Livingston 0 Dunfermline Athletic 0

Last updated : 27 March 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Livingston's CIS Cup win continues to be met with apathy with just 3,558 turning up for this tepid goalless encounter with Dunfermline at Almondvale.

Neither side looked particularly inspired on a day when a draw was a fair result in a match that will not live long in the memory.

Livingston had the first chance when a fine through ball from Lee Makel sent David Fernandez scurrying clear, but Derek Stillie was off his line swiftly to divert his shot for a corner.

Livingston lost the services of defender David McNamee - called up by Scotland coach Berti Vogts earlier in the week - through injury after only 19 minutes which meant a reshuffle in their ranks.

Two minutes later, it was Dunfermline who almost snatched the lead when Scott Wilson's near-post header from a Craig Brewster corner was touched by Roddy McKenzie and Jon Paul McGovern cleared off the line.

It was an evenly-balanced contest with both teams prepared to go forward at every opportunity but neither goalkeeper was too busy in the first half.

McKenzie pulled off the save of the match ten minutes from the break when Brewster's left-footed free-kick struck the wall but he followed up to crash in a right-foot effort which the goalkeeper did well to touch past his post.

Livingston responded and Makel created a chance for Fernandez who, in turn, fed McGovern and the substitute's shot was bound for the net until Andrius Skerla made a saving clearance.

Scott McLaughlin then came close just before half-time with a long-range effort which clipped the post on the way past.

Dunfermline had a chance early in the second half when Barry Nicholson picked out Dreke Young but his near-post header was held by McKenzie.

Brewster then saw a 10-yard shot blocked by McLaughlin when he seemed set to score after 72 minutes after a good run from substitute Gary Dempsey.

At the other end, Fernandez curled a shot just a foot too high but Livingston's raids were becoming few and far between as Dunfermline kept them under lock and key.

Both sides had chances in the final frantic minutes but neither side did enough to merit the three points.