Ross Cunningham belted in the penalty that gave Hamilton their first win in six games, and said it proved they have the grit to win games.
This is a game that Hamilton might look back on in May as being pivotal to their season, bouncing back to take three points when that scenario might not have looked too likely.
It looked like a draw was on the cards until striker Marios Ogkmpoe was felled by Livingston keeper Ross Stewart as he went for a high ball.
On orders from head coach Brian Rice, Cunningham wrestled the ball away from the Greek striker and sent Stewart the wrong way for his sixth goal of the season, four of which have been from the spot.
“If you had said to me at the start of the season that I would have scored six goals by this point in the season I would probably have laughed, but I’m delighted,” said the 21-year-old.
“Hitting penalties is probably a privilege, but it’s not as easy as it looks – you need to be confident to step up, and thankfully I am.
“It’s a massive three points for us. That’s probably one of the hardest games you will play. Livingston make it difficult for you, they’re aggressive, they’re physical, but I thought our lads battled away and we got our rewards in the end.
“It shows that we can roll the sleeves up and win games. There is a right bit of grit about this team here.
“We know sometimes we’re going to have our backs against the wall, but we know how to fight and how to win games now – it’s about building on that and can we keep winning.”
Livingston took the lead in 15 minutes when Robbie Crawford was fouled just over half-way on the right.
Aymen Souda curled an inviting free kick into the box and Alan Lithgow bulleted a header past helpless Owain Fon-Williams.
It took Accies 12 minutes to respond to that, but they went desperately close to levelling.
Blair Alston’s free kick on the right was headed back across goal by Aaron McGowan but cleared for a corner. Alston’s set-piece was headed just past the left post by Ogkmpoe, just too far ahead of Lewis Smith, sliding in at the back post.
Hamilton were given a let-off in 40 minutes when Souda was allowed to weave his way into the box, but he ran out of steam and fluffed his shot, with Fon-Williams gathering.
Five minutes later Accies were level when Alex Gogic’s throw-in was flicked on by Steven Davies and Alston rammed it over the line from close range.
Accies were maybe lucky in 74 minutes when Scott McMann appeared to pull Scott Robinson down inside the box, but referee Steven McLean wasn’t interested.
Sub Mickel Miller blasted over from a good position following good set-up play by Alston, and then Accies got their penalty leveller.
That sets them up for a trip to face Rangers at Ibrox on Sunday, and Cunningham said: “Rangers are flying just now and on a good run of form, but we’ll go there full of confidence with that three points there, and give it our best shot.”
