Lions roar against Diamonds but fail to find a route to goal

Nov 13 2008 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Lions roar against Diamonds but fail to find a route to goal

LIVINGSTON huffed and puffed but simply couldn’t blow the Airdrie United house down at New Broomfield on Saturday.

The Lions completely dominated but missed a hatful of chances and found Diamonds keeper Stephen Robertson in unbeatable form.

Their preparations for the match were disrupted when teen striker Leigh Griffiths was ruled out, following an injury suffered in training the day before, and they missed his eye for goal as they were held to a draw.

A tepid first half finally burst into life just after the half hour when Livi had the ball in the net but Callum Elliot joy was shortlived when he noticed the assistant referee signalling for offside.

Airdrie followed suit and had a goal chalked off for the same reason with Simon Lynch this time guilty of mistiming his run.

Chris Innes crashed a powerful header off the crossbar as Livi began to dominate.

Elliot should have fired the visitors in front after being played clean through on goal but Robertson made raced off his line and made a brave block.

Rocco Quinn and Tony McParland both went close from distance and Joe Hamill forced a save from a curling free kick.

In the end the West Lothian side had to settle for a share of the spoils and with league leaders St Johnhstone winning it saw Livi slip four points behind in the title race.

Airdrie boss Kenny Black admitted his side had been second best.

He said: “That was the worst we have performed for some time.

“I hope my team did not have the Challenge Cup final at the back of their minds because on that showing some of them might not get a game this comingweekend.”

Livingston: McKenzie, Mackay, Talbot, McPake, Fox, Innes, McParland, Davidson, Elliot, Quinn (Miller 83), Hamill. Subs not used: McDonald, Smith, Cave, Martini.