Albion Rovers 2, Livingston 3: Rovers fightback not enough as Livi hold on

Livingston held on for a narrow opening day win in the Premier Sports Cup, after Albion Rovers staged an unlikely comeback at Cliftonhill.

The Premiership side were 2-0 up and seemingly cruising inside the opening 20 minutes through Scott Pittman and Josh Mullin, and when sub Bruce Anderson bagged a third three minutes into the second half, it looked like they were cruising to a win.

However, debutants Ayrton Sonkur and Michael Paton reduced the arrears smashed the ball into the net when a Lewis Kidd free kick caused havoc in the Livi boss in 62 minutes, and eight minutes later Michael Paton met a Kidd cross on the half-volley to pull the deficit back to a goal.

Albion Rovers boss Brian Reid handed competitive debuts to new signings Jack Leighfield,

Ayrton Sonkur, Jamie McGowan, Kyle Fleming, Lewis Kidd, Amaury Testa and Michael Paton.

Scott Pittman put Livingston ahead inside five minutes (SNS Group)

Livingston boss Davie Martindale gave competitive debuts to Scott Bitsindou and Esmael Goncalves.

Livi took the lead inside five minutes when Penrice made his way down the left and his cross was headed in by Pittman.

The visitors nearly doubled that lead in nine minutes with a cheeky near-post back-heel flick from Andrew Shinnie from Mullin's corner on the left. Leighfield did well to push it over the bar.

Charlie Reilly tried to get Rovers back into the game in 16 minutes with a driven free kick into the box from the left, but there were no takers and it flew out for a goal-kick.

But Livingston doubled their lead in 20 minutes when Penrice weaved his way into the box and hit a low shot that Leighfield parried, but into the path of Mullin, who couldn't miss.

In comparison, Rovers very rarely got a sniff anywhere near up front, and when they did, Livi dealt with it comfortably.

Josh Mullin, who was on loan at Accies last season, doubled Livi's lead (SNS Group)

Livi made a couple of half-time changes, with Bruce Anderson and new signing Dylan Bahamboula thrown on.

Within three minutes Anderson had added Livi's third, smashing home the rebound when Pittman's shot had been blocked.

That seemed to take something of what sting there was out of the game, with Livingston taking their foot off the gas.

Bruce Anderson bagged a third within minutes of climbing off the bench (SNS Group)

Rovers pulled a goal back in 62 minutes when Sonkur smashed the ball into the net when a Lewis Kidd free kick caused havoc inside the box.

And Paton turned before smashing in a half-volley from a Kidd cross in 70 minutes.

Anderson should have made sure of the win when he was sent through on goal in 83 minutes, but Leighfield blocked well.

ALBION ROVERS: Leighfield, Fagan, Malcolm, Sonkur, McGowan *Fernie, 86), Fleming, Wilson, Kidd (#18, 76), Testa (Roberts, 61), Paton (Duncan, 76), Reilly.

Subs (not used): Sandberg (GK), Dolan.

LIVINGSTON: Konavalov, Devlin, Fitzwater, Bitsindou, Penrice (Jackson, 61), Holt, Pittman, Shinnie, Mullin (Bahamboula, 46), Goncalves (Montano, 61), Nouble (Anderson, 46).

Subs (not used): Stryjek (GK), Brandon, Cancar, Kelly, Omeonga.

Referee: Don Robertson.

Attendance: 468.

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