Forfar Athletic 0 Accies 1: Tuesday, 25 March 2003

Scottish League Division 2, Station Park, Forfar

Tuesday, 25 March 2003

Report by NDP Kid On The Block

Like the midweek victory at Cowdenbeath at the start of the month, this was another match in which we clinched a vital 3 points with the game's only goal in the last couple of minutes, the loons not recovering from the Bee's sting in the 87th minute.

Stolen by Accies right at the death? Perhaps. But we certainly never deserved to lose this one. Sure, Graham Potter had 3 or 4 really good saves, but equally we had probably the better and more clear cut chances throughout the 90 minutes. There was not a lot in it at all and the two sides were fairly evenly matched until the all new all blond Brian McPhee scored with an 88th minute header, from a Stuart Callaghan cross on the left. Bee's header beat Michael Brown low down at his left post and the ball seemed to go in in slow motion. But we won't complain - it was a good 3 points to get.

Hilly had 3 players missing from Saturday's 16 on duty at Kirkcaldy - out were trialist Alan McDermott, Johnny Walker and Peter Flynn. Replacing them were Martin Bonnar, back after a 2 match suspension, big Ally Graham and Mahdi Elfallah. Allan Russell was relegated to the bench and the team - starting 4-4-2 - was

Graham Potter

wee Ally Graham Dylan Kerr Ian Dobbins Paul McDonald

Brian McPhee Jim Sherry Martin Bonnar Stuart Callaghan

Gareth Armstrong big Ally Graham

subs were Eddie Cunnington (for big Ally in 83 minutes), Hilly the manager (for Dylan Kerr in 75 minutes), Allan Russell (for Gareth Armstrong in 63 minutes) and unused Mahdi Elfallah and Ian Macfarlane.

Alan Rattray was lively for Forfar early on and he linked well with Paul Tosh, both testing Potter. Our first chance came when a lovely run from the bee saw his dangerous cross knocked just wide for a corner by Good. Potter then had a good stop from a Scott McCulloch free kick and then our goalie easily clutched the follow up header.

Bonnar and McPhee were combining very well down the right side for us and both were causing Forfar problems. Brown, the Forfar goalie, denied Armstrong while Potter and Dobbins cleared from Good of Forfar. Midway through the first half big Ally released McPhee who chipped just wide of the bar/post junction from the edge of the box. Sherry had a long range drive near the end of the first half then Potter saved well from Byers before injuring himself and receiving treatment right on half time.

Potts came back out for the second half and we had the first chance when Armstrong set up big Ally. His low shot was sent out for a corner from which a Sherry shot and a big Ally header were both blocked. Forfar then had a chance when Potter misjudged a Henderson corner but Tosh's shot was charged down. Dylan Kerr then had a shot from a free kick on the edge of the penalty area and then came a spell of Forfar pressure. Wee Ally knocked a Rattray cross out for a corner, then McDonald headed Greacen's shot off the line and that was deflected out for another corner. Dobbins then defended that by sending it over the line again for another corner kick which Kerr headed away and McCulloch couldn't follow up properly.

Jim Sherry got a yellow card in the middle of the second half after what I think was his 4th foul.

There still wasn't a lot in it at all, both sides having a spread of chances and attempts. Forfar had spells of pressure, but we were lacking a bit of strength in the shots that we had following good play. Byers then had an excellent run and dribble into the box but Tosh's shot was off target then McCulloch didn't half blast over!

Hilly came on for Dylan, who looked as if he hobbled off a bit, and almost immediately McDonald and Potter almost got into a bit of a fankle at a back pass before Potter managed to just get past Tosh and clear. Potter then had another good stop low down from Anthony's corner and at the other end (we were shooting into the small terrace end in the second half) Callaghan had a shot blocked which Bonnar, who again did well, shot over.

When Eddie Cunnington came on for big Ally near the end it seemed to give the impression that everyone was happy with a draw, but McPhee moved up front alongside Russell who had come on earlier. Wee Ally had a good second half and he was involved in an attempt himself as well as setting up Sherry and McPhee in the same move. But in 87 minutes came the goal that delighted the Accies fans scattered right behind the goal and elsewhere in the ground. Callaghan floated one in from the left and McPhee outjumped McCloy I think to head low past the Forfar keeper. A great end to the game and a vital three points when it seemed that a draw was on the cards.

Hamilton: Potter, Alisdair Graham, Dobbins, Kerr (Hillcoat), McDonald, Armstrong (Russell), Bonnar, Sherry, Callaghan, McPhee, Big Ally Graham (Cunnington).

© AcciesWorld 2003

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