Match report: Livingston 0-1 St Johnstone U18s

Our under-18s picked up a hard-earned win against Livingston in the Club Academy Scotland Performance League on Friday afternoon.

Held at the Home of the Set Fare Arena in West Lothian, it was an encounter - watched by new first team head coach Simo Valakari - of few clear-cut chances.

But Murray Binnie broke the deadlock with just 12 minutes remaining after breaking into the box and keeping his composure to finish.

Brodie Dair had the best chance of the opening exchanges but his back-post header drifted the wrong side of the post.

Another headed attempt arrived not long after and this time it was striker Jacob Fleming going for glory. However, the goalkeeper gathered comfortably.

Both teams were battling to gain the upper hand as the half progressed and we almost took the lead from a corner. In a sea of bodies, the ball was swept goalwards but the home number one was positioned nicely to save.

Our shotstopper Kyle Thomson looked equally alert on the stroke of half-time when he denied the Livingston attacker from close range with an outstretched leg.

We started the second half strongly and went close to taking the lead on 47 minutes through a succession of quick-fire chances. James Muir at the back post was eventually denied by another impressive stop.

Hector Ashcroft and Binnie both had the ball in the back of the net on separate occasions but celebrations were cut short by the referee’s whistle.

Both coaching teams freshened things up as the second half progressed but still there was no breakthrough in front of goal.

That was until Binnie found himself inside the box and, from a tight angle, he guided across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. It proved to be the winner.

Saints starting team: Thomson, Brookfield, Miller, Shiels, Didcock, Muir, Cord, Ashcroft, Binnie, Dair, Fleming.