Saturday 28th January 2012 – Ross County FC 3-0 Livingston FC
On the back of winning our first point of 2012 against Queen of the South, the long trip North to take on league leaders Ross County was next on the cards.
Gary Bollan, in what turned out to be his last match as boss, made three changes to the starting line-up as the Lions looked to end County’s impressive 13 match unbeaten run. Marc McNulty and Bobby Barr dropped to the bench while David Sinclair missed out completely as Kyle Jacobs, Stefan Scougall and Rory Boulding replaced them in the first eleven.
It was nearly a dreadful start for Livi, and particularly ‘keeper Andy McNeill as a fumbled cross landed nicely for Scott Boyd to knock home but the referee adjudged the defender to have impeded McNeill.
Straight away, the away side then had a goal of their own chalked off – this time for offside, with Russell latching on to Fox’s ball and lobbing Michael Fraser in the County goal.
Keaghan Jacobs and Maurice Ross then combined to create Livi’s best opportunity of the half. Jacobs latched on to a stray pass from Gary Miller and fed in Ross who screamed a low ball across the face of goal but Russell, despite his best efforts, couldn’t get there quick enough to convert the chance.
Livi were made to rue this miss as the home side took the lead on 28 minutes. A corner from Michael Gardyne was never properly dealt with and when Boyd’s flick fell to an unmarked Colin McMenamin at the back-post, the ex-Lion made no mistake in firing across McNeill and into the net.
Before half time, Bollan was forced into a change with Jason Talbot requiring hospital treatment and resultantly being replaced by Bobby Barr. This seen Kyle Jacobs drop back into defence with Barr heading for the wing.
The second half began in an even fashion with both teams passing up chances. Gardyne done well to present Iain Vigurs with a shooting opportunity but his effort was easily saved by McNeill. Moments later, Vigurs was again teed up for a shot, this time by Kettlewell but on this occasion, he sent the ball wide of the post with McNeill at full stretch.
Livingston twice went close down the other end, firstly with Boulding seeing his shot blocked and deflect wide after a brilliant run from Barr then Russell shot straight at Fraser after collecting Boulding’s flick on.
The Livi defence was slowly finding itself under more and more pressure as County drove forward trying to seal the win. Richie Brittain should have done better after finding himself one-on-one with McNeill but he shot straight at the ‘keeper when either side of him would have been a certain goal. Substitute Marc Corcoran was next to test the Livi number one but his curling effort was excellently tipped over the bar.
It was no surprise when this pressure did eventually lead to goal number two for County. Grant Munro headed Brittain’s corner back across goal and despite McNeill pulling off yet another excellent stop, he could only parry the ball into the path of McMenamin who volleyed home from close range.
Minutes later, Corcoran wasted a great opportunity to make it three when he fired over the bar after some good work to beat both Kyle and Keaghan Jacobs. Kettlewell was next to try and put the icing on the cake but he shot straight at McNeill after some good build up play from Brittain, Corcoran and Morrison.
With County’s next attack though, the third goal did come and it was another ex-Livi boy who sealed the win. Stevie Craig chested a long clearance to Vigurs and he slipped a ball through the Livi back-line where Sam Morrow was able to race clear and fire his shot beyond McNeill and into the corner.
It was a goal that that had been a long time coming and confirmed our second consecutive 3-0 away defeat.
Highlights can be viewed here - http://www.livingstonfc.co.uk/livitv.php
The second half began in an even fashion with both teams passing up chances. Gardyne done well to present Iain Vigurs with a shooting opportunity but his effort was easily saved by McNeill. Moments later, Vigurs was again teed up for a shot, this time by Kettlewell but on this occasion, he sent the ball wide of the post with McNeill at full stretch.
Livingston twice went close down the other end, firstly with Boulding seeing his shot blocked and deflect wide after a brilliant run from Barr then Russell shot straight at Fraser after collecting Boulding’s flick on.
The Livi defence was slowly finding itself under more and more pressure as County drove forward trying to seal the win. Richie Brittain should have done better after finding himself one-on-one with McNeill but he shot straight at the ‘keeper when either side of him would have been a certain goal. Substitute Marc Corcoran was next to test the Livi number one but his curling effort was excellently tipped over the bar.
It was no surprise when this pressure did eventually lead to goal number two for County. Grant Munro headed Brittain’s corner back across goal and despite McNeill pulling off yet another excellent stop, he could only parry the ball into the path of McMenamin who volleyed home from close range.
Minutes later, Corcoran wasted a great opportunity to make it three when he fired over the bar after some good work to beat both Kyle and Keaghan Jacobs. Kettlewell was next to try and put the icing on the cake but he shot straight at McNeill after some good build up play from Brittain, Corcoran and Morrison.
With County’s next attack though, the third goal did come and it was another ex-Livi boy who sealed the win. Stevie Craig chested a long clearance to Vigurs and he slipped a ball through the Livi back-line where Sam Morrow was able to race clear and fire his shot beyond McNeill and into the corner.
It was a goal that that had been a long time coming and confirmed our second consecutive 3-0 away defeat.
Highlights can be viewed here - http://www.livingstonfc.co.uk/livitv.php
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