Scottish League Division 2, New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Tuesday, 18 March 2003
Report by Gilbert Mowat
This was one of those chaotic games that was probably entertaining for any neutrals in the crowd. For Accies fans, however, it was a desperately disappointing evening. It would be easy to write the report as if Accies had been terrible. The truth was that, while most of the players had poor games, there were plenty of chances created to take something from the game.
Accies got off to the best possible start with a good goal by Big Ally Graham after only 10 minutes, when he headed an inch perfect Stuart Callaghan cross past John Hillcoat in the Stranraer goal. Great stuff, we thought, and looked forward to more goalmouth action.
As you might guess, from the scoreline above, the next 10 minutes or so were traumatic for the Accies players and supporters. The first goal was the result of yet another poorly defended corner. The ball was nodded on to Ian Harty at the back post and his lob back across goal was headed home by Michael Moore, much to his delight. He received a fair bit of abuse from the Accies fans for his celebration, but he didn't appear to be too bothered by it. The second goal came after Jim Sherry gave the ball away with most of the Accies players caught upfield. The ball was worked out to the left before being crossed into the feet of Ian Harty 12 yards out. Harty had his back to goal and Ian Dobbins supposedly marking him, but his turn and shot into the roof of the net was the mark of an experienced pro.
Sadly, that was to prove to be the end of the scoring on the night but it certainly wasn't the end of the entertainment. I would say that the visitors controlled large portions of the first half, but their exertions in the second period were restricted to the results of breakaways and defensive howlers. The closest things in the remainder of the half were when Michael Moore had a second goal disallowed for offside just before half time and when Accies' striker Gareth Armstrong hit a brilliant overhead kick that just scraped the post with Hillcoat a spectator. Stuart Callaghan was guilty of thumping the ball well wide of the post from 20 yards when he could have passed to an unmarked teammate.
Accies made a surprising change a few minutes into the second half, with manager Chris Hillcoat coming out of retirement (again) to replace Big Ally Graham. This caused a tactical change, with Brian McPhee moving forward and Wee Ally Graham moving to the right side of midfield. The rest of the half was mental.
Chances came and went for both teams, with Accies pounding the Stranraer defence but leaving themselves completely exposed at the back. The result of this was that the visitors must have had three or four attacks when they outnumbered the Accies defence but they were completely inept in front of goal. Graham Potter had his usual mixture of great saves and appalling handling. Chris Hillcoat showed he was still capable of defending well with a brilliant headed clearance off the line after another Potter disaster.
For their part, Accies created about a dozen half chances to score, with Allan Russell being the fall guy on several occasions. If ever there was a player who needed to have his attitude questioned it's this guy. It's all very well having a bit of skill and thinking you look good, but if you don't work hard, you won't get anywhere. It's no accident that players like Henrik Larsson and Alan Shearer have reached where they are in the game. I know they're very talented, but they also work their socks off. It's a lesson that Allan Russell would do well to learn.
It was a cold, foggy and generally depressing night. A bad night at the office for Accies but not the end of the world. I'm sure no-one had any illusions about the team having a realistic chance of promotion. If they had carried any luck at all in front of goal then I'm sure we would all be celebrating another win instead of feeling pissed off at yet another home defeat by the less than mighty Stranraer.
I am sure they will get found out big style when they face Motherwell in the cup on Saturday. A similar fate might face Accies when they travel to Kirkcaldy on league business.
Hamilton: Potter, Alisdair Graham, Dobbins, Kerr, McDonald, Armstrong, Sherry, Callaghan, McPhee, Russell (Flynn 87), Alistair S Graham (Hillcoat 50).
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