Livingston 1-2 Motherwell: Elijah Just nets dramatic winner for Steelmen at Almondvale

Elijah Just netted his first Motherwell goal to earn his side a dramatic 2-1 victory at Livingston in the William Hill Premiership.

The midfielder, a summer signing from Horsens, fired home in stoppage time just moments after having a goal disallowed for offside.

Livingston had gone ahead in the first half through Jeremy Bokila’s penalty before Apostolos Stamatelopoulos levelled from the spot after the break.

A second league win of the season propelled Motherwell up to sixth while Livingston remain at the bottom after going eight games without a victory.

Livingston handed a debut to defender Joshua Brenet as manager Davie Martindale was once again forced to reshuffle his back line due to injury.

Motherwell enjoyed plenty of possession in the early stages as they stroked the ball about on the plastic pitch.

Bokila had a great chance after eight minutes when he was through but, after dithering on the ball, his shot was blocked before Stevie May fired wide.

Their blushes were spared after the far-side assistant referee raised his flag for offside.

Both teams struggled to penetrate and the pattern of the game was summed up when Stamatelopoulos hit a first-time shot well wide from Emmanuel Longelo’s pass.

But Livingston went ahead from the penalty spot in the 26th minute through Bokila.

The marksman was clumsily felled inside the box by Liam Gordon and referee Nick Walsh immediately pointed to the spot, Bokila dusting himself down to fire high into the net.

Livingston wasted a good chance to double their lead moments later. May’s left-footed drive was pushed away by goalkeeper Calum Ward and Robbie Muirhead fired well over on the rebound.

Motherwell then breathed a sigh of relief in first-half stoppage time when Bokila acrobatically shot over after Mo Sylla’s shot was blocked.

Ward was called into action at the start of the second half to keep out a low free-kick from Muirhead.

After finding themselves under pressure either side of the break, Motherwell got themselves back into the game from the penalty spot.

Macaulay Tait blatantly handled the ball inside his own box as Livingston attempted to clear the danger.

The referee did not get a good view of the incident but then pointed to the spot after reviewing VAR and Stamatelopoulos sent Jerome Prior the wrong way from 12 yards.

The away team finished the game strongly.

Substitutes Callum Slattery and Charles Regan-Cook both shot over but there was more drama to come.

Moments after he had an effort disallowed for offside, Just slammed home the winner.

The New Zealander fired pass Prior at his near post after running on to Slattery’s pass.