Accies 0 Clyde 1: 18 September 2004

Bell's League Division 1

New Douglas Park, Hamilton, 18 September 2004

Report by Gilbert Mowat

Accies continued their depressing start to the season when they lost to a single Ian Harty goal on Saturday. With former Bully Wee man Mark McLaughlin still unavailable through injury, Sandy Hodge kept his place inn the heart of the defence. Clyde featured former Marseilles man Michael Marsiglia, who was making his Scottish debut as he attempts to resurrect his career. (He played poorly and was replaced just after half time.)

As the game settled down after the usual frenetic opening stuff, Clyde looked to be well organised and they took the lead after 17 minutes with the best move of the match. With Accies playing three at the back and with left wing back Ricky Waddell caught upfield, Clyde attacked down the right and Gary Arbuckle was able to send over a great cross into the heart of the penalty area. Diminutive striker Ian Harty showed his worth yet again as he headed skillfully past the exposed Dave McEwan.

That turned out to be the only goal of the game. Accies had plenty of the ball in the first half but just lacked that killer touch where it mattered most. They did have a couple of chances, the best being when Mark Corcoran got to the byeline and whipped the ball low across the six yard line, but on that occasion it was just missed by the two onrushing Accies attackers. Accies had a fair number of half chances as well, but things just didn't work out for them in front of goal and they were unable to give Bryn Halliwell in the Clyde goal too many anxious moments.

Accies suffered a blow 6 minutes before the break when David Hamilton, who has been a real find this season, limped off to be replaced by Aussie midfielder/striker/emergency defender Scott Tunbridge. This change disrupted the flow of Accies play although it did give Tunbridge a welcome opportunity to show what he could do. (As I write this, I can't think of any outstanding contribution that he made for the remainder of the game on the right side of midfield. Perhaps his best position is further forward.)

A further blow came for Accies just 10 minutes after the interval when Todd Lumsden joined Hamilton on the injured list, with Brian Carrigan coming on in his place. This meant that there had to be a tactical switch, with target man Pat Keogh moving to central defence. Clyde almost capitalised on the change immediately when a good through ball caught the Accies defence flat footed. Happily, they were unable to take advantage of the 2 on 1 situation and Dave McEwan made an excellent save from Aron Wilford's shot.

As the game wore on it seemed inevitable that Accies would again fail to score. They had the bulk of the possession, but the Clyde midfield and defence were pretty solid and Accies just didn't have the quality to put over that great cross or defence splitting pass. In fact, I think the pressure is beginning to tell on some of them now as shots are being hurried and poor decisions made. Chris Aitken (who had replaced Derek Ferguson) got a sight of goal from his favourite range (about 20 yards out.) Unbelievably, he then slipped as he was about to shoot and the chance was lost.

Clyde had a few good chances on the break and Ian Harty was particularly effective in trying to beat the offside trap. Happily, he was unable to increase his goals tally. Near the end, Pat Keogh strode forward and cracked a 35 yarder shot off the crossbar before slumping to his knees in an understandable display of frustration. It was that kind of day.

So it was yet another disappointing defeat and this Accies team just doesn't look like scoring goals at the moment. With the honeymoon period coming abruptly to an end, it is clear that this squad that did so well in Division 2 is finding the higher league a much tougher proposition. Having said that, the injuries to Mark McLaughlin and the enforced early removal of David Hamilton and Todd Lumsden did not help.

But the midfield is just not delivering what Bill McLaren would describe as "quality ball." Brian McPhee, Scott Tunbridge and Pat Keogh all had efforts on goal but we don't have a deadly finisher like Ian Harty. Sadly.

Best for Accies were Ryan Blackadder (who was the sponsor's man of the match) and particularly Mark Corcoran, who ran his heart out on the left.

The result leaves Accies one point short of the safety zone with a further 87 points still to play for. It's not good but we ain't quite down yet!

Hamilton: McEwan, Lumsden (Carrigan 55), Thomson, Hodge, Waddell, Hamilton (Tunbridge 39), Ferguson (Aitken 73), Blackadder, McPhee, Keogh, Corcoran.

Subs Not Used: Fyfe, Jellema.

Clyde: Halliwell, Mensing, Wilson, Potter, Malone, Marsiglia (Walker 48), Gibson, Sheridan, Arbuckle, Wilford (Gilhaney 86), Harty.

Subs Not Used: Balmer, Conway, Morrison.

Goal: Harty 16.

Att: 2,017

Ref: W Young

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