Hamilton Academical 1 - 0 Livingston

McLaughlin headed in just before half-time and only minutes after rescuing his side with a despairing sliding tackle on the head-bandaged Iain Russell, who had an unfortunate afternoon in front of goal.

New Douglas Park boss Billy Reid, who guided his side to their last Challenge Cup Final six years ago, said: “We had chances and Livingston had chances but big Mark popped up with the winner. To score five times in eight games is a great return for a centre-half. He deserves it as he is always putting his head in where it hurts. The final goes on a back burner now and it is back to concentrating on the league.”

Livingston lost Kyle Jacobs after 18 minutes to a head injury following an aerial joust with Dougie Imrie ten minutes earlier. However, they were the better side in the opening half-hour and could have opened the scoring when Stefan Scougall slalomed through the home defence, but Tomas Cerny raced from his goalline to deny the youngster.

The home side continued to dither in defence and Martin Canning’s header back to his goalkeeper fell short and McLaughlin slide in heroically to deny Russell.

The home side broke the deadlock after a Jim McAlister drive had been finger-tipped past the post by Andy McNeil. Imrie swung over the corner to the back post where Canning headed back into the six-yard box and McLaughlin arrived right on cue to thump home with his head.

Kenny Deuchar sent a header over as the second half was getting warmed up and Livingston came even closer on 65 minutes when Russell shrugged off the attentions of McLaughlin before cracking a drive off a post and just seconds later Cerny saved again from the Lions’ striker.

The crowd in the Lanarkshire ground fell silent in the final minute as Russell broke through on goal without a defender in sight, but the striker lofted the ball over Cerny and the bar.

Livingston manager Gary Bollan said: “The players are really down as cup final appearances do not come along too often. We created chances, and Iain is pretty devastated, but today was not like him as he is usually our Mr Reliable in front of goal.”

Hamilton: Cerny, McAlister, Hendrie, Canning, Mensing, McLaughlin (Chambers 73), Imrie, Gordon, Lyle (Spence 76), Ryan (Paterson 73), Crawford. Subs not used: Hutton, Anderson

Livingston: McNeil, Jacobs (Docherty 18), Talbot, Sinclair, C Barr, Watson, Fox (Boulding 82), Scougall, Deuchar (McNulty 68), Russell, R Barr. Subs not used: Jamieson, Brown

Referee: C Richmond.

Attendance: 1,418