Home of the Set Fare Arena, Livingston FC: Supporting Livingston FC Youth Academy

A brilliant but blustery day at the Set Fare Arena as Samba were in action for Game 13. We saw every type of weather imaginable - short of a snowstorm - but it didn't dampen the spirits of the lads. It was a poignant afternoon, with everyone putting in a shift knowing Linda was watching over us, raising vital funds for the Livingston FC Youth Academy.

First Half

It was a tightly contested opening 45 minutes with plenty of quality on display from both sides. For a long time, it looked like we’d go into the break level, but a solitary goal finally split the teams just after the half-hour mark. Following a great passage of play from the Blues, Ryan Somerville found Johnny Cairns, who managed to toe-poke it past the keeper to make it 1-0 at half-time.

Second Half

The game really opened up after the break, with five goals shared between the teams in an end-to-end battle. The Yellows found their equaliser in the 65th minute when Leighton Thompson whipped in a defence-splitting cross for Joe Dickens to tap in at the back post.

The deadlock didn't last long, though. Dirk Otway played a neat ball to Mark Boggie, who unleashed a 25-yard screamer into the top corner—leaving the keeper with no chance. Minutes later, the Blues made it 3-1, with Darren Rintoul crossing for Cairns to head home his second from close range.

Both keepers pulled off some world-class saves to keep their teams in it, but the Yellows fought back in the 86th minute. Calum Sneddon broke the offside trap and, showing great composure, squared it to Richard Rintoul for a tap-in. As the Yellows pushed everyone forward for an equaliser, the Blues caught them on the counter. Cairns turned provider for Bobe Boyd, who followed up his own rebounded shot to seal the 4-2 win.

Full time: Blue Team 4 - 2 Yellow Team.

Highlight of the Match

Mark Boggie’s 25-yard screamer into the top corner.

Amount Raised: £1,920

SQUAD

SAMBA YELLOW Graham Miller’s Team

Craig Darge (C)

Joe Dickens ⚽️

James Ebbs (GK)

Kev Fettes

Mikey Freedman

Ryan Lindsay

Paul McPherson

Graham Miller

Richard Rintoul ⚽️

Selos Sfyris

Calum Sneddon 🅰️

Leighton Thompson 🅰️

Steven Tindall (GK)

Martyn Wallace

Paul Wilson

SAMBA BLUE

Dirk Otway’s Team

Calum Brockway

Kyle Boggie

Mark Boggie ⚽️

Bobe Boyd ⚽️

Johnny Cairns ⚽️⚽️ 🅰️ 🏆

Alex Cameron

Ian Davidson

Aaron McGraw

Jon McGraw (C)

Mark McLeod

Dirk Otway 🅰️

Darren Rintoul 🅰️

Marc Skinner (GK)

Ryan Somerville 🅰️

Mark Wilson