Caretaker management duo Stevie Perrie and Conor Caldwell did their cause the power of good as Burgh went into Saturday’s game looking to make it 2 wins out of 2 under their leadership.

It was a visit back to Livingston, looking for a better outcome than the recent visit to town-neighbours Community 10 days earlier where the newboys inflicted a damaging 4-3 defeat to Burgh.

They say a week is a long time in football, and certainly the early signs look promising with Burgh making a bright start to the game, despite nearly gifting United a goal straight from kick off. Callum Roughead’s ball forward was charged down and flew towards Ben Duffield’s goal, hitting the post and the keeper was able to scoop up on the line. Timed at just 9 seconds, it would surely have been candidate of earliest goal of the season!

But following that early scare, Burgh sprang into life and tormentor-to-be Ryan Daly curled a shot that was touched onto the post by Livi keeper Baxter in the 3rd minute after a ball from Nichita Cotorobai.

Daly was in for a productive afternoon giving the home full back a headache all game (leading to a substitution on 25 minutes, and his replacement not having much more success). In the 6th minute a sublime ball from Keir Bruce over the head of the home defence sent Daly away on the left, he cut inside and fired a low shot home at the near post.

It wasn’t just down the left flank Burgh were finding good fortune, right back Calum Lownie and Cotorobai were also enjoying success and in the 10th minute the Burgh no.2 found himself charging through on goal and firing a low shot across goal.

Goal number 2 quickly arrived on 15 minutes from Burgh’s right back position when a long ball from Cotorobai sent Daly racing from within his own half through on goal. The wideman held off Fowler to beat the advancing keeper to make it 2-0.

In the 22nd minute Burgh did, however, had another chance after Blair Campbell was fouled on the edge of the box. Rhys Sneddon fired a powerful drive that Baxter parried into the path of Lyall Brown but the Burgh striker couldn’t find his feet quick enough to divert back goalwards from close range.

Despite the strong start, Livingston weren’t going to lie down and give up and they still had chances of their own. Thankfully for Burgh, Duffield was in excellent form and the keeper was commanding his box with authority.

Livi showed they could also penetrate the opposing defence with McIver breaking through one-on-one with Duffield but the Burgh keeper got his body behind to deflect for a corner on 33 minutes. Two minutes later and it was the exact same scenario and players as McIver raced through but Duffield was extremely brave to dive at the striker’s feet to again get his body to deflect just wide of the post whilst taking a clattering at the same time.

On 38 minutes the keeper’s task was a bit more straight forward saving an unmarked McLaughlin header from close range. Then on 40 minutes a long throw into the Burgh box pinballed around before falling again to McLaughlin a few yards in front of goal. Everyone seemed to stop but Duffield raced into block again with the goal at Livi’s mercy.

Duffield’s expertise were rewarded as Burgh extended the lead just before half time with another great move as this time Roughead’s ball forward again found Daly who twisted and turned to beat Garvie’s replacement Knox before cutting back to Cotorobai around the penalty spot. With Nichita’s shooting space limited, he played to his right to Campbell who was unmarked who fired home past the defender on the line.

As the first half drew to a close, Lownie again found himself in advanced position to fire a low shot just wide of the near post.

The second half got off to a less-frantic start and following a Livi free kick collected by Duffield, the Burgh keeper started the attack quickly in the 62nd minute for Daly to charge again down the left before cutting back for Lyall Brown. With the goal opening up in front of him, the Burgh striker couldn’t quite make a clean connection under pressure to hit the net.

The hosts finally managed a goal they had deserved for their first half chances when a deep cross from McCamley found sub Yorke at the back post to head home to make it 3-1 in the 67th minute.

Whilst many Burgh fans may have started to have a sense of déjà vu and fear of a lead being thrown away, it was quickly dispelled when Daly completed his hat-trick two minutes later with a gift presented by the home defence passing round at the back. Baxter’s ball to Grant saw the Livi number 8 sidewards pass lacking the pace to find his team mate, Daly was quickest on hand to fire home a low shot from over 20 yards out with Baxter out of position to complete his hat-trick.

That goal seemed to put the game to bed with chances limited until a couple of half-chances in the final 10 minutes. Cammy Newsome firing a shot from the edge of the area into Baxter’s body in the 80th minute, whilst Arthur’s shot from outside of the area didn’t trouble Duffield.

Daly nearly completed a perfect afternoon with a rasping shot from outside the area the area that just cleared the bar on 87 minutes.

It was a impressive performance from Burgh and an entertaining first half, in particular, between two battling sides. There was much discussion over the Man of the Match award that it couldn’t be cleanly decided. Daly netting an excellent hat-trick and was a constant thorn on the left hand side, but keeper Duffield also earned his corn – particularly in the opening 45 minutes – with a string of excellent and important saves which could have easily changed the course of the game.

Other mentions go out to Campbell, Cotorobai and Lownie who supplemented a good all-round team performance.

Man of the Match: Ryan Daly & Ben Duffield.