Accies went down by two second half Robert Snodgrass goals at Almondvale on Saturday. Manager Billy Reid fielded the same side that defeated Stirling Albion a week earlier, but this performance was well below the standard set at Forthbank. Accies still lead the league, but the margin has been cut down to just goal difference.
Livingston 2 Hamilton Accies 0
Almondvale Stadium, Livingston
Saturday, 8th December 2007
Irn Bru League Division 1
Accies saw their lead at the top of the table cut to the slenderest of margins when they went down to this defeat at Almondvale. Billy Reid fielded the team that had gathered the points at Forthbank 7 days earlier, but there was never much danger of a repeat of he game against Livingston. Apart from a spell early in the game and also towards the end, it was the home side that looked better in all departments and their performance really belied their mediocre league position.
In the first half, Accies started the game quite well but struggled to make any chances to threaten Colin Stewart's goal. The home side on the other hand had several good efforts on target but were thwarted by the good form of Bryn Halliwell in the Accies goal. One save in particular from a direct free kick, was excellent. Accies did manage only a couple of attacks worthy of comment, with Mark Gilhaney unable to get a shot on target from close range. At the break, it was clear that the home side deserved to be ahead and that they were coping better with the cold, wet conditions.
However, things were to go badly wrong for Accies not long after the break when Robert Snodgrass shot home from 15 yards after good work down the right wing by the excellent Graham Dorrans. The Accies defence was caught in disarray and Snodgrass had plenty of room to make his shot. Accies tried to get back into the game but things just didn't go their way. Snodgrass came close to grabbing a second goal but his low shot hit the foot of Bryn Halliwell's post. Richard Offiong sent over an excellent cross that took Mark Gilhaney by surprise and he was unable to capitalise.
Billy Reid then made a couple of changes, with Brian Wake replacing Roman Wallner and David Graham coming on for Mark Gilhaney. The second change came just after Robert Snodgrass had sealed the game with a magnificent second goal. He cut inside the Accies defence onto his right foot before unleashing a piledriver of a shot that flew into the top corner. Accies upped their game after this and Roman Wallner had three free kicks that were all blocked by the defensive wall. The home side lost their discipline for a few minutes and no fewer than 4 of their team were yellow carded by Alan Freeland for a variety of offences (as was Simon Mensing near the end.)
However, despite their efforts there was to be no way back into the game for Accies and the home side ran out well deserved winners.
Livingston: Stewart, MacKay, James, Makel (Fox 86), McCaffrey, Raliukonis, Dorrans, Kennedy, McMenamin (Craig 86), Pesir, Snodgrass (Jacobs 86). Subs Not Used: MacDonald, Liberda.
Booked: Makel, McMenamin, Dorrans, Pesir.
Goals: Snodgrass 52, 72.
Hamilton Accies: Halliwell, Mensing, Easton, McCarthy, Swailes, McLaughlin, Wallner (Wake 68), McArthur, Offiong, Neil, Gilhaney (Graham 72). Subs Not Used: Winters, Gibson, Cerny.
Booked: Mensing.
Att: 1,618
Ref: A Freeland
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