Rampant Lions are back in hunt for championship

Mar 19 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

Rampant Lions are back in hunt for championship

Livingston 1 St Johnstone 0

THE First Division title pendulum has swung again giving Livingston renewed hope they can pip long-time leaders St Johnstone in the race to the SPL.

Livi’s Lions stunned the Saints on Saturday to blow the championship wide open again with Leigh Griffiths’ 18th goal of the season proving the difference between the sides.

St Johnstone had swaggered into Almondvale with promotion firmly in their sights and an unbeaten run of 23 games but they returned up the M9 empty handed after a master-class from Paul Hegarty’s side.

There are only seven points between Saints and Livi although the former do have the luxury of a game in hand.

But there is no guarantee the Perth side will increase their lead as they have dropped 23 points in their last 15 outings given Livingston and the rest of the chasing pack renewed hope going into the final eight games.

The win gave the home crowd the perfect result to honour the fifth anniversary of their proudest occasion — the CIS Cup triumph against Hibs in 2004.

The game’s deciding moment came 12 minutes before the break when Griffiths spun Saints stopper Stuart McCaffrey to race onto Rafa De Vita’s flick on and sent a dipping drive over Allan Main from 18 yards.

It was the 18 year olds 18th goal of a prolific season and he will surely be the subject of transfer interest this summer.

Joe Hamill went close to doubling the hosts’ lead with a low drive which shaved the outside of the post.

St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes brought Derek Holmes at the break and he had his side’s first genuine effort on goal when his flicked header dropped onto the roof the Livi net.

At the other end Griffiths forced a save from Main with a stinging drive while Armand One should have sealed the points when he was put through one on one but Main again came to the rescue of the league leaders.

It was a miss which almost came back to haunt One and Livi when Holmes had a free header in the middle of the six yard box but fortunately for the county club Holmes screwed Liam Craig’s cross over the bar.

Livingston: Roddy McKenzie, Cameron MacDonald, Chris Innes, Danny Griffin, Chris Malone, Tony McParland, Murray Davidson, Joe Hamill, David Winters, Leigh Griffiths, Rafaelle De Vita. Subs not used: Pierre Martini.