Bell's Scottish Football League Division 1
New Douglas Park, Hamilton, 13 November 2004
Hamilton Accies 1
Thomson 88
Queen of the South 0
Report by Gilbert Mowat
It's amazing how one kick of the ball can transform your perception of a game. If it hadn't been for that one swipe of Steven Thomson's right boot, this report would have been full of maudlin comments about Accies wasting yet another chance to take full points from a home fixture. However, big Steish was the man who sent the NDP crowd into raptures just two minutes from the end of this turgid encounter. The whole team mobbed the technical area as they celebrated wildly. The feeling of relief that swept the stadium was almost tangible.
With Accies having been gubbed at Perth just 7 days previously, Allan Maitland mercilessly axed three of his team from that game. At least Iain Fyfe and Mark Corcoran made the bench - Ryan Blackadder was left out completely. Into the team came debutant midfielder David Carney plus the long term absentees Andy Arbuckle and Stevie Convery. The good news as far as the Queens' lineup was concerned was that their best player, Brian McLaughlin, was only on the bench. Former Accies striker David McNiven filled the No 9 jersey (almost to bursting point!).
Unlike recent games where Accies have opened the game well, the hoops didn't really take charge of the first half of this game at all. In fact, the first 45 minutes were extremely poor with only occasional passages of decent play to lift the gloom. The visitors came perilously close to opening the scoring within the first ten minutes when one of their forwards broke clear on the right and his low shot scraped the far post with Dave McEwan beaten. Happily, that was to prove to be their best attempt of the entire game.
Accies closest chance came when Steven Thomson headed just past the post from a corner, with many Accies fans fooled by the angle into thinking he had scored. The remainder of the half consisted largely of misplaced passes and overhit crosses. Both teams were guilty of this but Queens had the misfortune of having two diabolical direct free kicks within a few minutes, when the ball was knocked forward to a player who had neglected to run for it. What a laugh! it must have been the pitch's fault.
The first half was decidedly ropey but at least the second period was a lot better as far as Accies are concerned. Accies could and should have taken the lead just 4 minutes after the interval when Brian Carrigan missed an absolute sitter in front of goal. Colin Scott was nowhere and there were two defenders on the line, but despite having time to control the ball and score, Carrots snatched at it and sclaffed the ball well wide of the post. It seemed typical of Accies that this would happen and it seemed to encapsulate our season to date. (I bet Brian is a very relieved young man this evening!)
As the game wore on, Accies upped the tempo and Queens seemed to tire. It was basically one way traffic for long spells but despite the number of crosses that were being delivered and the nice footwork by players like Brian Carrigan and big Marko, the chances just weren't coming. This was due in no small part to the outstanding performance by big Jim Thompson at the heart of the Queens defence. He was outstanding and won stacks of high balls to protect his goal.
Just as it seemed that the game would end in a goalless draw, Accies finally got the goal they deserved with just two minutes left. It came from a free kick which Brian Carrigan floated in from the left. Several players challenged for it and it fell nicely to inspirational captain Steven Thomson who fired the ball low past Colin Scott from about 10 yards out. Hallelujah! The entire team went bonkers and the assorted management team and subs were all caught up in a mass hug! It was such a relief for everyone after so many games at home where points have been wasted. When order was eventually restored, Accies played out the last few minutes without mishap and the points were in the bag.
Referee Mike Conroy had a decent game - in that he wasn't very noticeable. Three Queens players were booked, one for tugging back Brian McPhee when he was making a threatening run, one for a two footed challenge and one for showing dissent to a linesman. Scott Tunbridge got a yellow card too for a second half foul.
Best for Accies were the central pair of Steven Thomson and Mark McLaughlin at the back, with Andy Arbuckle and David Carney doing well in midfield. It was great to have Andy back in the side after his long absence. Brian Carrigan was his usual self, bags of skill and good passing, but that miss just after the interval was genuinely dreadful. Brian McPhee did well and Stevie Convery, Scott Tunbridge and Stevie Convery all contributed. If I was to have any criticism it would be that Sandy Hodge had a disappointing game at the back and made too many unforced errors.
But there's no taking away the satisfaction that Accies will feel at having finally got a second home win under their belts. With Airdrie unexpectedly beating Clyde, things are tightening up at the bottom of the league. Accies will have to improve on this performance to take points from Clyde next week but they will at least have received a major morale boost from this result.
Hamilton Accies: McEwan; S Thomson, M McLaughlin, Hodge, Waddell; Tunbridge, Arbuckle, Carney (Fyfe, 68), Carrigan; Convery (Corcoran, 68), McPhee (Walker, 90).
Queen of the South: Scott; Paton, Wood, J Thomson, Craig; Burns, McColligan, Bowey, Gibson (B McLaughlan, 53); McNiven (Armstrong, 76), Lyle (English, 90).
Referee: S Conroy
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