Thistle outfought in Livingston loss

Boroughmuir Thistle suffered their first competitive defeat since March on Sunday afternoon in West Lothian, as Livingston ran out 2-0 winners on league matchday two.

Lauren Evans gave the hosts the lead inside eight minutes before Erin Burns’ missed penalty could have given the away side a lift.

Despite a half time substitution and a lot of huffing and puffing, Thistle couldn’t quite carve out many chances and were punished with two minutes remaining when Burns made amends by bagging Livi’s second.

A performance in stark contrast to last week’s emphatic showing at home to Ayr United, but merely a bad day at the office with an opportunity to bounce back at home next Sunday.

Head Coach Andy Enwood said Thistle were “outfought” and “physically bullied at times” by a Livingston side that committed a lot of bodies high up the pitch to stop the away team playing out from the back.

However, Boroughmuir did start the game relatively brightly. Robin Gallagher came within inches of turning home an early free kick at the back post just moments before Fiona Gibson’s edge-of-the-box effort sailed narrowly over the bar.

Livingston opened the scoring, though, on eight minutes when Mia McArthur’s free kick was cleared only as far as Evans who struck low into the bottom corner from the edge of the six-yard box.

Cailin Michie was then thwarted by Livingston goalkeeper Rachel Pirie whilst one-on-one, as Thistle looked to gain a foothold in a match dogged by inaccurate long balls and numerous offsides.

In the 28th minute, Amy Forbes brought down Evans inside the box but Burns’ resulting penalty crashed off the crossbar in what was a let-off for Thistle.

Becky Galbraith was next to try her luck, doing well to nip in front of the Livingston defender before firing over the bar.

Gallagher made way for Emily Arthur at half time, with the forward making an instant impact when she ran at Jessica Murphy who was booked for a subsequent poor challenge on Arthur.

However, Thistle couldn’t quite work the ball to Arthur on the left many more times during the second half as goalmouth action became few and far between for both sides.

Pirie saved - albeit unconvincingly - from Holly Aitchison’s long-range effort, and Louise Mason went close with a 25-yard free kick that sailed just over the bar.

The hosts stood tall and strong as Thistle tried to go long and match their physicality, and got their reward just before the full time whistle when Rachel Walkingshaw’s corner was turned home by Burns at the near post.

So a disappointing afternoon in West Lothian for Boroughmuir but an excellent opportunity to put things right when Hamilton Academical WFC come calling to Meadowbank next Sunday. Kick-off in that one is 1pm.

Livingston: Pirie, Frew (C), Burns, McArthur, Evans, (Walkingshaw 66’), R. Murphy (Goodman 66’), Trialist, Ross, Elizabeth, J. Murphy

Subs: Reeve, Goodman, Walkingshaw, Laird, Dodds, Kean, Paterson, Gamrot, Mulligan

Boroughmuir Thistle: Harkness, Gallagher (Arthur 46’), Armstrong, Mason (C), Simmons (Borthwick 75’), Michie, Forbes (Hinchcliffe 68’), Galbraith, Gibson, McCafferty, Aitchison

Subs: Angelini, Arthur, Forsyth, Novoa-Torrente, Brady, Borthwick, Hinchcliffe, Parrish

Referee: Luke McCauley

Goal highlights

Post-match reaction