Plenty still to play for
Lions looks to shake off cup final misery
LIVINGSTON ..................... 0 ST JOHNSTONE ................ 1
A day that promised so much ended up being so desperately disappointing.
Livingston’s first major cup final in 17 years had certainly sparked excitement in the county.
Social media was awash with pictures of front doors covered in yellow and black balloons and flags flying from balconies.
The town, and region, certainly got behind their team even if the pandemic made things a little different.
There was even a socially-distanced send-off from the stadium too as fans showed their support for the players as they made their way, individually, to Hampden.
It had all the makings of a memorable, wonderful day.
And then the football started.
In fairness, Livingston were the brighter of the two sides for the first half hour.
Saints keeper Zander Clark emphatically rose above the Livi attackers to punch clear a Julien Serrano free-kick flung into the danger area in the early stages, while had anyone but Efe Ambrose being supporting Scott Robinson when the striker knocked down Marvin Bartley’s cross, the end result may have been different. The Nigerian, though, blazed his strike high and wide.
The game descended into a midfield battle with the first moment of real intrigue arriving in the 17th minute.
Josh Mullin must have thought he’d given the Lions the lead but his angled drive from the right was brilliantly tipped wide by Clark.
Livi had looked the most dangerous in what had been a game lacking real quality but it would be the Perth outfit that got the crucial breakthrough on 32 minutes.
Shaun Rooney beat Jon Guthrie in the air to head home Craig Conway’s corner, while keeper Robby McCrorie got a hand to it but was unable to prevent it sneaking in off the post.
That goal changed the game and seemed to suck all the life out of the Lions, who never threatened again.
Rooney tried a speculative effort from 35 yards that McCrorie comfortably saved just before the break, while the keeper kept his side in the game barely a minute after the restart.
Ali McCann’s neat cutback was met by David Wotherspoon with McCrorie brilliantly saving with his legs. The rebound was inches away from bouncing off an unmarked Chris Kane and rolling into the gaping net.
Saints would enjoy plenty of the ball in the opening stages of the second half but were unable to extend their lead.
Livi introduced Gavin Reilly and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas for the final 25 minutes and they did at least enjoy a bit more of the ball.
It didn’t result in even a shot on target, though, as the sturdy Saints defence refused to buckle under pressure and ultimately run out deserved winners.
Take nothing away from Livingston’s achievement in getting to the final, even if it resulted in bitter disappointment.
After what had been a 17year wait, the Lions were unable to roar at the national stadium.
Let’s just hope it’s not another 17 years before they’re on the big stage once more.
After what had been a 17-year wait, the Lions were unable to roar at Hampden