Bell's Scottish Football League Division 1
New Douglas Park, Hamilton, 29 December 2004
Report by Gilbert Mowat
I suppose we can't really complain. The last couple of games have seen Accies play a cautious game, with the emphasis being on soaking up the pressure and hitting Partick and St Mirren on the break. In this game, St Johnstone pretty much played that way too, with the difference being that they took their chances and won the game quite easily.
The bad news for Accies was the absence of striker Brian McPhee, so Brian Carrigan started the game. Accies started the game quite well, but it was the visitors who made the first chance, with Dave McEwan coming out to block Peter McDonald from close range. It was painful to watch the way in which the visitors took the lead after 17 minutes, with a speculative ball into the area that was prodded past a static McEwan by Chris Hay. It was a clumsy goal for Accies to lose, with McEwan and Sandy Hodge leaving the ball to each other in a display of non-communication that was reminiscent of the game at Kirkcaldy a few months ago.
Accies suffered a further blow shortly afterwards, when Derek Ferguson had to be replaced by David Carney. Accies soon took control of the game again but their two best attempts on goal were embarrassing failures. First of all, a slick passing move inside the area ended with the ball arriving at the feet of an unmarked Brian Carrigan about 10 yards out. He had time to pick his spot, but was desperately unlucky to see his left footed shot hit the inside of the post before being cleared. The other good chance of the half came when David Carney picked out Scott Tunbridge with an exquisite cross, but the big Aussie's header from an excellent position was truly dreadful.
Accies had a couple of good dead ball opportunities just outside the area, but Brian Carrigan's effort was so bad that it cleared the perimeter wall. Scott Tunbridge had a go at the next free kick but his shot was equally high and inaccurate. Unfortunately for the hoops, Paul Sheerin showed them exactly how to take a free kick when he fired the ball low into David McEwan's bottom corner just 5 minutes before the interval. This followed Ian Fyfe (who had a nightmare) giving the ball away for the nth time and Sandy Hodge needlessly upending a Saints man just outside the area.
So it was 2-0 for the Saints at the break and it was hard to argue with that. I know Accies had loads of possession, but the visitors had a better idea of what to to do with the ball when they had it.
The second half started with a second Accies substitution, with Chris Aitken replacing the injured Sandy Hodge. The second period was more of the same, with Accies huffing and puffing and giving the ball away and the visitors content to hit Accies on the break. Despite their pressure, Accies never really looked like scoring. The best effort was a speculative lob by Scott Tunbridge that cleared the bar. Big Pat Keogh had a shot that was easily held by McGregor and Chris Aitken fired in a decent effort from long range.
It was inevitable that St Johnstone would increase their advantage and when they did so it was a simple enough effort, with Ryan McCann finishing off a sweeping move at the back post. After that it was all bad news for Accies, with firstly Mark McLaughlin looking as if he pulled a hamstring and then Scott Tunbridge going down heavily in the Saints area. He left on a stretcher but all three subs had already been used. (Scott was taken to hospital after the game for treatment.)
The visitors messed about for 10 minutes in the rain after that, confident that the points were in the bag.
The bad news for Accies, apart from the obvious, was the number of injuries to key players. When you add in the victories for Ross County and Partick Thistle, it's hard to imagine a worse night for them. A bad way to end a momentous year.
Hamilton: McEwan, Fyfe, Thomson, McLaughlin (Lumsden 74), Hodge (Aitken 45), Carrigan, Hamilton, Ferguson (Carney 20), Corcoran, Tunbridge, Keogh.
Subs Not Used: McLeod, Jellema.
Booked: Keogh.
St Johnstone: McGregor, Anderson, Webb, Maxwell, Tait, McCann, Hannah, Sheerin, Forsyth (Rutkiewicz 72), MacDonald, Hay (McConalogue 85).
Subs Not Used: Hardy, Martyn Fotheringham, Cuthbert.
Booked: McCann.
Goals: Hay 17, Sheerin 39, McCann 69.
Att: 1,718
Ref: B Cassidy
- Read the fans' memories, or add your own, via this link.
- Please contact us if you have any information that will improve this page or if you spot any mistakes.
Images
Videos
Links and References