Hamilton teenager Kyle Munro has a debut to remember with winner at Livingston

David Templeton key to Accies victory

Hamilton academy graduate and matchwinner Kyle Munro celebrates with academy head coach, George Cairns after the win over Livingston. Picture: Paul Devlin / SNS

It was a full debut to remember for Hamilton teenager Kyle Munro as he secured an unlikely victory for the Accies.

The 18-year-old was handed his maiden start against Livingston, replacing the suspended Scott McMann, and capped a superb showing with a clinical late header in a 2-1 win.

Brian Rice, the Hamilton manager, is adamant he had no fears about pitching Munro into the Lions’ den – and was delighted that he was the man on the end of David Templeton’s delivery in the dying embers.

“Kyle did well on what was his full debut,” Rice said. “He’s very quiet, doesn’t say too much, but I know he can head the ball – and I was hoping it was him coming in at the end!

“It’s absolutely fantastic for anyone to score a winner, but to do it on your full league debut is something the kid will never forget.

“These kids here are ready to go. They were waiting their turn and you can see they can play.”

While Munro, pictured, will hog the headlines, Templeton was the man-of-the-match, cancelling out Shaun Want’s early own goal, teeing up the dramatic late winner and proving generally irrepressible in the No.10 role.

“David is a match winner and he changes games,” added Rice. “He’s a huge asset for us and you saw that today with his goal and assist, but he needs other players working hard for him because he’s not getting any younger.”

Their second win of the season saw Hamilton leapfrog Livi and into ninth spot. It was an outcome which appeared unlikely after 29 seconds when Livingston’s Lars Lokotsch linked up with Alan Forrest, sending the winger scampering into the box. His low cross was turned in via a combination of Scott Pittman and sliding Accies skipper Want.

The home side dominated the first half but Rice’s charges were a different team in the second period and swiftly levelled through that man Templeton before Munro had the final say.