STING FAIRYTALE
Saints heroes rip up the cup final script as Martindale’s story turns into an X-rated Hampden horror show 0
MAKING a Manager – who would have guessed Callum Davidson would provide the ultimate twist to the plot?
This Betfred Cup Final build-up has been all David Martindale, the Netflix documentary and book offers flooding in for a former jailbird just three months into the job.
The scriptwriters didn’t factor in another first-season debutant stealing the show by leading St Johnstone to a historic Hampden victory.
Shaun Rooney’s first-half header was enough to settle an encounter that wasn’t one for the neutrals.
It could have done with a fastforward button for those only interested in the score and not what happened next.
Try telling that to the team from Perth who lifted the trophy for the first time in their history.
A game that may not live long in the memory is in the record books for when a crowd-free Covid-19 campaign is long forgotten.
Celtic’s 12 successive trophies run was halted by a Saints side that survived a bit of early stage fright to produce a second-half performance which just about edged a Livingston display that wasn’t to deliver the fairytale ending for their own man in the dugout.
As always on cup final day there are the players suffering selection disappointment and lightning struck again for Murray Davidson who was forced to sit out due to injury, just as he’d done during the club’s 2014 Scottish Cup Final win.
There was also a bitter blow for Guy Melamed whose recent double against Motherwell wasn’t enough to save him from a bench role as Craig Conway came in.
The convoy of cars which set off from the Tony Macaroni Arena for Hampden hours earlier contained a full complement of Lions players with no injury concerns.
Livingston’s talisman Scott Robinson returned to the side that drew with St Mirren last time out and Steve Lawson joined him with Craig Sibbald, Alan Forrest and Gavin Reilly all listed as substitutes.
But there were no real surprises within a line-up that has all but picked itself in recent months.
Despite Saints boss Davidson suggesting the form book should
LIVINGSTON .... ST JOHNSTONE .... 1 have had Livi as favourites, only two defeats in 11 games suggested something different as the Perth men went in against an opponent who hadn’t won in three.
The National Stadium stands may have been all but empty but that eerie atmosphere soon gave way to Martindale’s booming instructions echoing out across Mount Florida.
A polar opposite, the suited and booted Saints boss was a picture of calm on the touchline.
It was Livi who threatened in the fourth minute from a set-piece that forced Zander Clark to claw a cross off the head of Jon Guthrie, which was followed by a wild shot over the top from Efe Ambrose.
As expected, it was a no-frills start to proceedings, percentage football with blood and thunder replacing anything more refined and fitting for a showcase occasion.
Livi settled the better of the two and it required an outstretched hand from Saints keeper Clark to prevent Josh Mullin’s low shot from being steered into the far corner, further evidence of the West Lothian side’s growing dominance.
Martindale knew it – “keep turning the screw” was another audible instruction from his technical area but there would shortly be a spanner in the works.
Saints’ nerves were soon removed as they broke the deadlock in the 31st minute and it came courtesy of a Conway corner that was bulleted home by the head of Rooney with Robby McCrorie well beaten.
It was another huge moment for the former Inverness man who had also been on target in his side’s semifinal win over Hibs. Callum Booth
was forced into a superb block to deny Mullin as Livi looked to instantly reply and Scott Pittman was next to flash a header off target four minutes from the break.
Saints should have been two goals to the good just seconds after the restart. Liam Craig’s cross was met by David Wotherspoon only to be beaten away by McCrorie and Chris Kane couldn’t turn home the rebound to get Livi off the hook.
Marvin Bartley escaped a touch and go penalty shout for a challenge on Jason Kerr and referee Don Robertson also turned a blind eye to Wotherspoon’s appeal for a spot-kick after being clipped by Guthrie moments later. The sun was out at Hampden and it was shining on Saints with the tie now well in their hands.
Livingston required a change of approach and Martindale threw on Gavin Reilly and Jay EmmanuelThomas to support Robinson in attack as the clock ticked down against them but it was to no avail.
Bartley went into the book for a lunge on Kerr and Liam Gordon joined him for taking out Forrest.
Saints held firm and the full-time whistle sparked scenes of joy. Perth has something to smile about and Davidson is a cup final winning manager who earned his stripes.