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The Lions couldn’t have asked for a better start, David Fernandez picked the ball up just outside the box, and the supporters screamed for him to cross the ball into the box, but the Spaniard found Jamie McAllister, who hit the ball with force, and his 25 yard screamer hit the roof of the net much to the delight of the Livi faithful. It was a stunning strike, and Motherwell keeper Gordon Marshall never even stood a chance.
The Lions were well on top during the opening half hour, and Lee Makel should have doubled Livi’s lead in the 28th minute. David Fernandez found Lee Makel racing into the box, but the midfielder hesitated, and his effort went wide of Marshall’s goal. A decent chance, and it should have been a second for Livi.
Two minutes later, the Lions did double their lead. David Fernandez again split the Motherwell defence wide open, and found Derek Lilley who brilliantly curled his shot past just inside the keepers left hand post. A great move, and great finishing, and Lilley celebrated in front of the hooligans in section Z :o)
Livingston were well in control of the match, and the only way Motherwell could reply, was with dodgy tackles, and with their thugs trying their best to crock David Fernandez.
Fernandez had a golden opportunity to score the third ten minutes before half time when he found himself through one-on-one with Marshall in the Well goal, but despite Fernandez showing his dancing skills in trying to round the keeper, Marshall kept his eye on the ball, and when Fernandez tried to knock the ball past him, the keeper brilliantly saved and the Spaniards feet.
Four minutes, Fernandez had another chance but he misjudged Derek Lilley’s perfect cross, and his attempted scissor-kick never troubled Marshall.
Alex Burns had a chance for Motherwell when Rubio gave away a free kick outside the Livi box, but the former Livingston player curled his shot just wide of McKenzie’s right hand post.
Livingston did get that all-important third, and it was David Fernandez who was rewarded after all his hard work. Lee Makel fed the ball trough to Fernandez, who sprinted clear of the Motherwell defence, and Fernandez touched the ball past Marshall and slotted the ball home from a tight angle.
The Motherwell players must have got a kick up the backside from Terry Butcher at halftime. The visitors had a glorious chance in the 50th minute when David Clarkson found himself free in the Livi box, but his goal bound shot was brilliantly turned round the post by McKenzie. A let off for the Lions, but McKenzie showed us once again why he is Livi’s number one goalie.
The Livingston players were still getting disgraceful treatment from the Motherwell players, but unbelievably, the referee, Alan Freeland was more interested in booking players for silly tackles rather than punishing the more serious ones. Fernandez was running rings round Adams and Lasley in the Well midfield much to the delight of the Livi supporters.
On the half hour mark, Motherwell should have got on the scoresheet when Jason Dair played the ball to Keith Lasley who easily lost Livi sub McLaughlin but the Motherwell midfielder sliced his shot well over McKenzie’s bar. Another near miss, and young McLaughlin should hopefully learn from this mistake.
With ten minutes remaining, Marvin Andrews had a chance to grab a fourth for the Lions, but his header once again landed at the wrong side of the post.
It looked as if Livi were going to keep a clean sheet, but the referee had other ideas, and made a decision in the 90th minute that stunned everyone in the crowd. The ball was crossed over into the Livi box, and the ref blew for a penalty, indicating that Rubio had fouled Motherwell substitute Kenny Wright. There was no point in arguing, the referee had made his decision, and he wasn’t going to change it.
Adams stepped up and took the penalty, and although McKenzie saved his shot, Adams scored from the rebound.