Accies 1 Raith Rovers 2: Saturday, 24 April 1999

Accies lost a game today which they really had to win if they're to have any hope of avoiding relegation into Division 2. As expected, Accies lined up without the injured Michael Geraghty up front, his place being taken by Steven McCormick. Raith Rovers fielded former Accies under-achievers Kevin Fotheringham and John McQuade. They did however have a large travelling support which put the disappointing Accies support to shame.

The first half was a poor display of football. Neither team really looked like scoring, although Accies had the edge and were clearly fired up for the game. Several long range shots were tried at Guido Van Der Kamp in the Rovers goal, but they were aimed straight at the big keeper. The match took a dramatic swing in the 31st minute, when Rovers took the lead. Poor Ross McLaren was dreadfully short with a pass back, which was latched onto by Raith striker Derek Holmes. His shot was saved by Chris Reid, but Craig Dargo followed up to score. McLaren was clearly very upset by this, but I'd go easy on him. You can't pin the blame for relegation on an inexperienced centre half for a rare mistake in his first season. The blame lies elsewhere, but I've laboured that point several times before. Accies best chance of the first half came when Nicky Henderson brilliantly beat a couple of defenders to charge into the box. Unfortunately, he crossed tamely into Van De Kamp's arms when he should have fired it in low and hard.

The early stages of the second half followed the same pattern, with Accies having the bulk of the ball but Rovers threatening on the break. Accies nearly scored when Steven Thomson brought a great save out of the Raith keeper with a shot from 12 yards. Accies did equalise, however, just before the hour with a scrambled effort from Steve McCormick. This was followed seconds later by a great shot from Gary Wales which scraped the post. This led to a further spell of Accies domination when we had a real belief that the team could actually win the game. That mistaken belief didn't last for long. Darren Henderson (Accies' captain) lost control of the ball in the centre circle and was very late on a tackle on a Kevin Fotheringham. I don't think it was that bad a challenge but Fotheringham went flying through the air and referee Hugh Dallas inevitably reached for his red card. With that, went Accies hopes of winning the game.

Accies still controlled most of the game, however, but they did find it hard to create any proper chances. With the team pushing up, along came the sucker punch at the very end of the game (breaking my rule that Accies should never lose a goal after quarter to five.) A simple cross to the far post found on-loan centre forward Derek Holmes with space to beat Chris Reid with a good header. The sight of this Hearts player making a song and dance of kissing the Raith Rovers badge made me want to barf.

This produced a mass exodus of Accies fans and you could hardly blame them. I stayed to the bitter end and some fans, to their great credit, gave the players a standing ovation for their efforts.

They really didn't deserve to lose today. The real damage was done during Miller's run of 21 games without a victory including 9 consecutive defeats. Any team that does that can't expect nor deserve to avoid relegation.

The team was : Reid, Renicks, Cunnington, McLaren, Thomson, Oliver, N Henderson, McAulay, McCormick, Wales, D Henderson.

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