No Livi-ing with them as Accies run riot

Apr 12 2007

HAMILTON demolished dismal Livingston on Saturday in what was as comfortable a victory as you’ll get in the First Division.

Livingston can count themselves lucky they weren’t dumped 5-0 — or worse — such was Hamilton’s superiority.

Livi offered so little to this game that their own supporters blasted the side, with chants of ‘you’re not fit to wear the shirt’.

Captain Lee Makel let his side down for the second successive match against Accies, when two incredibly stupid second-half bookings saw him sent off with two minutes left.

Stuart Golabek had already limped off by that point and with all three subs committed, Livingston ended the game with nine men — not that it mattered.

This was an afternoon to forget for all connected with Livingston, but take nothing away from Hamilton who were simply sensational.

Top scorer Richard Offiong took his tally to 15, in between strikes by David Elebert and David Winters — who was given the nod even though it looked more likely that Golabek had put through his own goal.

Boss Billy Reid made four changes from the side that drew with Queen of the South in midweek, with James McCarthy, Winters, Offiong and Mark Gilhaney replacing James Gibson, Marvyn Wilson, Brian Wake and Paul McLeod.

Accies carved the first opening in two minutes when Offiong won a corner on the right, which was taken by captain Alex Neil and glanced past the far post by Chris Swailes.

Four minutes later Neil’s free-kick on the left was headed over by Elebert from six yards.

Livingston didn’t learn from that let-off and in 13 minutes Neil’s free-kick from the left was this time met by Elebert, who powerfully headed past keeper Colin Stewart from close range for his fifth goal of the season — not bad for a defender.

In 17 minutes Offiong was sent down the right at the same time as Winters made a lung-bursting run through the middle, but the Englishman opted to send a curling shot well wide of the near post, rather than pass — and Winters let him know about it.

Six minutes later James McArthur’s chip towards the left post, and Offiong, was well headed away by James McPake before the striker could make contact.

Accies were desperately unlucky not to have doubled their lead in 25 minutes when a delightful ball by Parratt sent Winters through on the right, he drew Stewart, but clipped his shot inches wide of the far post.

However, Hamilton made it 2-0 just three minutes later when a neat one-two between Offiong and McCarthy sent the young midfielder to the right by-line and his cross was rammed past Stewart by the big striker from six yards.

Hamilton could have increased their lead in 40 minutes after a powerful McCarthy drive was spilled by Stewart into the path of McArthur, but the keeper bravely saved at his feet.

James Gibson was pitched in as a half-time replacement for Elebert, who had picked up a knock.

Neil Teggart was withdrawn by Livingston in 51 minutes, and probably for his own good — the striker was fortunate to have received just one booking by that point.

Hamilton grabbed their third goal in 52 minutes when Mark Gilhaney darted down the left touchline and his deep cross was sent ripping into the top left corner by a combination of David Winters and defender Stuart Golabek.

Either way, Winters was officially credited with the goal afterwards, number six of a good campaign for the striker.

With the game firmly wrapped up, and having picked up a knee injury, McArthur was taken off as a precaution and replaced by Wilson in 56 minutes.

Livingston were reduced to 10 men in 70 minutes when Golabek limped off, with all three subs already used.

Livingston registered their sole shot on target in 73 minutes when sub Steven Craig had a powerful six-yard drive well parried by keeper Sean Murdoch, before it was cleared.

Having made a scoring return following his two-match suspension, Offiong deservedly received a standing ovation when replaced by Brian Wake in 78 minutes.

Hamilton should have punished their visitors further in 82 minutes when Gilhaney’s cross from the left was met with a smashing volley by Winters, but Stewart brilliantly parried it and a defender was able to clear from Wake, who had taken a fresh-air swipe at the rebound.