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Tuesday January 14, 2025

William Hill Championship

Livingston

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2-1

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Lewis Strapp og 5
Robbie Fraser 59

Airdrieonians

Chris Mochrie 13

Lineups
Results
Table

A repeat of September’s scoreline at the Home of the Set Fare Arena saw Livingston claim all three points despite Chris Mochrie’s tidy finish.

There was a first start for new signing Lewis Strapp at the left of Airdrie’s back three, while Ricco Diack was named among the substitutes after joining earlier in the day.

The Diamonds defence, marshalled by player-manager Rhys McCabe, stood strong as Livingston showed their attacking intent in the opening minutes, with Airdrie retaliating through Ben Wilson who sent a fourth-minute effort over the top as he stretched to meet Mason Hancock’s cross.

A minute later the home side took the lead, and it was the unfortunate Strapp who turned past Kieran Wright after Colombian winger Cristian Montaño had sent a low ball across goal.

Airdrie responded positively, Mochrie’s sixth-minute cross hacked away before Livingston had a second “goal” disallowed for a foul on Wright.

Mochrie showed great awareness on 11 minutes, turning on a headed pass and splitting the defence with a through ball for Wilson, whose left-footed effort was saved by Jérôme Prior.

Airdrie were not to be denied much longer though, and with 13 minutes on the clock Mochrie slammed home the equaliser from the corner of the six-yard box after a strong challenge and clever pass from Adam Frizzell.

Craig Watson blocked a Stephen Kelly effort as Livingston attempted to regain their lead, and Frizzell was unlucky to slip at an inopportune moment after exchanging passes with Dylan MacDonald on 24 minutes.

Strapp headed clear as the home side threatened again a minute later, and Kelly saw an effort deflected wide just after the half-hour mark.

McCabe blocked well from the dangerous Montaño on 37 minutes, Robbie Muirhead sending the loose ball well over the bar.

Strapp’s debut ended in agony with 42 minutes on the clock, the defender being hauled down in a tussle with Muirhead, and the knee of McCabe making a sickening connection with his team-mate as he raced in to clear.

Lengthy treatment on the pitch was followed by the Strapp’s withdrawal on a stretcher wearing a neck-brace, but thankfully the new Diamond re-emerged at half-time and crossed the pitch unaided.

Deep into first half stoppage-time a superb Wright save kept the score level as a thunderous near-post effort almost caught the keeper unsighted, and at the opposite end Prior was called into action as Danny Wilson almost turned Ben Wilson’s cross into his own net.

The second half saw a change of shape for Airdrie, Lewis McGrattan replacing McCabe alongside the earlier substitution of Strapp for Sam Graham.

Graham and MacDonald were on hand early in the half as Livingston pressed again, with May penalised for clattering Wright as he looked to take advantage of a short passback.

McGrattan and Frizzell combined well as Airdrie retaliated, but there was no way past the home defence as a 53rd-minute corner somehow stayed out amid a mass of swinging boots on the goal-line.

Brandon intercepted Frizzell’s promising pass for Wilson four minutes later, with the Diamonds skipper then putting too much on his delivery after doing well to find space.

Just before the hour-mark Livingston went back in front, Rangers loanee Robbie Fraser finding space on the left and driving into the box before slamming home from close range.

Graham blocked well from Pittman five minutes later, and there was a 69th-minute debut for Diack, who came off the bench to replace Mochrie.

A scrappy period followed as a flurry of substitutions and bookings interrupted play.

Diack’s first sight of goal came with seven minutes remaining, his netbound effort blocked by a lunging defender with shouts of handball summarily ignored.

Fellow substitute Lewis McGregor saw an 87th-minute effort deflected wide before the game fizzled out, and Airdrie were once again defeated by Livingston in a tie which could have gone either way.

A break from league duties follows for the Diamonds, with next week’s trip to Dumbarton in the fourth round of the Scottish Gas Men’s Scottish Cup.

Stuart Mathie at The Home of the Set Fare Arena.

Photos © Redacted Media. Click to view full-size.

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