Scottish League Division 2, Stair Park, Stranraer
Saturday, 24 November 2001
Accies crashed to their fourth consecutive league defeat after a lively but ultimately fruitless performance at Stair Park.
The 2-1 scoreline means that Ally Dawson's side have now lost eight of their last eleven matches, piling the pressure on the under fire manager. It has to be said that under the conditions most managers would be sleeping uneasily at nights, but somehow you get the impression that Dawson's position is not under as much threat as it perhaps should be.
Once again he stood motionless and helpless as the side he built huffed and puffed but failed to get the better of their part-time opponents. As always, all the long suffering Accies support could do was strain their voices shouting for his head, almost safe in the knowledge the points would be staying in the South West. In truth, a large number of supporters must have known the outcome even before the game took place, resulting in an alarmingly poor travelling support. Yet another indication that Hamilton Accies have squandered most of the opportunities created by the construction of New Douglas Park, by retaining faith in their inept manager.
Dawson, himself, is fairly prone to talking about squandered opportunities and no doubt he will use that tired old excuse again in the wake of his latest defeat. But as usual that won't tell the whole story.
It won't explain how Stranraer midfielder Sandy Hodge was allowed to run fully fifty yards unchallenged with only six minutes on the clock to slide the opening goal past the exposed Graham Potter. It won't explain why Martin Bonnar ran away from him as he bore down on goal and it won't explain why Steven Renicks and Paul Gaughan left Hodge to each other seconds before he pulled the trigger.
Astonishingly, the same player made two more similar runs into the box in the five minutes that followed. Fortunately he was crowded out just before blasting home on both occasions. Either Sandy Hodge is destined for the Champions League or Accies were totally disorganised and at sixes and sevens. You decide.
This may have been as a result of teething problems brought about by switching to a new formation. Brian McPhee's arrival persuaded Dawson to play the former Livingston striker beside David McNiven and Michael Moore in a 4-3-3 formation. However, surely that is where Accies should have an advantage over other Second Division sides, being able to work on new things every day of the week. In any case, it's a brave manager who plays with only three midfielders and makes Martin Bonnar one of them.
Despite the early pressure, though, Accies drew level after 14 minutes, when a disastrous headed back pass by Fraser Wright fell woefully short and into the path of Michael Moore who really couldn't miss. This should have been the turning point in the game as Accies gained control of the match and began to really press a concerned looking Stranraer defence. Brian McPhee's strength and pace was causing problems and after 26 minutes he was given a through ball to chase from
Stuart Callaghan. Stranraer 'keeper Mark McKeown was alert to the danger and came sprinting out of his goal to clear. However, McPhee was able to clip the ball past him only to see his shot headed off the line by covering defender David Farrell.
Accies came even closer to scoring a few minutes later. An Ally Graham cross from the right appeared harmless enough until Stranraer midfielder Stephen Aitken decided to intervene. He threw himself full length at the ball to send a powerful diving header against the inside of McKeown's right hand post, along the goalline and behind. The resultant corner was headed narrowly past by the eager McPhee.
Predictably though, it was the home side who scored what proved to be the winner in the thirty-second minute. Sandy Hodge worked his way down the left hand side before whipping in a cross that was met by the head of George Shaw who did enough to direct it past Potter.
Accies were unable to regain the upper hand as the half fizzled out, and it wasn't until late in the second half that they looked like producing an equaliser. Michael Moore looked the player most likely to pull his side level and he was unlucky not to do so with fourteen minutes left. A Stuart Callaghan corner had the home defence in a bit of a panic as Mark McKeown flapped hopelessly at it, allowing Moore to flick a header onto the top of the crossbar and over. Accies' luck didn't get any better.
Nine minutes from the end Stranraer midfielder Andy Paterson headed against his own post as he tried to dispose of an Ally Graham cross effectively. It seems Lady Luck, too, is thoroughly fed up of Ally Dawson.
This was evident again four minutes later when Michael Moore though he had found a way through. With time running out, Paul Gaughan decided to have a shot from the edge of the penalty area. It found its way through a ruck of players leaving McKeown to throw himself behind it and parry it out. It fell right at the feet of Michael Moore who wasted no time in sliding it into the empty net, only to be outraged by the sight of the linesman's raised flag.
Hope was abandoned by the Accies support following that decision and it came as no surprise that Kris O'Neill's sneaky angled shot found the outside of the post with seconds remaining, rather than give Accies that elusive equaliser.
So yes, Accies did make and miss a lot of chances, and Brian McPhee looks certain to be a very good signing. However Ally Dawson needn't think yesterday's result was all about bad luck. The midfield needs major surgery and the return of Jim Sherry cannot come quick enough. Stuart Callaghan is still too far infield to be any significant threat and Ally Graham wouldn't be given a jersey in a remotely competent side. Martin Bonnar? Well he started badly, then fell away. None of the back four inspire confidence as Stranraer's two goals highlighted and we all know about our lack of firepower up front.
Accies have the biggest full time squad in the Second Division yet today sit one point off the bottom of the table. No amount of bad luck can excuse that.
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