Livingston 1-3 Hamilton

Apr 13 2008 Rob Fairburn At Almondvale

RED-HOT Richard Offiong put Accies' champagne on ice as he fired them within three points of the SPL.

Offiong eased the leaders' nerves with his 20th strike of the season before James McArthur and Simon Mensing struck to seal an easy win.

Billy Reid's side will be promoted if they beat Clyde at home on Saturday and Offiong can't wait for the big day.

He said: "It will be a huge occasion and we are all looking forward to it.

"I had a few friends up from London and they will be up next week to hopefully see us win the league.

"The three points were the important thing but I was delighted with my goal because I haven't scored for a while.

"When we came here earlier this season we lost so we knew it wouldn't be easy.

"There may have been a slight deflection for my goal but it was definitely mine."

Accies were on top in the opening stages but took 25 minutes to break the deadlock.

Alex Neil charged through the middle and slipped a pass to Offiong. The big striker's effort lacked power after striking Craig James but Livi keeper Colin Stewart allowed the ball to trickle into the far corner of the net.

Livingston hit back moments later with the First Division's player of the month Leigh Griffiths cracking a tremendous left-foot shot off the underside of the bar.

But Accies were cruising when they extended their lead with a brilliantly-worked goal five minutes before the interval.

Mensing played the ball into the danger zone and Offiong hoodwinked the Livi defence with a dummy to leave a tap-in for McArthur.

It was game, set and match two minutes after the re-start when James failed to clear his lines and Mensing picked his spot in the corner of the net through a ruck of bodies.

The ex-St Johnstone and Motherwell powerhouse almost grabbed another when his shot thundered off the bar.

Livingston refused to throw in the towel and pulled one back after Graham Dorrans cut the ball into the path of Steven Craig who was caught by McCarthy just as he was about to pull the trigger.

Dave MacKay slotted home the spot-kick and Livi almost got another in injury time when Dorrans headed wide from pointblank range.

Seconds later the final whistle kicked off celebrations that suggest Accies feel they have one hand on the championship trophy.

Reid was delighted with the win and hopes he can hold on to his most promising players for next season.

New Celtic coach Neil Lennon was in the Almondvale stand to run the rule over classy teen James McCarthy although it was his midfield partner McArthur who stole the show.

Reid said: "This was always going to be a difficult game but for the first 60 minutes we were outstanding.

"We will take nothing for granted until we are over the line but if we beat Clyde we will be champions.

"There is a bit of history between the teams but it is in our hands."

Reid highlighted the performance of 37-year-old part timer Chris Swailes who came in for flu victim Mark McLaughlin and never put a foot wrong in the centre of defence.

Livi boss Mark Proctor said: "We gave away three bad goals. There was a lot more creativity in the second half and their keeper had to make four or five good saves.

"Everyone expected Hamilton to blow up but they have kept going and shown great consistency. The league table doesn't lie."

MoM: McArthur (Hamilton)