Lions roar late on to bag point and stay clear of the Staggies

LIVINGSTON 1 Obileye (89) ROSS COUNTY 1 Cancola (45+1)

Livingston manager Davie Martindale watched his team battle back to claim a point – then revealed how he could have signed Ross County goal scorer David Cancola a year ago.

The Austrian, who moved to the Staggies from Slovan Liberec during the summer, notched a stunning first-half injury time opener.

But the home side earned a point after Ayo Obileye headed in an 89th minute equaliser.

And Martindale hailed Cancola for his sublime effort before admitting he turned down the chance to sign the 25-year-old.

He said: “It is a fantastic strike on the stroke of half-time. I actually had David in last January with a view to signing him, I know his agent well.

“I couldn’t offer him anything at that time and he went up to Ross County.

“He did OK but I felt we were well versed in midfield areas.

“His CV was strong enough to have a look at him. But it was difficult to jump into our midfield.

“He’s a really good kid and good footballer.

“You’re always looking for better than you’ve got but he probably wasn’t better than what we had at the time.”

Martindale, whose team remain five points clear of County in the relegation play-off zone, insists a point was the least his team deserved.

He added: “We should have done so much better in the lead up to the goal.

“In general we were too lethargic, slow in possession, intensity wasn’t there.

“But the second half we looked more like ourselves.

“Over the piece we deserved a point.

“But it feels like two dropped, on reflection.”

The opening half had largely been a non-event. An unlikely breakthrough goal arrived in the first minute of injury time.

The quality demonstrated from the right foot of Cancola was in stark contrast to the uninspiring 45 minutes of football that had preceded it.

Livingston defender James Penrice’s poor clearance landed at his feet in a central position 30 yards out.

Cancola took a good first touch before arching a superb drive into the top corner. Livingston goalkeeper Max Stryjek managed to get a hand to the effort but he was unable to keep it out.

The second period was a far more entertaining affair, with Livingston having to force the issue, leaving gaps at the back.

This was evident just seconds after the restart when Regan Charles-cook ran at Penrice before driving a shot at Stryjek from 20 yards.

Livingston’s main threat appeared to come from Jack Fitzwater but the defender headed an Alan Forrest and then a Stephane Omeonga cross over.

His defensive partner Obileye also glanced a header wide from a Forrest corner when he should have scored.

The post then denied County a second when Ross Callachan’s effort came back off the upright when Stryjek came well over his line to challenge Jordan White for a high ball.

But Livingston kept on coming. Forrest and Nicky Devlin went close before Obileye rescued a point in the 89th minute, forcing home a back post header from Penrice’s deep cross.

It was a pulsating end and Livingston could have won it deep into stoppage time but midfielder Holt saw a rising drive from 30 yards clip the top of the bar.