Livingston secured their second win in the Premier Sports Cup thanks to a 2-0 win at the Home of the Set Fare Arena, but Highland League combine, Brora Rangers, dug in and had at least two clear cut chances during the 90 minutes.
David Martindale, the West Lothian club’s manager, will be disappointed that his men did not turn their possession into more goals but this was a clean sheet and they now move forward to another Group H game at home to Kelty Hearts on Saturday (July 26) with optimism and with a full week to prepare.
Defender Danny Wilson after 31 minutes and substitute Zak Rudden with six minutes of regular time remaining made the difference but credit to the Highland League outfit for their effort against a side destined to start their campaign in the William Hill Premiership in the next few weeks.
A handful of Brora fans, 19 to be exact at kick-off, on the far side of the Home of the Set Care Arena, greeted their favourites on a new pitch wet from a pre-match soaking following a downpour.
The main stand had spaces for this Premier Sports Cup clash as Livingston attempted to bounce back after their narrow midweek defeat at Kilmarnock.
The senior part-time side from Sutherland were under the guidance of manager Steven MacKay and they were within inches of going behind in the first minute when Robbie Muirhead jumped to direct a cross towards goal only to see the ball bounce back from the bar and be cleared.
An early warning, perhaps, for the visitors and Andy Winter then threatened down the right before Muirhead had the ball in the net after a Finlayson pass. He was offside.
The rain continued to fall as Livingston stroked the ball around looking for an opening and Macaulay Tait sparked another move but Brora Rangers’ keeper Cameron Mackay got down well to deny Daniel Finlayson as the rain poured down.
Sam Culbert found space in the right and fired in a fierce shot which tested Mackay and Brora scrambled the ball away from a Graham Carey free-kick on the left.
The visitors were starved of the ball and hemmed into their own half but Lewis Smith wasted a fine opportunity by firing his cross wildly wide.
There was, however, plenty of neat passing from the home side, but little penetration, before Winter tested Mackay from the right. The goalkeeper let the ball slip from his grasp but, luckily, a red shirt was on hand to clear.
Andrew Shinnie worked an opening on the edge of the box for Livingston but the ball was cleared, and, seconds later, Shinnie came close with a diving header from a cross from lively Winter.
Livingston goalkeeper Jerome Prior was a virtual spectator until a slack pass from Wilson opened the door for Brora, but the visitors failed to capitalise.
The one-way traffic continued as did the rain.
The ball was scrambled clear near the Brora goal before Wilson broke the deadlock, in the right place at the right time to send the ball into the back of the net. Time 31 minutes.
The home drummer upped his beat in celebration and The Lions went on the prowl, looking for a second. The best move of the game so far saw Smith feed Finlayson who set up Winter, but the ball was scrambled clear. Then, Winter had the ball in the net only for the officials to rule offside.
Brora then made their first change but Livingston kept on coming, forcing four corners in five minutes as half-time approached.
At the other end, Tony Dingwall had the visitors first shot in goal, it trundled well wide, after 43 minutes, and referee Daniel Graves closed proceedings at Livingston 1, Brora 0.
Martindale withdrew Smith at the break, Jannik Wanner coming on, and Livi kept in coming. However, when Brora broke home skipper Ryan McGowan and Wilson were there to clear.
Aidan Wilson had a sniff for Rangers but was wide as the visitors came more into the game. Wilson fired wastefully high over when in a good position on a breakaway as the home side continued to dominate.
A failure to create clear cut chances obviously annoyed Martindale and he and Livingston had a real scare soon after when Prior mishandled. The ball was cleared.
Substitute May had a chance at the other end but sent his header wide and Martindale urged more from his men from the dugout with the scoreline to close for comfort.
Dogged Brora stuck to their task as Livingston struggled to find their men and make a telling pass in the final third and the home side were making hard work of closing out the game.
Rangers then had a great opportunity to level. Wanner was robbed beside the home dugout. Brora advanced quickly and dangerous Wilson saw his right foot effort across Prior fly inches wide. A real scare.
Seconds later and the result was secure when substitute Zak Rudden fired home for 2-0, a well-taken goal and timely with 84 minutes on the clock.
Wanner was involved minutes later with a cross from right, Rudden side to head towards goal but Mackay dived to his right to finger-tip the ball for corner in injury time. He made a comfortable save from corner.
Substitute Shane Sutherland then came close for the visitors as the clock ticked on. He was a disappointed man with his head in hands in the penalty box. It was Brora’s last chance and Livingston held out for a clean sheet and three points as they bid to progress in the competition, possibly as a best runner-up.
Livingston: Prior, McGowan (captain), Muirhead (May 61), Carey (Pittman 77), Smith (Wanner 45), Winter (Rudden 77), Finlayson (yellow), Shinnie, Tait, Wilson, Culbert (yellow) (Sylla 61). Substitutes: Hamilton, Blaney, Rudden, Pittman, May, Kabongolo, Sylla, Wanner, Yengi
Brora Rangers: Mackay, Finnis, Nicolson (Pullen 39), Dingwall, MacKenzie (yellow), MacRae (captain) (Ewan 58), Wallace (Sutherland 74), Kelly, Williamson, Wilson, Bunce. substitutes: Hardie, Cooper, Sutherland, Pullen, Ewan, Rae.
Referee: Daniel Graves
Attendance: 758
PICTURE: Pressure on the Brora goal from Livingston at rain-soaked Home of the Set Fare Arena. Picture Nigel Duncan
