Both sides had to settle for their first point of the New Year as the fans were kept entertained with an competitive open game.
Early in the first half, video technology intervened to deny Livingston an opening goal amidst two saved penalties from Liam Kelly and considerable confusion for everybody in the Tony Macaroni Stadium.
Morgan Boyes finally gave the West Lothian side the lead but it was immediately cancelled out by Kevin Van Veen’s ninth league goal of the season. In truth, the Dutch striker could easily have grabbed his second hat-trick of season and given ‘Well a long overdue win that their efforts and some fine individual performances possibly deserved.
Steven Hammell resisted the temptation to give Shane Blaney his debut, the former Sligo Rovers central defender starting on the bench. Instead Sondre Solholm returned from injury to ex-Livi man Ricki Lamie at the centre of the ‘Well defence. That meant Paul McGinn could revert to his full back role with Stephen O’Donnell making way. Up front Kevin van Veen was fit enough to lead the attack.
And after a tame and unremarkable opening 13 minutes, the former Livi defender sparked a remarkable period of VAR dominated action.
It looked a bit harsh on Lamie when Cristian Montano’s half hit shot at the edge of the bo bounced up and hit the ‘Well defender’s hand. Referee David Munro immediately pointed to the penalty spot and VAR quickly concurred.
Devlin powered his spot kick to low to the ‘keeper’s left but Kelly guessed correctly diving low to palm the ball out.A goalmouth scramble ensued before Devlin forced the ball over the line to give the home side the lead. Or so we thought.
As the Livi fans celebrated and Motherwell waited to restart the game, Colin Stephen in the VAR control room advised that the penalty should be retaken. Like everyone else in the stadium ref Munro unaware of the reason, returned play to the ‘Well box and present Devlin with a second chance to net from the spot.
Just to add to the confusion it was a repeat of the Livi captain’s first attempt, Kelly again diving to his left to beat the ball away with Lamie completing the clearance and ensure there was no doubt that the scores remained level.
As the Lions tried to recover from that triple blow, ‘Well gained the upper hand.
The first of a series of free kicks from Sean Goss found Lamie and his header back across the box was chested down by Van Veen before he thundered in a shot which Shamal George was happy to beat away.
Conor Shields then raced towards the box only to blast the ball high over the goal.
The Fir Park striker might have been played in after 32 minutes when he was totally unmarked in the box but after dragging the ball along the 18 yard line Van Veen elected to go himself only to fire straight at the ‘keeper.
Then, seven minutes from the break and almost the run of play, Livingston took the lead.
Stephen Kelly’s deep free kick found Morgan Boyes beyond the back post and his header back across goal found the far corner of the net. Livi fans jeered as the ref waited for a check was made to considering offside but eventually the home side could celebrate taking the lead.
However, that was short lived as the Steelmen levelled two minutes later.
The ball bounced around a packed Livi box begging a taker and Van Veen obliged sweeping the ball past George from eight yards and claim his ninth league goal of the season.
Hammell’s men might have been ahead at the interval when Solholm got his boot to a Goss free kick but from 10 yards could only guide the ball wide of goal.
Two minutes into the second half and ‘Well should have been in front. Shields did well to keep possession close to the byeline and after he laid the ball across to Van Veen six yard in front of goal he should have found the net rather than smacking the ball off the face of the bar.
As the artificial surface began to appear slippy underfoot the pace of the game quickened and half-chances popped up in both boxes.
Bruce Anderson blasted an effort over Kelly’s bar before the large contingent of ‘Well fans in the away stand thought Shields had fired home from a tight angle only to realise the ball had nestled in the side netting.
There was nothing to separate the two sides as the game entered its final 15 minutes Hammell made his first change, Stuart McKinstry coming on for Shields.
The Fir Park men pushed for a winner in the closing stages and despite looking the more likely to take all three points they had to settle for a solitary point for their efforts.
