Livingston Women’s head coach Paul Jaconelli says his side cleared a ‘mental block’ by sealing a dramatic late win over Rossvale.
Shannon Mulligan fired home in injury-time to give the Lionesses a 2-1 victory that saw them go six points clear at the top of the third-tier SWF Championship table - ahead of their opponents who had won both prior games between the sides this season.
Rossvale had started brightly and it was a case of third time lucky for Louise McJacobs as she had been denied twice by fine Charlotte Ferguson saves before firing the away side into a 20th minute lead.
Livi’s reply was instant and changed the momentum of the game as Gemma Mason made the most of a poor Rachel Docherty clearance to find the net from 35 yards three minutes later.
From then on, it was virtually one-way traffic. Brogan Anderson clattered the bar in the early stages of the second-half while the Rossvale defence held firm under constant pressure - most notably from Sharon Hughes-Lee’s crosses down the right flank and Mason’s set play deliveries.
And it was from a deadball that Livi earned their just rewards in the final moments as Mason’s 30-yard free-kick cannoned off the bar with Mulligan in the right place at the right time to grab the winner.
A delighted Jaconelli said: “I think we passed a mental block with that win if I’m honest.
“We played some really nice stuff and I feel we were dominant, especially in the second-half.
“We have that battling spirit and if we can keep that then I think we can keep the run going. It’s still very early doors but it’s a good mental barrier that we’ve passed.”
He added: “I’m absolutely delighted for the girls because that’s a huge win. You don’t want to get carried away because football can bite you just as quickly but that feels like a big win.
“There’s been times in the last two seasons where we’ve put so much into games and not got our rewards and the longer it was still 1-1 that’s maybe in the back of your mind.
“We pushed and pushed to get that goal - and I did feel it was coming - so the overriding feeling is just delight for the players that they got the result.”
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