Livi’s return to winning ways earns a top-six prize

TOP-SIX finish and back on a the victory trail after a winless run. Livingston could not ask for anything more from yesterday’s exploits — but Hamilton failed to ease their relegation fears.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas’ magnificent strike on the turn for Livi in the 16th minute was cancelled out by Callum Smith’s equally-impressive drive on the half-hour mark for Hamilton.

Midfielder Scott Pittman restored the home side’s lead with a poacher’s goal in the 36th minute and — after a second half that was more grit and graft than excitement — it proved to be the crucial winner.

David Martindale was proud of his side. The Livingston boss said: ‘The cup-final defeat had a knock-on effect on us but we looked back to our best today.

‘I thought that we could have scored a few more goals but the objective was top six and we have done that.

‘Would we have taken this with five games still to go? Of course we would. This is an unbelievable effort from a club our size. We’d have been happy to finish 10th, so to finish in the top six two years in a row is incredible.’

Asked about the possibility of European football next season — as Scotland have five places — Martindale replied: ‘It is a challenge for every one of us here to ensure we do not finish any lower than fifth, so that is going to be the objective going forward.

‘The boys are more than capable of doing that. I think against the so-called bigger teams, we seem to turn up and the style suits us.’

It was fifth-placed Livingston’s first win in seven matches and, with one pre-split fixture remaining, they moved six points ahead of seventh-placed St Johnstone and will finish the season in the top half of the Premiership.

Hamilton stay one point ahead of bottom side Kilmarnock with six fixtures remaining, five after the split, and their battle for survival goes on.

They went behind after 16 minutes yesterday when Livi right-back Nicky Devlin played the ball to Emmanuel-Thomas and he fired a volley from 14 yards past Accies keeper Ryan Fulton into the top corner.

However, the striker’s good work was undone on the half-hour when he was caught in possession in his own half.

The loose ball fell to Smith, who took a touch and rifled the ball from 30 yards low past Robby McCrorie.

But Livingston regained their lead in 36 minutes when the tireless Devlin’s cutback from the byeline came off the chest of Hamilton full-back Lee Hodson and Pittman was on hand to bundle the ball over the line.

Accies tried to impose themselves on the game after the break but the hosts were proving resolute and slowly began to threaten again.

In the 75th minute, EmmanuelThomas headed a Jason Holt free-kick into Fulton’s hands when he could have done better.

Accies then pushed forward for an equaliser. Ross Callachan latched on to a pass from Scott Martin and squared the ball across goal past McCrorie — but found no takers.

Three minutes from time, Livingston substitute Josh Mullin almost added a third goal when he crashed a shot from distance against the crossbar with Fulton well beaten.

Hamilton can never be accused of lacking spirit but still have lots to do to ensure safety.

Manager Brian Rice, who lost defender Scott McMann to a hamstring injury on Friday to add to the club’s injury list, said: ‘The battle (to stay up) definitely goes on. I think we showed that.

‘Livingston is a really hard place to come to get a result at any time but we were battling for every ball out there. We’re down to the bare bones and all of the boys are giving it everything they’ve got.

‘That’s what you demand and that’s what it takes to be a Hamilton player. Overall, I thought that we could have taken a point from the game.’