Saturday 26th November 2011 – Livingston FC 0-3 Ross County FC
It was back to league duties for the Lions after a clinical victory against Irvine Meadow in the Scottish Cup the week before. However, it was table-topping Ross County who were checking in at the Braidwood Motor Company Stadium on the back of seven straight league victories. In actual fact, the last league match County had failed to win was when the Lions earned a point at Victoria Park back in September.
Gary Bollan was able to name the same starting eleven for the third game in a row, although Jason Talbot just made it, having passed an early morning fitness test.
Ross County came racing out the traps and were hounding Andy McNeil’s goal from the word go. Ex-Livi captain Richie Brittain fired a free-kick just wide of the post from 35 yards shortly before forcing McNeil into a good save from another low, long range strike.
Brittain was again involved as the Staggies came even closer to breaking the deadlock. A deep cross from Michael Gardyne made it’s way to Brittain on the other side of the box and when he delivered the ball back into the middle, Iain Vigurs rose highest but headed wide from 6 yards despite being completely unmarked.
The Lions were really struggling to find their feet as County pressed for the opener. A corner from the right was met by Grant Munro but his header flew inches wide. Gardyne then sent a teasing ball across the face of the goal and with Colin McMenamin racing in, Paul Watson was at full stretch to intercept his shot.
Livi’s first attempt at goal came from a hopeful Rory Boulding effort. A headed clearance from Gary Miller fell nicely for Boulding but his low shot from distance was easily saved by Michael Fraser. Moments later, a Livi corner was whipped in by Mark Fotheringham but Craig Barr couldn’t get over the ball and his header flew high of the goal.
Jason Talbot’s high ball down the left then found Boulding who tussled with Scott Boyd and after just getting the better of the central defender, his dinked cross-come-shot had to be pushed over for a corner by Fraser.
Gary Bollan was able to name the same starting eleven for the third game in a row, although Jason Talbot just made it, having passed an early morning fitness test.
Ross County came racing out the traps and were hounding Andy McNeil’s goal from the word go. Ex-Livi captain Richie Brittain fired a free-kick just wide of the post from 35 yards shortly before forcing McNeil into a good save from another low, long range strike.
Brittain was again involved as the Staggies came even closer to breaking the deadlock. A deep cross from Michael Gardyne made it’s way to Brittain on the other side of the box and when he delivered the ball back into the middle, Iain Vigurs rose highest but headed wide from 6 yards despite being completely unmarked.
The Lions were really struggling to find their feet as County pressed for the opener. A corner from the right was met by Grant Munro but his header flew inches wide. Gardyne then sent a teasing ball across the face of the goal and with Colin McMenamin racing in, Paul Watson was at full stretch to intercept his shot.
Livi’s first attempt at goal came from a hopeful Rory Boulding effort. A headed clearance from Gary Miller fell nicely for Boulding but his low shot from distance was easily saved by Michael Fraser. Moments later, a Livi corner was whipped in by Mark Fotheringham but Craig Barr couldn’t get over the ball and his header flew high of the goal.
Jason Talbot’s high ball down the left then found Boulding who tussled with Scott Boyd and after just getting the better of the central defender, his dinked cross-come-shot had to be pushed over for a corner by Fraser.
Boyd himself had the last chance of the first-half, getting on the end of Brittain’s corner but he too headed over the bar as the referee signalled for the interval.
Livi started the second half brightly and were putting the County defence under a lot more pressure than in the previous 45. A Boulding cross seen two County defenders slip and miscue clearances, eventually seeing the ball run out for the corner as Livi pressed.
The game was then turned on its head as Boulding was shown a red card by referee Mike Tumilty. After being picked out well by Keaghan Jacobs, Boulding done well, holding off his marker to make a bit of space. As he looked to go forward, the ball ran a touch infront of him and as Paul Lawson attempted to make a block, Boulding was adjudged to have dived in recklessly and was given his marching orders. It was a harsh decision by Tumilty who appeared to be swayed by Lawson’s over the top reaction given that he was fine to continue playing moments later.
Despite being a man down, Livi initially continued to pile on the pressure, winning a number of corners in succession but failing to make them count.
The dominance of the extra man gradually began to take its toll, although County nearly took the lead thanks to a gift from McNeil. A clearance forward from Boyd sent McMenamin racing through and as the Livi number one came out to clear, he missed the ball completely, leaving McMenamin with a tap in. Despite the empty net though, heavy pressure from Kyle Jacobs meant he didn’t make great contact on the ball and as it rolled goal wards, Watson got back to hack it off the line.
That proved to only delay the onslaught that came the home sides way though. Some good work down the left from Miller seen him cross for Gardyne and the midfield man made no mistake, poking the ball into the top corner to give Ross County the lead.
A second was quick in coming too. As Kyle Jacobs tried to usher the ball out for a goal kick, Vigurs won it back and crossed for McMenamin to tap home and double the advantage. If that didn’t all but seal the game, a third goal just two minutes later certainly did. Vigurs one-two with Gardyne created a gap in the Livi backline and he fed the ball through to McMenamin to race clear and slide the ball past McNeil to ensure the three points were heading back to Dingwall.
Livi created one last chance in the hunt for a consolation goal with Bobby Barr and substitute Iain Russell linking well for Barr to rifle a shot goal wards but Fraser parried well to keep his clean sheet.
Boulding’s sending off proved to be a key factor in a disappointing day for the Lions as the unbeaten home record finally came to an end.
Despite being a man down, Livi initially continued to pile on the pressure, winning a number of corners in succession but failing to make them count.
The dominance of the extra man gradually began to take its toll, although County nearly took the lead thanks to a gift from McNeil. A clearance forward from Boyd sent McMenamin racing through and as the Livi number one came out to clear, he missed the ball completely, leaving McMenamin with a tap in. Despite the empty net though, heavy pressure from Kyle Jacobs meant he didn’t make great contact on the ball and as it rolled goal wards, Watson got back to hack it off the line.
That proved to only delay the onslaught that came the home sides way though. Some good work down the left from Miller seen him cross for Gardyne and the midfield man made no mistake, poking the ball into the top corner to give Ross County the lead.
A second was quick in coming too. As Kyle Jacobs tried to usher the ball out for a goal kick, Vigurs won it back and crossed for McMenamin to tap home and double the advantage. If that didn’t all but seal the game, a third goal just two minutes later certainly did. Vigurs one-two with Gardyne created a gap in the Livi backline and he fed the ball through to McMenamin to race clear and slide the ball past McNeil to ensure the three points were heading back to Dingwall.
Livi created one last chance in the hunt for a consolation goal with Bobby Barr and substitute Iain Russell linking well for Barr to rifle a shot goal wards but Fraser parried well to keep his clean sheet.
Boulding’s sending off proved to be a key factor in a disappointing day for the Lions as the unbeaten home record finally came to an end.
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