Latest News - Super Duper Match Report
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It was well published that Hibernian were the red hot favourites before the match, but the media again once again got it all wrong as the Lions tamed the young Hibernian side. No one had won a major trophy in Scotland since the Jambo’s beat Rangers way back in 1998, so with most of the British public watching the match live on Channel 5, this was a great platform for the Livingston & Hibs players to show the nation just exactly what they are made of.
The match started with a minute’s silence, players and supporters of both sides paying their respects to the 201 people that were killed by terrorists in last weeks bomb blasts in Madrid. Lets not talk about the small minority of Hibs supporters that nearly ruined the silence, they are nothing but scum, deserve to leave Hampden empty handed for disgracing themselves and their club.
David Fernandez and Derek Lilley kicked of the match, much to the delight of the 45,000 crowd. It was Hibs who had the first chance of the match when they won a corner after only 23 seconds. Kevin Thompson curled the ball in with his left foot, but Roddy McKenzie easily caught Murdock’s header back towards the Livi goal.
In the 15th minute, Kevin Thompson opened up the Livingston defence when he tried to find Brown racing through the middle of the park, but luckily for the Lions, Roddy McKenzie saw the danger, and headed the ball clear.
Two minutes later, Hibs were on the attack, and Reid found Riorden, who volleyed the ball towards the Livi goal, but again, McKenzie was the saviour, saving the ball with his legs. When you look at the replay, you actually see how lucky McKenzie was, because he tried to save the ball with his hands, but he missed it, and the ball got trapped between his legs as he tried to smother the ball.
A mistake by Derek Lilley in the 19th minute saw Hibs nearly take the lead. O’Brien found Lilley free in the centre circle, but the former Dundee United player tried to be too casual, but Roland Edge intercepted the ball and found Brown, who was through one on one with McKenzie, but just when it looked as if the Hibees where going to take the lead, the Livi goalie pulled off a spectacular save. The danger wasn’t over as Kevin Thomas picked up the loose ball, but Marvin Andrews was on hand to clear the ball off the line, and away from the danger area.
It tool Livingston all of 35 minutes to have a decent effort on target. Lee Makel found Derek Lilley on the right hand side, and the Livi striker tried to beat Andersson from 25 yards out, but his effort was easily saved by the Hibs goalkeeper.
In the 40th minute David Fernandez had a golden opportunity to open the scoring. McAllister picked Fernandez out with a terrific 40 yard pass, and the Spaniard got to the ball before Andersson, but Fernandez’ goal bound shot clipped the heel of the Hibs goalie, and sneaked just wide of the post. A great chance, and Livingston were now growing in confidence.
The half time whistle sounded, and it would be the Livingston players who would get an ear bashing after some sloppy first half performances.
With only two minutes of the second half gone, Hibernian had the best chance of the match. Thompson floated the ball into the front post, and Brown was unmarked with only the Livi keeper to beat, but the Hibs youngster misjudged the flight of the ball, and he completely missed the ball altogether. A let of for Livingston, but if you don’t take your chances, you know what happens.
In the 50th minute, Lee Makel brilliantly found Burton O’Brien at the back post, and O’Brien spotted Lilley making a near post run, and found the Livi forward with an inch perfect pass, and Lilley made no mistake in slotting the ball past Andersson to give the Lions a lead, that may have been against the run of play, but who cares.
The Livingston supporters were in heaven, singing, dancing, and mocking the plastic Hibs supporters who had turned up to watch their team get turned over by Livi once again.
In the 51st minute, David Fernandez picked up the ball just near the halfway line, and the Spaniard spotted Jamie McAllister making a lung bursting run down the middle of the park, and Fernandez played an inch perfect pass to the wing-back, who calmly side footed the ball past Andersson in the Hibs goal. It was a great decision by the ASSistant referee on the far side, who could have easily bottled it in front of the Hibs supporters, but he spotted that when Fernandez released the ball, McAllister was JUST inside his own half.
It was bedlam in the Livingston section at this point, and you could sense that this could be our day. The Hibs supporters were starting to get frustrated, and that wee animal Brown was getting more and more aggressive towards the Livingston players.
The Lions nearly made it three in the 54th minute. Lee Makel took a quick free kick, he found Fernandez on the left hand side, and the Spaniard eased his way past two Hibs players, and crossed the ball into the 6 yard box, where Derek Lilley missed the ball completely, but Rubio managed to get a toe to the ball, but he overstretched, and the ball went just wide of the Hibs goal.
Livingston were now piling on the pressure, and David McNamee should have done better with his chance on the 56th minute. Caldwell tried to be too causal with a pass, and McNamee nipped in before Thompson could get a hold of the ball, and the wing-back sprinted into the Hibs box, and despite him only having the keeper to beat, McNamee lifted the ball inches over the Hibs bar.
In the 78th minute, Hibs had a glorious chance when Riorden crossed the ball into the box, but McManus could only get the slightest of touches on the ball, and McKenzie easily gathered the ball. A minute later, Hibs nearly pegged a goal back when Dobbie got hold of the ball 40 yards out, he hit a screamer that beat Roddy McKenzie, but the ball just whizzed past the Livi goal. A near miss, and Hibs were getting closer and closer.
Scott McLaughlin replaced the injured David McNamee in the 80th minute.
Brown was deservedly booked for a shocking foul on Fernandez, and this player is one of the reasons Hibs lost the final. He is a player who would rather walk about acting like a hard man, than try and win the ball, and Fernandez and Makel really showed him up for being the clown that he is. Wrong attitude sonny boy, that’s why you lost and we won.
Fernandez was stretchered off in the 87th minute, to be replaced by Fernando Pasquinelli.
With a minute to go, Dobbie once again left McKenzie rooted to the spot, but his terrific effort went inches over the bar. A decent chance, but the Livi supporters were starting to get excited as the minutes ticked away.
In one minute of injury time, O’Brien was replaced by JP McGovern.
With 94 minutes and 58 seconds of the match played, referee Willie Young blew the full time whistle. The Livingston supporters were ecstatic, the players were ecstatic, and Davie Hay and the rest of the management team couldn’t hide their emotions.
It was and still is a fantastic time to be a Livingston supporter, I’m sorry about the delay in the match report, but its took me a few days to recover.
More reaction on the win and the party afterwards soon……
As a result of the Scottish Cup replay between Aberdeen and Livingston being played on Thursday 18 March, the match Livingston v Dundee United (originally scheduled for 16 March 2004) will now take place on Wednesday, 24 March with the unchanged kick-off time of 7.45pm.
Admission prices are £17 for adults and £10 for concessions (Over-65s and Under-16s).
It also looks as if the Aberdeen league match sceduled for the Saturday 20th of March will now be played on Sunday 21st with a 15:00 Kick Off.