Recap

East of Scotland League Cup 1st Round – Saturday 4th March 2023

Blackburn United 6 Devine 15p, 55, 64, Richards 63, Otonti 70, Baillie 74
Livingston United 0

Laurie Devine had the first chance of the game when he fired a free kick just win, he on the quarter hour mark David Howe set Devine free on the left of the Livingston box, he cut inside his marker before being brought down for a penalty, which he converted himself

Jerry Otonti then had an effort saved before hitting the post just before the half hour mark after evading several challenges. Devine pounced on the ball as it rebounded from the woodwork and appeared to be brought down by Zach Balfour in the Livvy goal but referee Sean Duff waved away appeals.

Devine then angled a drive past Balfours far post as Burnie went in search of a second before the break.

Ten minutes after the restart the second came when Calum Heath won possession and broke through the middle, he laid the ball out right to Otonti whose low cross into the six yard box was stabbed home by Devine. A minute later an effort from Otonti was flicked over the bar by Balfour.

Just past the hour and Scott Richards made it three when he heading home a looping cross into the box and a minute later it was four, Laurie Devine claiming his hattrick after volleying a bouncing ball past Balfour from twenty yards.

With twenty minutes remaining a break on the right by Craig Baillie saw the ball squared into the box which evaded the Livvy defenders and Otonti met it at the far post to score from close range.

In a rare upfield foray Tom Garrad found himself in acres of space inside the box but Saunder blocked his effort. Play moved back up the other end and Craig Baillie was played into space, he turned the defender before slotting the ball beyond Balfour.

Blackburn United: Craig Saunders (Callum MacDonald 75), James Mildren, Kyle McClung (Hutton 69), David Wilson, Adam Forrest, Scott Richards (Craig Baillie 69), Calum Heath, David Howe (Chris Kelly 59), Laurie Devine (Joe Osborne 69), Luke Meikle, Jerry Otonti. Unused subs: Daryl Meikle, Marcus Millar.

Livingston United: Zach Balfour, Connor Campbell (Tom Garrad 59), Cameron Shaw, Craig Byrne (Jack Kelly 79), Declan O’Hara (Michael Butler 59), Kieran McKee, Kieran McColgan, Dylan Dyet, Luke Barclay (Aidan McLaughlin 87), Zak Avinou (Rander Oliveira 87), William Wright. Unused subs: Igor Silva, Jamie Mitchell.

Referee: Sean Duff Assistants: Cameron Doyle, Timothy Capstick.