Scottish League Division 2
New Douglas Park, 9 March 2004
Hamilton Accies 2
McPhee 25
Gribben 54
Dumbarton 0
Report by Gilbert Mowat
Accies climbed back up to second place in the league with this richly deserved win over a disappointing Dumbarton side. After the success at Berwick on Saturday, Allan Maitland resisted the temptation to make any changes to his side. This meant that Jim Sherry had to be content with a place on the bench and young Darren Gribben made his full home debut up front. The visitors had Chris Boyle, who nearly died the last time the teams played, on the bench along side former Accies defenders Iain Dobbins and Steven Renicks.
Accies certainly took their time to settle and it was the visitors who impressed early on. Their best attempt of the entire game came when one of their midfielders strode forward and cracked a superb dipping shot off Dave McEwan's crossbar with the Accies man well beaten. Fortunately, the scare acted as a wake-up call to Accies and they soon settled into a reasonably good passing game, with Brian Carrigan and Ryan Blackadder combining particularly well.
Accies did create a couple of half chances in the opening stages, with Brian Carrigan instrumental in most of the good stuff that was going on. He put over at least two great crosses but Brian McPhee in the middle wasn't able to make Stephen Grindlay in the Dumbarton goal break sweat. The Sons had an amazing let off when a through ball from Carrigan was missed by Grindlay but rolled wide of the post with The Bee in hot pursuit. Accies came close to opening the scoring when Grindlay could only parry a well struck Robert Walker shot back into the danger area. Brian Carrigan was on it in a flash and I am sure almost everyone in the ground thought it was a clear penalty when he was bundled over. Not for the last time, diminutive referee John Gilmour got his decision wrong and inexplicably waved play on.
The howls of derision echoed around the stadium but it seemed that the sense of injustice worked in Accies' favour as they took the lead shortly afterwards with a classic Brian McPhee goal. Sandy Hodge won the ball on the left wing and saw that Brian Carrigan was in acres of space wide on the right wing. Carrots controlled the ball well before firing over a superb cross to The Bee at the back post. Brian delivered the classic centre forward's downward header and Accies were in the lead at last.
Naturally, the goal gave everyone a lift and Accies began to play with real confidence. Darren Gribben came close to extending the lead after a defensive howler gave him a clear sight of goal but Grindlay blocked the ball with his legs. Brian Carrigan was next to have a go with a fierce shot that Grindlay did really well to tip around the post. So Accies led 1-0 at the break and were well worthy of it.
The game continued in much the same pattern after the interval. Darren Gribben came close to scoring with an audacious shot from the right wing that was just a bit too high. That was with his right foot. Just a minute later he let fly again with his left foot and the whole crowd (apart from the small group of Sons fans) rose to their feet in acclamation as the ball whistled into the postage stamp corner from 20 yards. It was the youngster's first top team goal at home and the entire team celebrated it with him. It was a great moment and a wonderful goal.
Apart from the odd fruitless foraging raid by the Sons attack, Accies really controlled the remainder of the game. Ryan Blackadder had a great chance to grab his first goal when sent clean through by a nice pass by Gribben but Grindlay saved well. Former Accies men Iain Dobbins and Steven Renicks came on near the end to ironic cheers from a few Accies fans. But they displayed nothing to make the Accies fans regret their departure from the scene.
Allan Maitland made a few changes near the end, with Mark Corcoran, Jim Sherry and Ciaran Donnelly replacing Brian Carrigan, Andy Arbuckle and Chris Aitken. Corcoran did well to put the pressure on the Sons defence but the other two didn't really have enough time to contribute much.
It is difficult to pick out the best players for Accies, as that might be construed as criticism of some others following a great team performance. But I have to say that Brian Carrigan, Darren Gribben and Ryan Blackadder were very impressive. Andy Arbuckle was named the sponsor's man of the match for yet another solid showing in the heart of midfield.
This was a much better performance from Accies than their last home game and very encouraging in view of the run of home games coming up. Great stuff - let's keep it up!
Accies: McEwan, Walker, Hodge, Thomson, Lumsden, Arbuckle, Carrigan (Corcoran 76), Aitken (Donnelly 89), Gribben (Sherry 85), McPhee, Blackadder. Subs not used: Whiteford, Jellema.
Dumbarton: Grindlay, Brittain (Dobbins 70), McKinstry, McEwan, Collins, Dillon (Renicks 70), Bonar (Herd 63), Bradley, Donald, Russell, Rodgers. Subs not used: Boyle, Wight.
Referee: John Gilmour
Attendance: 949
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