The young Saints staged a late revival at the McDiarmid Park astro on a bitterly cold Tuesday evening.
But it ultimately was not enough to take any points from the league encounter against Livingston, who ended up winning the contest 5-3.
The visitors had taken the lead in just the eighth minute when Jamie Shields’ effort found a way past Callum Mustard in the Perth net.
Saints, undeterred, went in search of a route back into the match and found it through Jack McArthur’s wonderful header from an Ethan Martin delivery. It was McArthur’s first goal for the U19s.
Livi would regain the advantage just after the half hour mark when Jack Bell finished low into the bottom corner. Mustard did get a touch, but it was not quite enough to divert the ball around the post.
Romano Poli was soon forced off injured and was replaced by Cole Parmenter.
A third for the West Lothian side arrived with 40 minutes on the clock when the ball broke for Rylie Waugh after initially striking the post.
McArthur had a great chance moments later to reduce the deficit. He took a lovely touch inside the box before guiding his strike inches wide of the post.
Into the second half and it was Livi who struck to extend their lead to 4-1. This time a cross from the right was turned home with ease in the centre of the box.
Captain Arran Brookfield would later hit the crossbar and sub Dougal McAdam forced the visiting ‘keeper into a smart stop.
But Livi found a fifth in the 72nd minute when, after a quick break from a Saints corner, the ball was again cut-back and knocked beyond a helpless Mustard.
It would have been easy for the young Perth side to down tools but, instead, they rallied to the final whistle.
That attitude was rewarded with two goals in the closing minutes. First, Martin curled in a beauty of a free-kick and then he teed-up McAdam to finish impressively from inside the box.
Saints continued to push forward in the remaining moments of the game but it was Livi who left with a 5-3 victory.
TEAM: Mustard (Young 87), Brookfield, Stewart, Voy (Russell 62), Murray, Poli (Parmenter 36), Martin, Shaeb (Gray 62), Louden, McArthur (McAdam 62), Preston.
