Bell's Scottish League Division 1
New Douglas Park, Hamilton, 15 January 2005
Hamilton Accies 0
Clyde 1
Arbuckle 51
Report by Gilbert Mowat
This was the game that was supposed to signal the start of a bright new future for Accies. The home fans turned up full of optimism that the return of experienced striker Colin Cramb, who last played for Accies as an awkward teenager in the early 90's, along with the recruitment of battling midfielder Jean-Philippe Javary, would be enough to change their team's disappointing run of home form. As it turned out, it was business as usual for Accies as they struggled to impress on the artificial turf at NDP.
The introduction of the two new players made up for the absence of midfielders Derek Ferguson, who was injured and young Andy Arbuckle, who was told on Thursday that he had no future at the club. Brian Carrigan was left on the bench as usual. Clyde were missing Ian Harty and Gary Bollan, but had new recruit Alex Burns in the heart of their midfield.
The opening stages of the first half were dominated by Clyde, but apart from a couple of powerful free kicks by Alex Burns, they didn't look like scoring. Accies created a couple of good chances, with Colin Cramb coming close with a delicate chip that landed on the roof of the net. Accies best effort of the half came when David Carney chipped a ball down the left wing for Mark Corcoran. It was intercepted by a defender, but his lamentable attempt at a passback to Bryn Halliwell was woefully under-powered. This gave Corky a clear sight of goal, but his effort was well saved by a brilliant reaction stop by the Clyde goalie. This is the only real problem with Corcoran's game. He is a great left winger but sadly he's just not a natural finisher. If he was, he'd be linked with SPL clubs by now. Hopefully his time will come.
Accies had one or two other shots on goal but it seems that the inability to take direct free kicks has spread throughout the squad. In recent weeks we've cringed as a succession of players have made poor attempts on goal, from dead balls and in this game it was the turn of David Carney to float the ball harmlessly over the crossbar. (Pat Keogh's second half free kick was much worse, as he managed to slice it and sky it all at the same time. Just as well I'm not going to mention it in the report.)
Clyde looked to be a well organised team, capable at least of playing some nice passing stuff on the deck. They possibly did just about deserve to score the opening goal, but when they did so it was from an outrageous fluke by Gary Arbuckle. For once, they looked purposeful as they broke down the right wing with men flooding into the box. Just as we thought they had wasted their opportunity with a cross straight to the Accies goalie, Dave McEwan misjudged the flight of the ball and it landed behind him in the far corner. Not the kind of goal that will boost Dave's confidence at this crucial stage of the season.
Having gone behind, Allan Maitland decided that it was time for Brian Carrigan's usual half hour on the park, with David Carney being subbed. Quite why Carrots, arguably the most talented player on the books at Accies, is continually being restricted to cameo appearances from the subs bench is a bit of a mystery. (Anyone who can do the "Crossbar Challenge" twice in a row, as he did before kickoff, should be in the team from the start!)
Things did improve a bit, with Carrots linking up well with Mark Corcoran in particular, but there was never a time when Accies really looked like scoring. It was only near the end of the game that Accies managed to force their first corner kick, which was headed into Halliwell's hands by Steven Thomson.
Clyde had a half chance near the end, with their sub Chris Gardiner getting a clear run on goal. However, he was superbly shepherded by Sandy Hodge and didn't even get in a shot on goal.
The referee added only a very short amount of additional time despite a succession of injuries and substitutions and the game was over. (The set of floodlights between the two stands failed just before the end but sadly the referee decided to let the game carry on!)
So it was another extremely disappointing game for Accies. I thought Colin Cramb looked useful but he lacked support. Jean-Philippe Javary looked as if he lacked match fitness although he did last the full 90 minutes. He was surprisingly named as the sponsor's man of the match. I think both he and Cramb will improve once they get the chance to train with their new colleagues.
So Accies only just lost by a scrappy goal to the second top team in the division and one that thrashed Falkirk last week. It's not quite all over yet. Although Accies are only two points ahead of 9th position, they are also only four points behind 6th placed St Mirren. With thirteen games remaining and the prospect of further new signings in advance of the Ross County game, there is still a long way to go.
Hamilton: McEwan, Fyfe, Thomson, Hodge, Walker, Carney (Carrigan 63), Javary, Keogh, Corcoran, McPhee (Irons 77), Cramb.
Subs Not Used: Lumsden, McLeod, Jellema.
Clyde: Halliwell, Mensing, Potter, Wilson, Malone, Arbuckle, Gibson, Sheridan, Gilhaney (Gardiner 79), Burns, Jones.
Subs Not Used: Balmer, Bradley, Harris, Morrison.
Booked: Arbuckle.
Goal: Arbuckle 51.
Att: 1,873
Ref: C Thomson
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