Hotshot Scott helps sink the Saints
Pittman plays big part in golden goals
A fine second-half performance saw Livingston come back from a goal behind to seal all three points at the Tony Macaroni Arena.
Scott Pittman was involved in all three goals after the break as the hosts got the better of their fellow top flight new boys on a bitterly cold afternoon after Alfie Jones had nodded the Buddies into a first-half lead.
Livingston boss Gary Holt handed a first start of the season to on loan Rangers striker Ryan Hardie, whose goals helped fire the Lions into the top flight last term, and he made a goal-scoring return with a typically poacher’s finish to fire the hosts in front midway through the second half.
It was a morale- boosting win for the Lions who were coming off a disappointing defeat away at Kilmarnock a few days previously.
The Lions had the first chance of the match barely 60 seconds in when Steven Lawless cut in from the right and fired a long range effort narrowly over the bar.
Oran Kearney’s men were forced into an early reshuffle when Paul McGinn was forced off with a head knock following a collision at a corner-kick with Craig Halkett with Matty Willock coming on.
The next half chance didn’t arrive until the 25th minute when Declan Gallagher chested down an Alan Lithgow throw-in and
attempted an ambitious hook shot into the far corner that fell agonisingly wide of the woodwork. The Buddies took the lead 10 minutes before the break with their first effort of the game when Adam Hammill’s freekick out wide on the right was headed beyond Liam Kelly by Jones for his first goal in his loan spell from Southampton.
It took the home side just five minutes into the second half to get back on level terms when Gallagher’s brilliant run and through ball found Pittman with the former Broxburn Athletic midfielder’s angled drive finding the far corner beyond the outstretched Danny Rogers. The midfielder would have a key role to play in both of Livi’s other goals as they took total control of the second half. His effort from the edge of the box was blocked by the St Mirren defence on 64 minutes, with the rebound falling into the path of Hardie. The striker showed his instincts hadn’t taken a hit during his lengthy lay-off as he composed himself with a deft first touch before rifling the ball high into the roof of the net from six yards out.
A third goal almost arrived on 70 minutes when substitute Jack McMillan’s looping header appeared certain to find the net – only to cannon back off the crossbar.
The decisive goal would arrive, though, three minutes from time when Jack Hamilton – a replacement for Hardie almost immediately after the striker’s goal – teed up Pittman.
His shot wasn’t handled by Rogers, with Craig Sibbald racing on to the loose ball to tap home beyond his former Falkirk teammate for his first goal in the top flight to ensure that the hosts grabbed a valuable three points.
It was a morale-boosting win for the Lions after defeat to Kilmarnock