Albion Rovers boss Brian Reid says his side will get a major boost from pushing Premiership side Livingston close in the Premier Sports Cup.
Livi were 2-0 up and seemingly cruising with goals from Scott Pittman and Josh Mullin, and when Bruce Anderson added a third, it looked like a comfortable win was on the cards.
However, Ayrton Sonkur and Michael Paton scored midway through the second half to provide a nervy finish for the Lions.
Reid says his side were big underdogs, and is pleased with their response.
“You always want to test yourself against better opposition and we did that,” he said. “We held our own.
“You can see they’re quality opposition; a good Premiership team coming down here is always going to be difficult, and it was a tough first half.
“We got caught a wee bit short in the first half, and I think we looked a wee bit nervous, but it’s amazing what happens when you get a goal.
“You get a wee lift, and that was good to see, because a part-time team against a very good full-time Premiership team is obviously going to be very difficult.
“For some of our players that’s only their first or second game, so they’re going to be a bit ring-rusty.
“I’m disappointed to lose the game, but we weren’t playing a team here on our own level, so we’re always going to be big underdogs, and it was a good test.”
Reid admits he feared the worst when Anderson out Livingston 3-0 up three minutes after climbing off the bench, but reckons his side did well.
He said: “We lost an early goal, and at the start of the second half there was another early goal, which knocked the stuffing out of us.
“You fear the worst at 3-0, but I thought the response from the players, and the fitness levels, were exceptional.
“I was pleased with how we responded, particularly in the second half.
“We had a wee bit more belief in ourselves in the goals, and belief breeds confidence.”
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