Accies 1 East Fife 1: Wednesday, 15 January 2003

Scottish Cup Round 2, New Douglas Park, Hamilton

Wednesday, 15 January 2003

Report by Gilbert Mowat

Accies' frustrating season continued in normal fashion on Wednesday evening when they were held to a 1-1 draw by 3rd Division leaders East Fife at New Douglas Park.

To be honest, a draw was the very least that the Fifers deserved. After weathering the early attacks from Accies, they took control of the remainder of the game and were a constant threat to Graham Potter's goal. In fact, Accies could easily have been three goals behind at the interval - and once more hapless goalkeeper Graham Potter was in the thick of the action. Perhaps it was the swirling wind, or just the superb quality of the crosses coming in - but he never looked to be in command of his penalty area. Don't get me wrong - he's a good shot stopper. But if he can't attack the crossball then he won't get far in the game. I suspect that any other club would have shown him the door by now.

Perhaps it didn't help that the East Fife midfield were totally in command against their Accies counterparts. They forced so many corners that the quadrants must have been in danger of getting worn away. But then again, when the midfield "engine room" consists of lightweights like Johnny Walker and Martin Bonnar there's always a risk of this happening. When you add in the poor performances from the bulk of the rest of the team it was clear that this game was yet another accident waiting to happen.

Accies did start to exert some authority in the final quarter of the game and nearly grabbed the lead when Brian McPhee rose to head a Stuart Callaghan cross just wide of the post. A neat near post dummy by Johnny Walker gave Allan Russell a chance to shoot from 10 yards but he sclaffed the ball wide. Just when it looked like being a barren night for the Accies attack, they went ahead under rather fortunate circumstances. A corner was cleared to the edge of the area where it was volleyed goalwards by Brian McPhee. The Bee hit the ball low and hard and it was fumbled into the net by the visiting 'keeper. Shortly afterwards, McPhee had a chance to double the advantage but dithered too much and the chance was wasted.

With Accies in control, Allan Russell petulantly tapped the ankle of one of the defenders off the ball and received his second yellow card from the officious referee. Yet another disappointing display by Russell was to end early. He clearly hopes that he'll get a move to another team - but that won't happen with lacklustre displays like this one. He never does the simple thing if he can do the fancy thing instead and seems unwilling to break sweat. Even if he wasn't suspended for the replay, I would put a youngster into the team ahead of him. (Just don't start me on Martin Bonnar and Johnny Walker!)

So let's pretend you are Johnny Walker and it's time up in a vital cup tie. Your team are down to 10 men and you're about to take a corner kick. With 1 player in the penalty area ready for the cross do you:-

a) Play a short kick to a team mate to waste time?

b) Chip the ball neatly into the goalkeepers arms so that he can start a match saving attack?

Criminally, Johnny chose the latter and the ball was moved swiftly upfield for the Fifers to win one last corner kick. The ball was swung into the middle and this time, at last, it was knocked into the net by James Herkes. Graham Potter and other Accies players complained that he had been held, but the referee was having none of it. The game was drawn and Accies now face a really tough time in the replay at New Bayview on Monday night.

Brian McPhee was voted as the man of the match and, to be honest, he was the only player on the park who deserves any credit. But overall this was yet another bad performance from a very poor Accies side.

As stated many time before, the blame can all be apportioned to Jim Watson, who has destroyed what was once a fine club. Things will certainly not improve until the club is taken from him.

Accies: Potter, Nelson, Dobbins, Sweeney, Cunnington, Alistair S Graham (Elfallah), Bonnar, Walker, Callaghan, McPhee, Russell.

© AcciesWorld 2002

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