Heads we win! Kyle caps first start with dramatic late winner
Brian Rice insists Kyle Munro has created a memory he will cherish for life after the 18-yearold marked his maiden start for Hamilton with a dramatic winning goal against Livingston.
Munro, who only made his senior debut a fortnight ago as a substitute against Rangers, was pitched into the Accies side to replace the suspended
Scott McMann and rose to the challenge admirably.
A solid showing was capped in the dying embers when he ghosted in at the back post to meet a free-kick from man-of-thematch David Templeton and head beyond Robby McCrorie.
It secured a smash-and-grab three points for the visitors, with Templeton having cancelled out Shaun Want’s early own goal – and sent the six supporters surreptitiously watching the action on a hill outside the ground into raptures.
“Kyle did well on what was his full debut,” said Rice. “He’s very quiet, doesn’t say too much, but I know he can head the ball – and I was hoping it was him coming in at the end!
“It’s absolutely fantastic for anyone to score a winner, but to do it on your full league debut is something the kid will never forget.”
Such a splendid finale for Hamilton seemed fanciful when they conceded with just 29 seconds on the clock.
Big Lars Lokotsch used all of his 6ft 4in frame to hold off pressure and link-up with Livi winger Alan Forrest, whose low cross was turned into the net by a combination of Scott Pittman and Accies skipper Want.
Templeton fizzed a low free-kick wide of the post as the visitors sought to respond from the early set-back, while Forrest – excellent for the hosts in the opening exchanges – stung the palms of Ryan Fulton.
Another chance for the hosts to extend their advantage came and went when skipper Marvin Bartley could only direct his header into the arms of Fulton from six yards out following an almighty stramash.
Templeton was the only Accies player who appeared capable of causing ructions in the Livi backline – freely drifting between the lines and giving Bartley a persistent headache – and it was the former Rangers man who levelled in the second half.
Hakeem Odoffin, a Livingston player last season, crashed his header off the crossbar after rising highest to meet a Reegan Mimnaugh corner – but Templeton was on hand to rattle home the rebound.
Templeton was positively purring, and curled a sumptuous effort narrowly wide following a slick Cruyff turn on the edge of the Livi box. Now 31, he remains a joy to watch on his day.
“David is a match winner and he changes game,” continued Rice. “Everyone saw that today.
“He’s a huge asset for us, as he showed with his goal and assist, but he needs other players working hard for him because he’s not getting any younger.
“But the work-rate and effort was typical for a Hamilton team.”
Although under the cosh at times in the second half, Gary Holt will rightly wonder how his side failed to claim all three points given Pittman endeavoured to hit the underside of the bar from six yards after being teed up by Craig Sibbald.
Instead, it was the visitors who nicked the points courtesy of Munro, who was on loan at Clydebank as recently as last season. Fairytale stuff.
Rice added: “We were confident at half-time we could get something out of the game.
“I asked the players if they believed they could win and they said ‘yes’. I don’t think anyone could complain about us going on to win the match.”