Match Report

MATCH REPORT

Livingston v Stehousemuir at the Toni Macaroni Stadium, Livingston 0n 21.03.17

Ladbrokes SPFL League One              Att 531

Livingston 1 [Todorov 24] Stenhousemuir 0

Two hard games including a match against full time Airdrie on the Saturday was not ideal preparation for a midweek game at League leaders Livingston. There had been doubts in the minds over whether the game would take place with snow in the morning but it had disappeared by kick off time and although the pitch was heavy it was better than it could have been.

The Warriors were missing David Marsh who was suspended and Alan Cook who requires a long recovery time after games as he is carrying an injury. Wills Furtado and Colin McMenamin dropped out as well as the Warriors went with a more defensive formation. Ally Roy made a rare start whilst Thomas Grant made his first ever start for Stenhousemuir after a couple of appearances as a substitute but it was clear as the game progressed that he needed more game time.

With all these changes it was no surprise that the Warriors were slow to start and they could have been a goal down with seconds of the start when Rafa De Vita made room for himself and from close range really should have scored but David Crawford managed to block with his legs. In the 4^th minute Mark Millar hit an effort back across goal but wide of the target. There was another scare in the 10^th minute when Stenhousemuir, not for the first time this season, failed to deal with a Mullin corner and Liam Buchanan headed over from six yards.

The home continued to dominate and in the 15^th minute David Crawford did well to make a key tackle before getting back into position to save from Buchanan. Stenhousemuir were struggling to hold on and it was no surprise when the leaders took the lead. Nikolay Todorov was the scorer after he met a Mullen cross and the Bulgarian’s header went into the net via the inside of the post.

In the 33^rd minute Vinnie Berry had Stenhousemuir’s first attempt at goal when his effort from 25 yards flashed just wide of the target after Livi failed to clear their lines completely at a corner. With five minutes of the half to go they had their first shot on target when Roy cut the ball back to Duthie who shot goal-wards. In truth it failed to trouble Liam Kelly in the Lions goal but at least it showed spirit. Craig Halkett then saw a shot tipped over by Crawford as the home side continued to push forward. The closest they came though was from ex-Warrior Alan Lithgow who showed first class technique to hit a 25 yard effort with the inside of his foot that clipped the post. If that had went in it would have capped a fine performance by Lithgow who kept Mason Robertson shackled throughout the game.

After the resumption the home side continued to create the better chances with Scott Pittman setting up Josh Mullin but he failed to hit the target. Nicky Cadden who had came on as a sub shot just wide from five yards inside the Stenhousemuir half after he collected a kick out by David  Crawford.

This did little to raise the spirits of a group of Livingston supporters who abused manager David Hopkirk as they felt he had became more defensive minded as the game progressed and their mood would have blackened even more if Willis Furtado’s effort in the last minute had went in with the last kick of the ball. It wasn’t to be though as the Warriors completed a run of three away games with three defeats.

Livingston – Kelly, Byrne, Lithgow, Gallagher, Halkett, Mullin, De Vita, Pittman, Millar [Cadden 57], Buchanan[Longridge 71] and Todorov [Mullen 61]. Subs not used – Maley, Crighton, Knox and Sinclair.

Stenhousemuir – Crawford, McCormack, Summers, Meechan, Kerr, Berry, Grant [Furtado 69][b83], Millar [b55] [Gilhaney 89], Robertson [McMenamin 69], Roy and Duthie [b69]. Subs not used – Hamilton, Smith and Bowman

Referee – Barry Cook             Assistants – Alasdair Ross and Andy Taylor