for a 3pm kick-off.