Livingston 2
Timar og 25, McParland 49

Argyle 1
Summerfield pen 81

CREAMERY Park, home of Bathgate Thistle, provided the picturesque, but unlikely, setting for what Argyle manager Paul Sturrock had signalled would count as the Greens' first serious pre-season game.

Thistle, Scottish Junior Cup winners in 2008, were welcoming hosts, but not the opposition. That was provided by Scottish League One side Livingston, who were unable to stage the game at their Almondvale home because it is bereft of a safety certificate.

Itinerant Livi were more at home than Argyle, who did not help themselves at the back: the first of the two goals they conceded was an oggie midway through the first half from Krisztián Timár, who then began the second by gifting a second to Tony McParland.

A Luke Summerfield penalty - his second in three games - reduced the arrears nine minutes from time as the Pilgrims finished the game strongly.

Luggy included two Scots for the Pilgrims' first match against Scottish opposition in Scotland for seven years: Jim Paterson, who had previously played at Bathgate as a youngster, and Chris Clark.

Both took their place in a four-man midfield which saw Jason Puncheon restored to the apex of a diamond, floating behind a front two of Ashley Barnes and Jamie Mackie.

The only former Livingston player in the Greens' Scottish tour party, David McNamee, was omitted because of his slight calf injury.

Livingston's line-up included ex-Dundee United man David Winters and the ubiquitous A Trialist, whose extended family also provided three of the substitutes, all confusingly with the same initial.

One bore a striking resemblance to a striker who was part of the Harper's Park trial earlier in the month that spawned new signing Kári Árnáson, a spectator last night after a hectic first day as a Pilgrim.

Argyle were lively starters. They created a chance within the first 30 seconds when Paterson broke through only to be bundled off the ball with the goal well in his sights.

Barnes' head was a decent afro away from connecting with a right-wing cross, while Clark had a powerful low shot beaten away by Livi 'keeper Roddy McKenzie.

It would be fair to say, then, that the opening goal came against the run of play. A strange one it was, too, Timár turning a low cross into his own net without seeming to be under the sort of pressure that normally leads to such mistakes.

The Greens bounced back and Puncheon, who has impressed a lot of people with his attitude and performances since returning from Milton Keynes Dons, was denied an equaliser when McDonald palmed away a fierce drive.

A mistake from Timár four minutes after the break allowed McParland to run in unimpeded and double Livi's lead.

Again the Pilgrims rebounded from their self-inflicted wound and the always industrious Mackie had a deflected shot that bounced off the top of the crossbar.

Luggy switched his front three, bringing on Rory Fallon, Bradley Wright-Phillips and, to sit in the hole, Steve MacLean, and all three did well. The former two showed signs of a promising partnership, while the latter pulled some mighty fine strings.

Ultimately, for all their effort, and the creativity of Paterson, Argyle's finishing let them down until Summerfield lambasted his spot-kick past McKenzie after Paterson had been brought down by Cameron McDonald.

Rick Cowdery

Livingston (4-5-1): 1 Roddy Mckenzie; 3 Jason Talbot, 6 A trialist, 4 Cameron McDonald, 2 Chris Malone (19 A Trialist 51); 11 Andrew Halliday, 8 Joe Hammill (13 Raffa De Vita82), 5 Mark Torrance, 7 Liam Fox (15 David Sinclair 75), 9 Tony McParland; 10 David Winters (12 Keaghan Jacobs 70). Substitutes (not used): 14 Armand One, 16 Joe McKee, 17 Neil Hastings, 18 A Trialist, 20 A Trialist.

Argyle (4-4-2): 1 Romain Larrieu; 2 Karl Duguid, 5 Krizstián Timár, 15 Chris Barker, 18 Gary Sawyer; 3 Jim Paterson, 7 Jason Puncheon (9 Steve MacLean 60), 20 Luke Summerfield, 6 Chris Clark; 24 Ashley Barnes (14 Rory Fallon 60), 25 Jamie Mackie (10 Bradley Wright-Phillips 60). Substitutes (not used): 13 Mathias Kouo-Doumbe, 17 Craig Noone, 19 Marcel Seip, 27 Lloyd Saxton (gk), 29 Damien McCrory, 30 Ryan Leonard.