Almondvale revamped despite Livingston crisis

Published on Tuesday 21 July 2009 09:46

ALMONDVALE Stadium will be made fit for football this week regardless of the expected administration of Livingston FC.

Work to comply with safety regulations was beginning today. Safety officers from West Lothian Council were supervising the work after being given the go-ahead following a financial agreement to resolve a dispute between the club and Scottish Power, which had cut the electricity supply after a debt of 32,000 was racked up.

The club had been supplying power via a generator while the dispute continued, but this did not comply with safety regulations and full power was re-supplied on Saturday.

However, the agreement came too late for last night's friendly against Plymouth Argyle to take place at Almondvale. The game was transferred to Bathgate's Creamery Park, but fans were then angered at the admission price.

One fan said: "To ask 16 of someone's well-earned money to watch a friendly when there will probably be lengthy delays as the ball gets kicked over a wall is a joke. No disrespect to Bathgate Thistle."

Livingston's first home fixture of the season is not until 15 August, against Queen of the South in the First Division. They kick-off their season on Saturday against Queen of the South in Dumfries in the first round of the Alba Challenge Cup.

A spokesman for the council said: "We are now carrying out work to comply with the safety certificate and make the ground safe to host football. A lot of the work could not be carried out until there was a electricity supply and this cannot be provided via a generator."

The Livingston players shrugged off the uncertainty regarding the club with a morale-boosting 2-1 victory over Paul Sturrock's visiting Pilgrims.

Around 200 Plymouth supporters made the long trip north to see their team in action.

For the opening 15 minutes, Livingston gave the Championship side too much respect but gradually they forced the play to the visiting defence and it was no surprise when they took the lead after 25 minutes.

Liam Fox fired over a dangerous cross to the back post. Plymouth's Christian Timar found himself on the wrong foot to clear and his effort slid over the line for an own goal.

Plymouth settled and eventually found their way to goal. Jason Puncheon hit a rasping drive which brought out the best in veteran keeper Roddy McKenzie as he tipped the ball one-handed over the bar.

Into the second half and Livingston soon found themselves two in front. In the 49th minute Tony McParland raced in on goal and slid his effort past the keeper for another well deserved goal.

Sturrock threw on his substitutes and they found their form, but McKenzie proved himself again with a series of fine saves and blocks. The Pilgrims did pull a goal back from the penalty spot in the 80th minute when former Dundee United and Motherwell player Jim Paterson went down in the box. Luke Summerfield stepped up and scored.

Livingston: McKenzie, Malone, Talbot, McDonald, Torrance, Trialist, Fox, Hamill, McParlane, Winters, Halliday. Subs: Jacobs, One, Sinclair, McKee, Hastings, Trialist, Trialist, Trialist.

Plymouth: Larrieu, Duguid, Sawyer, Summerfield, Timar, Barker, Clarke, Puncheon, Barnes, MacKie, Paterson. Subs: Saxton, Leonard, Seip, Doumbe, MacLean, Wright-Phillips, Fallon, Noone, McCrory.