Saturday 10th March 2012 – Greenock Morton FC 1-3 Livingston FC
A trip Cappielow was up next as the Lions looked to bounce back from the midweek defeat to Ayr with a first away victory of 2012.
John Hughes made three changes to his starting line-up. Injuries to Liam Fox and Stefan Scougall meant Iain Russell joined debutant Michael Scott in the first eleven alongside trialist Kevin McCann who was preferred at right back ahead of Ross Docherty.
Livi started brightly and the combination of McCann and Scott on the right looked dangerous from the off. The pair linked up excellently on the wing with Scott wriggling free into the middle and firing a shot goal wards that forced ex-Livi ‘keeper Colin Stewart into an excellent save.
Moments later though, Stewart didn’t cover himself in glory as the Lions took a fifth minute lead. Bobby Barr breezed past the challenge of Andrew Graham before pinging a pass into the path of Marc McNulty. As the young striker collected the ball, Stewart came out to narrow the angle but appeared to lose his footing, allowing McNulty to skip round him and pass the ball into the empty net for his 15th goal in all competitions this season.
Stewart was nearly at fault again as the Lions passed up a great opportunity for a quick second. A poor pass back from David O’Brien forced Stewart to race off his line again and this time Iain Russell got there before him but by the time he found Scott on the edge of the area, the Morton defence had got back and Peter Weatherson blocked the shot before Graham cleared.
The Lions were looking comfortable but much like the way the game went at Somerset Park a few weeks back, with only the one goal scored, Morton were still very much in the game. A corner kick was only half cleared by Keaghan Jacobs and when Paul Di Giacomo delivered another cross into the box, Peter MacDonald rose highest at the back post to nod in the equaliser.
It was a cruel blow for Livi who’d dominated the game up until now but with the equaliser behind them, Morton came forward more with Andrew Jackson seeing a shot deflect over the bar then Andy McNeill pulled off a brilliant save from MacDonald’s free kick.
However, the difference this time than from the previously mentioned Ayr game was that the Lions didn’t allow Morton time to properly settle into the match and went straight back on the hunt to regain the lead.
Iain Russell, starting his first match since the end of January, was relishing playing just behind McNulty and nearly grabbed a goal from a low, 30-yard strike but Stewart got down well to turn the ball behind. Stewart wasn’t to deny Russell with his next effort though as Livi restored the one goal advantage. An excellent pass from Scott sent McCann free down the right and he drove a wicked cross along the face of goal where Russell slid in to poke the ball past Stewart at his front post. Russell’s delight was clear for all to see with last season top-goalscorer having not netted since October last year.
Livi took the 2-1 lead into half time and after the players re-emerged for the second half, the small group of travelling fans only had to wait six minutes to celebrate the lead being extended. Bobby Barr’s corner was punched clear by Stewart but Jason Talbot got the ball under control and sent a cross back into the box where Craig Barr wrestled off the challenge of his marker to head the ball into the net.
That goal eased the pressure for the Lions and they began to play some free-flowing football. Talbot and Barr were causing havoc down the left hand side and twice combined to present Iain Russell and substitute Andy Russell with chances but Stewart made two good saves to prevent any further damage.
Jason Talbot then really should have put the game beyond doubt when he was gifted an opportunity from Stewart’s parried save but with the goal gaping, the left back somehow managed to rifle the ball high over the bar.
Morton did venture forward as time started to run out and Andy McNeil was twice needed to make top saves and keep the score at 3-1. O’Brien went on a mazy run, ghosting past Andy Russell, Kyle Jacobs and Keaghan Jacobs before hammering a shot at the top corner but McNeil pulled off a stunning one-hand save to push the ball out for a corner. Moments later, Fouad Bachirou played in Archie Campbell who fired goal wards but again, McNeil was equal to the shot and tipped the ball wide.
John Hughes brought on Ross Docherty into the midfield despite the youngster having played all his first-team football at right back and straight away he got stuck in, setting up a Livi attack. After dispossessing MacDonald, ‘Doc’ played the ball wide to Iain Russell who spearheaded a three on one Livi counter-attack. However, with a goal to his name already and confidence obviously running high, Russell opted to shoot and Stewart made the save when a pass to Andy Russell would have almost certainly seen a fourth Livi goal.
As the game drew to a close, Bobby Barr had one last chance to get on the score-sheet but he sent his shot over the bar from just outside the area meaning the Lions settled for a 3-1 victory and a first win on the road in 2012.
Free to view highlights courtesy of LIVItv are available here - http://www.livingstonfc.co.uk/livitv.php
No comments:
Post a Comment