Livingston 2 Partick Thistle 2

Last updated : 09 May 2004 By Footymad Previewer

Partick Thistle's encouraging end to the season continued with a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Livingston at Almondvale.

Despite finishing bottom of the SPL table the Jags may be reprieved if Inverness Caledonian Thistle win the first division title.

That possibility moved closer to reality when the Highland side beat closest rivals Clyde on Saturday.

Thistle had beaten Aberdeen and Hibernian in their last two games and went ahead inside four minutes against Livi.

Defender Adrian Madaschi scored the opener when he glanced a header past Roddy McKenzie in the home goal.

The cash-strapped hosts were initially stunned but they eventually fought back well and deserved their 22nd minute equaliser.

Burton O'Brien grabbed it when he fired a shot past the despairing dive of Kenny Arthur.

The entertaining match continued to thrill the sparse crowd but it was the visitors who regained the lead in the 63rd minute when James Grady netted.

Livi were not to be denied through and equalised for a second time five minutes later when Colin McMenamin netted.

In an end-to end finale, both teams went all out for a winner but a point apiece was a fair result in a game neither side deserved to lose.

The point lifts Livingston up to eighth in the SPL table with two games of the season left while Partick are certain to finish bottom - but they are now just nine points behind 11th-placed Aberdeen.