Scottish League Division 2, New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Saturday, 19 January 2002
Accies continued their progress up the league table with this well deserved victory over a lacklustre Stranraer side. Ally Dawson made two changes from the team that beat Forfar, with Stuart Callaghan returning from suspension to replace Allan Russell and Iain McCreadie coming in for Ally Graham, who was presumably injured.
The game kicked off in difficult conditions, with a swirling wind and occasional showers of rain. But it didn't take Accies long to take control of the game after it settled down. Accies made a few good chances in the opening spell. First of all, some good footwork on the right gave Brian McPhee a shooting chance and his effort missed the goal by inches. Then Michael Moore rose high at the back post to get his head onto a fine cross from Steven Renicks but his downward header was blocked by Stranraer 'keeper Mark McGeown's foot.
This didn't hold Accies back for long and they were perhaps a bit jammy to score after 19 minutes. Accies won a corner on the right and the ball was crossed in to the near post by Stuart Callaghan. Sean Sweeney got his head to it and looked to me as if McGeown just manager to scoop the ball off the line. The linesman was in a better position to see it, however, and he sprinted back to the half way line to indicate the goal. John Rowbotham followed his advice and Accies were 1-0 up thanks to Sweeney's first goal for the club.
Accies had some other chances to increase their lead, with Michael Moore unable to really test McGeown with his shooting. Ian Macfarlane, on the other hand, was a virtual spectator for most of the half. He did field the occasional cross, but I can't remember him making any save worthy of the name. For all that, Stranraer did have a lot of the ball but were unable to get any change out of the Accies defence, where Sean Sweeney and Mark Nelson were outstanding.
Much of the second half was played in a downpour. You would think that the players would use this as a signal to fire shots in on the respective goalkeepers, but it didn't really work out that way.
Accies extended their lead with a fine goal from Martin Bonnar twenty minutes into the second period. The ball broke to him about 20 yards out and his fine shot didn't give Mark McGeown much of a chance. His celebrations were in keeping with the weather - he dived full length on the pitch as did several of his teammates.
Accies did come close to extending their lead on a couple of occasions, the most dangerous one being a good header from Michael Moore that just missed the target. For their part, Stranraer huffed and puffed but were generally outplayed throughout the game. They did have one near thing when a cross from the right was diverted over his own crossbar by one of the Accies defenders, but they were otherwise unable to cause much concern.
Michael Martin got himself booked for handball midway through the second half, but the resultant free-kick was thumped wastefully against the Accies wall.
Ally Dawson made one substitution near the end, with the impressive David McNiven replaced by Kris O'Neil. Kris wasn't on the park long enough to make any impression.
So another good home win for Accies and they're beginning to produce some consistent form just at the right time. While it's too early to say that all is well with the team, Ally Dawson is certainly due plenty of credit for turning things around in recent weeks. With consecutive home victories against Alloa, Montrose, Raith Rovers, Forfar and Stranraer, things have certainly improved.
Next weeks' cup tie will be difficult, but the real test will come in mid February with trips to Alloa, Clydebank and Berwick within 11 days. If we can come through those games unscathed, then we'll be in with a real chance of clawing ourselves out of this league.
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