Damage in the Box!: LIVINGSTON (Almondvale Stadium)

For the second weekend in succession I was in Scotland for another opening round of a domestic cup competition. This week though the train took the strain as the destination was the 'new' town of Livingston.

The football team, who previously went by the name Meadowbank Thistle, were re-located here, from Edinburgh, in 1996. What followed was a rollercoaster ride of promotions, demotions and near bankruptcy, but the club survived and are now working their way back up.

They have now returned to the First Division of the Scottish League and today were taking on newly promoted Arbroath, who are now in the Second Division in the 1st round of the League Cup, now sponsored by the Scottish Government.

The game was effectively over as a contest inside 7 minutes when Rory Boulding gave Livi the lead after just 90 seconds. Ian Russell added two more goals (7 & 23) before Keaghan Jacobs made it 4-0 just after the half hour. I was expecting a cricket score, but the Red Lichties did keep going and had two great chances to reduce the deficit but the home goalkeeper Andy McNeill was in inspired form and pulled of two magnificent saves.

The second half was not as intense, but Livi added two further goals through Jason Talbot (66) and Marc McNulty (72). Arbroath's misery was compounded when Steven Doris was given a straight red card for a lunge on Jacobs, which saw the Livi man stretchered off. There was no man advantage for Livi though as they too went down to ten men as all the subs had already been used.

The Almondvale stadium is a functional new build ground and, believe me, a fair walk from either train station but I did leave the ground with a happy memory as I managed to win 3rd prize in the half time draw, so I am now the proud owner of a Livingston scarf!!