GARY BOLLAN was just beginning to become familiar with the feeling of silverware in his hands.
GARY BOLLAN was just beginning to become familiar with the feeling of silverware in his hands.
The Livingston manager held the third division trophy aloft in 2010, his side having amassed a commendable 78 points, before earning even more plaudits by guiding the West Lothian club to yet another championship earlier this year.
Claiming the Ramsdens Cup, however, will have to wait. Hamilton Academical, courtesy of this slender victory, have ensured that their opponents will not be adding any more prizes to their cabinet in April, when the final of the competition is due to take place. In many ways, though, this result came as a little bit of a shock.
Since their demotion to the lowest tier of Scottish football, Livingston have surprised many supporters in their newly-found role as something of a resilient force. Aggrieved at what they believed to be an overzealous punishment, the club assumed a siege mentality and took a colossal gamble by opting to retain their full-time status.
The risk most certainly paid off. In two years, they achieved the same number of promotions and lost just 10 league games in the process. Iain Russell also became their most prolific goalscorer across the space of a single season -- finding the back of the net on 24 occasions last campaign.
Yet in Hamilton, Bollan’s side were facing opposition which had spent the past three years fighting it out in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League. Billy Reid, the New Douglas Park manager, has instilled a never-say-die attitude throughout his team, and they were the first to threaten as the game got underway.
Ali Crawford registered the earliest attempt, sending a rasping half-volley narrowly past Andy McNeil’s right-hand post, before Dougie Imrie tested the Livingston goalkeeper once more with a thunderous drive from the edge of the area.
The visitors soon responded with several efforts of their own. A fine run from Stefan Scougall was thwarted by Tomas Cerny in the Hamilton goal and Mark McLaughlin also denied Russell with a well-timed challenge.
Moments later, the veteran defender quickly galloped up the park to connect perfectly with Martin Canning’s knock down to open the scoring.
It was somewhat ironic, however, that the loudest cheer of the first half was still reserved for Bollan himself. In a manic rush to resume play, the manager slipped on to his backside.
The 38-year-old took the mishap in good spirit, but it remained no laughing matter for a number of the frustrated visiting fans.
Livingston pride themselves on being a progressive club, one which rarely allows itself to rest on their laurels, and this was definitely a tournament which they dearly wanted to win. The wait will have to go on for at least another year, however, as the hosts survived a late onslaught to ensure a place in the final.
“It’s a massive disappointment,” said Bollan. “It’s not very often in players’ careers that finals come along, but we had a great chance to get to one.
“Unfortunately, we weren’t able to grasp the opportunity and now we’ve gone out. Iain missed a few chances, which is unusual for him because he’s Mr Consistent and a natural goalscorer. I’ll have a word with him as he’s in the dressing room devastated.”
His Hamilton counterpart Reid admitted that his team were fortunate to keep a clean sheet.
“Russell was on top of us and should have punished us once or twice,” said the Hamilton manager. “I can’t have any complaints, though, as we’re delighted to be in the final. It will be a great day for the fans and it’s one we’re really looking forward to.”
Scorer: McLaughlin (43)
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