Livingston 2 Hibernian 1
Tuesday 5^th July 2011

Garry O'Connor scored his second goal in as many games this evening but it was not enough to prevent Hibernian from slipping to defeat against First Division Livingston.

In a game of two halves, Hibernian completely dominated the second period after a lethargic first and created enough opportunities to win a handful of games.

Livingston opened the scoring before some supporters were in their seats when Kenny Deuchar glanced a header into the Hibernian net after just 50 seconds.

Iain Russell made it 2-0 after a half hour with a sensational drive before O'Connor pulled a goal back shortly after the interval.

David Crawford and David Wotherspoon both struck the woodwork as the Edinburgh men piled on the pressure looking for an equaliser which would prove evasive.

The home side started brightly and were in front inside the first minute as Deuchar guided Keagahan Jacobs cross beyond Mark Brown for an early breakthrough.

Soon after there was almost a comical own goal from the visitors when David Stephens attempted to head back to Brown only to loop the ball high over his goalkeeper and fortunately the crossbar too.

Just before the half-hour mark Livingston doubled their lead in spectacular fashion when Iain Russell curled an exquisite effort into the top right hand corner of the net from 25-yards.

Ivan Sproule had the chance to quickly pull a goal back when he was sent through on goal however his shot was blocked by the legs of Tony Bullock.

It should have been 3-0when substitute Stephen Scougall's cut back found Liam Fox unmarked inside the penalty area, but with the goal gaping he blazed his effort high over the crossbar.

Hibernian made four changes at the interval and returned for the second half full of fighting spirit.

They bombarded the Livingston defence, winning a series of corner kicks and putting the home side under tremendous pressure.

O'Connor went close to pulling goal back when he pounced on a slack clearance from Jacbos only for Bullock to bravely block.

Paul Hanlon and Callum Booth both had efforts at goal before Hibs pressure eventually paid off.

Booth threaded the ball wide left to Daniel Galbraith and his first time cross was directed into the back of the net by the head of O'Connor.

Hibernian introduced youngster Crawford for Sproule on 62 minutes and within 30 seconds his cross-cum-shot had looped over Bullock and off the top of the crossbar.

Another substitute, Livingston's Marc McNulty, then had a fierce drive at goal that Brown gathered at the second attempt as the home side made a rare voyage forward.

Play was soon at the other end of the park once more and yet again the woodwork came to Livingston's rescue.

Wotherspoon cut inside from the right wing onto his left foot and his powerful drive flew past the diving Bullock before striking the post and rebounding to safety.

In the closing minutes, as Hibernian pushed hard for an equalizer, McNulty twice exposed gaps in the visitors' defence to test Brown.

Akpo Sodje twice had glorious opportunities to level in the dying seconds however he couldn't take either and Livingston held on to claim the win.

Livingston: Bullock; Trialist (MacDonald 56'), Talbot, Jacobs (Cummings 74'), Barr, Watson, Fox (Jacobs 46'), Sinclair (Gray 78'), Deuchar (McNulty 62'), Russell (Trialist 46'), Barr (Scougall 30').Subs: Jacobs, McNulty, MacDonald, Scougall, Jamieson, Cummings, Trialist, Trailist, Gray, Turner

Hibernian: Brown, Hart (Taggart 34'), Stephens (Palsson 46'), Hanlon, Smith (Booth 46'), Sproule (Crawford 62'), Scott (Thornhill 37'), Murray (Stevenson 46'), Galbraith (Horner 68'), Sodje, O'Connor (Wotherspoon 62').Subs: Antell, Booth, Taggart, Palsson, Wotherspoon, Stevenson, Thornhill, Horner, Crawford.

Referee: William Collum.

Attendance: 2,213.