Brechin City 3 Accies 4: Saturday, 7 April 2001

Saturday, 7 April 2001

Glebe Park, Brechin

Accies survived a determined fightback from Brechin to claim three precious promotion points. Second half goals from Roddy Grant and Daryn Smith made a huge dent in Hamilton's seemingly unassailable 4-1 lead, and in the end Accies can count themselves lucky to have inflicted a first home defeat of the season on Dick Campbell's side.

The final half hour of the match saw Accies struggling on the back foot, desperately trying to hold out for a win that would see them blow the Third Division promotion race wide open. Ian MacFarlane was to be the hero when he managed to stifle a goal bound effort from Daryn Smith six minutes from the end when the Brechin striker was sent clear on goal by Moray Leask.

Referee George Thomson also helped Accies cause when he waved away late appeals for a penalty after Bill Davidson appeared to handle in the box.

It was an unlikely ending to a match which looked to all over early in the second half with Accies well in command. Having made three changes from last week's goal less draw with Cowdenbeath, Accies started much the livelier. Mark Nelson, Gary Clark and Martin Bonnar made way to be replaced by Steven Renicks, Ryan Kelly and Jim Sherry, who was to be involved in the first real chance of the match.

With twelve minutes on the clock, the Accies captain put pressure on Brechin's debutant young goalkeeper Martin Parkyn by forcing him to rush a clearance from a Dave MacKay passback. The home fans held their breaths as the youngster fluffed his kick straight to the feet of Michael Moore twenty yards from goal. However, with the goal gaping, the Accies striker lifted his first time effort high and wide of the unprotected net.

It was not an isolated chance and it came as no surprise when Accies took the lead. The goal came from a thirty second minute corner following some determined play by Stuart Callaghan. Callaghan took the kick himself and delivered an inch perfect cross to the far post where Dylan Kerr was allowed to score with a downward header. It looked to be the breakthrough Ally Dawson's side were looking for, but just a minute later Brechin pegged them back. With the visiting fans still celebrating, City a won a free kick on the right hand side of the penalty area. Former Accies player Kevin Fotheringham stepped up to curl an unstoppable shot over the defensive wall and outwith the reach of the despairing Ian MacFarlane much to the delight of the enthusiastic home support.

It could have signalled a change of momentum in the match, but instead Accies showed a great deal of character to regain control. Stuart Callaghan continued to cause problems and he had the ball in the net after forty two minutes when he was on the end of a Michael Martin cross. However he was adjudged to have used his left hand as he controlled the ball so Brechin were handed a reprieve. Three minutes later though, Callaghan would not be denied. Again, a cross from the right caused panic in the Brechin six yard box with 'keeper Parkyn looking far from assured. Michael Moore rose to flick the ball in the direction of the unmarked Callaghan who took a legitimate touch before blasting high past the rookie 'keeper to re-establish Hamilton's lead. The Brechin defence appealed for offside, but Accies had taken a valuable lead at the interval.

The more cynical Accies fans may have expected to sit back on their precious lead, but with Brechin well and truly on the ropes the visitors went for the jugular early in the second half. Only three minutes after the restart, they extended their advantage. Michael Moore did well to hold off the attentions of Greg Miller and slip the ball through to David McFarlane whose pace meant that Harry Cairney would have a difficult task in stopping him as he run through on goal. As Parkyn scrambled out to meet him, MacFarlane coolly lifted the ball over the advancing 'keeper's head to put his side firmly in the driving seat.

McFarlane's second goal wrapped up the points in sixty one minutes. Stuart Callaghan whipped in a another corner from the left which was again poorly dealt with by the ailing Brechin defence. Once again the ball managed to travel to the back post where MacFarlane lashed it high into the roof of the net.

The group of travelling Accies fans who had congregated in the covered terracing behind the goal began to entertain thoughts of a real hiding but the fourth goal was to be their team's last and they were to witness an uneasy last half hour as the fightback began. In the end Accies passed up a great chance to restore total confidence on the park and on the terrace by failing to annihilate a team who were there for the taking.

However, the three points were crucial and in some ways quite surprising coming after such a lacklustre performance in last Saturday's game. A win was vital to put destiny back in our own hands, and having achieved it the incentive is now there to ensure that maximum points are collected from our remaining six games. If Accies can recreate this performance at Elgin on Tuesday, we will be well on our way.

Accies lineup:

Jim Sherry was replaced by Alex Eadie (76)

David McFarlane was replaced by Robert Downs (82)

Steven Renicks was replaced by Keith Hogg (89)

Jim Sherry, Michael Martin and Steven Renicks were booked.

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