Livingston and Clyde Cup epic heads for fifth match

Dec 17 2009 by Eric MacKinnon, West Lothian Courier

RAFFAELE DE VITA admits he could have spared Livingston a fifth Scottish Cup clash with Clyde after missing a golden chance in the last minute at Broadwood last week when the normally deadly striker smacked the base of the post.

De Vita had the away fans on their feet when he scampered in goal but the Italian insists Clyde keeper Callum Reidford got a touch on it.

He said: “I thought it was in but their keeper got a faint touch and put it onto the post.”

Thick fog saw clashes abandoned twice, with Livingston leading in both, while one was postponed due to frost.

This time although Mother Nature smiled on Broadwood and the game lasted the full 90 minutes, the sides shared a goal apiece.

Joe Hamill had given the visitors the lead three minutes into the second-half with a piece of outrageous skill.

Robbie Winters’ cross looked to be at an awkward height for the midfielder who was in full flight but he produced a stunning back-heel flick with his trailing leg to send the ball into the bottom corner.

But Clyde pulled level on 63 minutes when Alan Lithgow powered a header home at the back post.

Both sides had plenty chances with the best falling to Livi sub De Vita.

The West Lothian club also played more than half the match a man down following stopper Ewan Moyes’ first-half dismissal

Livingston boss Gary Bollan said: “The game was fairly even and we knew it would be difficult after we went down to ten men.

“So I have to pay credit to my players for battling for the best part of an hour a man down.”

Courier Man of the Match: Danny Griffin.

Livingston: McKenzie, Moyes, MacDonald, Griffin, Talbot, Keaghan Jacobs, Hamill (Fox), Sinclair, Halliday, R Winters (Watson), D Winters (De Vita). Subs: McDowall, Malone.