Football is a game of contrasting emotions. The Livingston fans celebrated after a Motherwell goal was ruled off by VAR for offside in the dying minutes of the game at The Home of the Set Fare Arena with the scoreline level.
Seconds later they were in despair and the visiting fans on their feet to applaud as The Steelmen earned three precious points in the William Hill Premiership with a strike three minutes into injury time.
The goal from New Zealand-born Elijah Just, a sweet finish with his left foot high into the net, was a signal for many home fans to make for the exits. Those who remained voiced their displeasure while fans on the opposite terracing continued to applaud their heroes. Their drummer upped the volume and his intensity.
Once again, precious points have slipped away from the West Lothian side. It happened against table-topping Hearts and recently when Rangers visited. Injury time goals have blighted their season so far and heaped pressure on Livi boss David Martindale.
The home side led after a penalty award after 26 minutes, Jeremy Bokita was brought down in the box and he maintained his composure to send goalkeeper Ward the wrong way, calmy side-footing the ball high into the rigging.
Apostolos Stamatelopoulus levelled in 59 minutes also from the penalty spot, for handball. There was a lengthy delay as Robbie Muirhead received treatment on the edge of the penalty box, but the 31-year-old Aussie-born striker slotted past Jerome Prior into the bottom left hand corner.
Game on and that set up tense finish.
Tete Yengi had a chance late on, but Well goalkeeper, Calum Ward, smothered the ball at the feed of the lanky striker.
Martindale admitted: “It’s really raw. I’m disappointed.”
So were the home fans. They should reflect that there were positives in the performance. Yes, Motherwell started well, bossing the possession in the early stages, but Livi held firm despite a scare or two.
The home team grew into the game and Martindale felt they deserved to be ahead at the break. However, 45 minutes is a long time and things can happen quickly. They did here.
What it means is that The Lions prop up the rest with six points from ten fixtures. Aberdeen have seven points from eight games with Dundee on nine from ten games.
St Mirren also have nine from the same number of games while Rangers are eighth also with nine but from eight starts.
The latest disappointment for Martindale, his squad and the home fans came on a crisp autumn day, when the sun shone of The Home of the Set Fare Arena.
Martindale made changes following the 4-0 defeat at Easter Road by Hibs, a defeat he described as self-inflicted. He was seeking an improvement against Well who were tenth in the 12-strong table, two spots above The Lions, before kick-off. Now the Lanarkshire side are sixth with 11 points from nine games.
It was Well who forced the pace, earning two corners in the first three minutes, and they kept the pressure on.
A free-kick 30 yards out was blocked, and Livingston were hemmed in until the broke into the well box in seven minutes, Bokila and Stevie May both passing up chances.
Well fans then held up a banner saying: “Football fans not criminals, stop police oppression”. It was quickly removed as the visitors continued to dominate possession.
Livingston attacks were sporadic, and Stamatelopoulos had a sight of goal but shot wide.
Home fans voiced their frustration as Martindale’s men struggled to move the ball upfield and home fans voiced their frustration, however Mo Sylla picked up the ball in halfway and fed May only for his shot to go tamely wide.
Scott Pittman did, however, dart down the left causing confusion, but Ward was not tested. Seconds Bokila was upended in the box. VAR was consulted and the Congolese forward did the rest. Joy for success-hungry home fans.
May then forced a save from Ward and Cristian Montano chipped a pass to Sylla which prompted a move down the left but the cross from May was high and wide. A chance wasted.
Sylla was a tower of strength for the home side and retreated to the dressing-room with a slender lead.
Livvi started on front foot in the second-half, Robbie Muirhead forcing a save from Ward from a 25-yard free-kick, but Well broke and Finlayson cleared from inside his own box.
Sylla, Muirhead and Pittman combined in a move which again threatened, but the final ball was poor,
At the other end well appealed for a penalty after a stramash. VAR was called in and referee Nick Walsh was advised to go the the pitch side camera. He pointed to the spot.
Stamatelopoulos placed the ball and smashed the ball home to level at 1-1 and Well were on the up.
Their manager, Jens Berthel Askou, made changes and VAR was again called into action to rule on a possible offside. It came down on the side of the home team, Just having been adjudged to have been offside before the Aussie striker found the net. Cue changes from Martindale.
Macaulay Tait left the pitch for Mo Susoho and Yengi took over from Bokila. His fiirst move was to send the ball into the box but it was cleared and he was inches from connecting with a ball from Pittman who had been fed by industrious Sylla.
Then, a May cross was picked up by Sylla who fed Yengi at the edge if the six-yard box. Ward acted decisively, a glorious chance gone.
Substitute Callum Slattery became a sinner, ballooning the ball over in good position in box. He fell to his knees in frustration and Askou made further changes which were followed by a disallowed goal.
A ball from right, fired against bar, and the rebound nodded in. Livi fans started to leave as a VAR check was called for. No goal was the decision and relief for home fans.
Not for long as 25-year-old Just slammed the ball home after a defensive mistake.
Askou said: “A lot of emotions there. It wasn’t perfect and big credit to Livingston for making it hard for us.”
Fine words but not what Livi fans want to hear. They desperately want points on the board.
Livingston: Prior, Pittman, Muirhead, May, Bokila, Finlayson, Sylla, Tait, Montano, Wilson, Brenet. Substitutes: Hamilton, Susoho, Carey, Smith, Robinson, Shinnie, Culbert, Yengi, Lawal
Motherwell: Ward, O’Donnell, Gordon, Stamatelopoulos, Fadinger, Maswanhise, Watt, Just, Longelo, Welsh, Said. Substitutes Oxborough, Sparrow, Slattery, Halliday, McGinn, Koutroumbis, Priestman, Hendry, Charles-Cook
