Accies 1 Queen of The South 1: 19 March 2005

Bell's Scottish Football League Division 1

New Douglas Park, Hamilton, 19 March 2005

Report by Gilbert Mowat

This was quite a game. It included a first minute goal by the visitors, a late equaliser for the home side which meant a unique record for the player and no fewer than two old fashioned rammys on the park. The outcome of all this was that for the second week in a row, Accies maintained their four point advantage over Partick Thistle at the foot of the league. With only 6 games remaining, the point gained in this game could turn out to be massively important by the start of May.

With Accies manager Allan Maitland having a full squad to choose from, he went with a front pairing of Pat Keogh and Colin Cramb. This meant that Lee Hardy was relegated to the bench, where he was joined by David Hamilton, sub goalie Raymond Jellema, Brian McPhee and Brian Carrigan. The remainder of the team was unchanged. There were several familiar faces in the Queens lineup, none more so that striker David McNiven, who had a disappointing spell with Accies a couple of years ago.

McNiven made an immediate impact in this game when Queens took the lead after around 53 seconds. They attacked from kick off and the Accies defence had to be on their toes to foil an early attack. Then they scored a relatively simple goal when Jim Thomson whipped in a great cross from the right wing and McNiven volleyed home from close range past a stunned Dave McEwan. The visitors came close to extending their lead ten minutes later but Steve Bowey mistimed his run and was just offside. He did run on and put the ball in the net, but was marginally offside.

Accies were generally second best in the first half. The midfield never really got going and the controlled passing game of the visitors was very effective. Having said that, they didn't seem to create any chances and the Accies defence were in charge of things most of the time. Accies did press forward whenever they could, but the crosses they delivered tended to be mopped up easily enough by the commanding figures of Brian Reid and Jim Thomson in the heart of the Queens defence. Accies came agonisingly close to an equaliser just before the break when Pat Keogh hit the post from about 10 yards. Not for the first time, the big man really ought to have scored. Steven Thomson suffered a broken rib when he was clattered by Doonhamers goalie Richie Barnard just before the break and he was to play no further part in the game.

Derek Ferguson was very fortunate to remain on the park after an altercation with Brian McColligan, who had committed a nasty foul on the Accies man. Ferguson reacted very badly and seemed close to headbutting the Queens player. When it all settled down, both men were yellow carded. I think he came very close to a red card at that point and was right on the borderline a few minutes later when he committed another foul.

Accies went off the park to some initial booing that was swiftly drowned out by applause from other fans. They had tried hard in the first half but chances were extremely scarce. I think the visitors were worthy of their lead at that stage.

The second half was better for Accies, although it has to be said that it wasn't exactly a football feast. The home side pretty much controlled the game after the break and I can't recall an attack of any consequence by the visitors. Lee Hardy had come on at half time to replace Steven Thomson, which meant that Mark McLaughlin reverted to his old centre half role beside Sandy Hodge with hardy on the left. Just as one of my mates commented that he wanted to see Accies get stuck in, Jean Phillippe Javary connected with a late tackle on Steve Bowey that left the player with a sore ankle. He received a well deserved yellow card, although Ian Scott could be seen complaining to the linesman that stronger action would have been appropriate. Javary didn't have that good an afternoon and he was replaced by Brian McPhee not long after the break.

After another foul, Derek Ferguson was in trouble again and I am sure I saw the referee reaching for his cards before he realised that he was about to send the player off. He then reconsidered, but it wasn't too long before Allan Maitland wisely substituted the player, with David Hamilton coming on.

The next barney happened when Mark McLaughlin challenged Brian Reid for a high ball in their penalty area. They had a wrestling match when they landed, which would have been sorted out easily enough by the ref. For some reason, Derek Lyle decided to get involved and that ended up with him having a disagreement with Colin Cramb. All four players were booked, although I thought Lyle could have been sent off. He too was hooked by his manager shortly afterwards and left the pitch to a chorus of boos from the Accies support.

Amongst all this nonsense, Accies did start to come onto a game in the second half. To be honest, I think the catalyst for the improvement was the introduction of Brian McPhee. The Bee went onto the right wing and he was back to his old best. A couple of great crosses were fired in from the right but they had no takers. Then, finally, Accies got it right after 80 minutes. A fine ball from the right was headed goalwards by Pat Keogh. The header was certainly on target but Richie Barnard reached to make an excellent save. As the ball rebounded to safety, Mark Corcoran was upended for a certain penalty. Colin Cramb stepped forward and rattled the ball high past Barnard.

After that there was only going to be one winner and Accies came mighty close to grabbing that vital goal near the end. Mark Corcoran had been switched to the left wing but had looked out of sorts, running the ball out of play a couple of times. This time he got it spot on and his cross was perfect for the inrushing Brian McPhee. Sadly the Bee's diving header was just too high. The visitors brought on the nippy Alex Williams towards the end but they still failed to make much of an impression.

Given the way the game went, it was a huge relief for everyone that Accies got the late goal that allowed them to maintain their lead over Partick. However, there are several nasty games to come before the end of the season and this was one that they could and should have won. Best for Accies were the defence and Pat Keogh up front. I was disappointed at the lack of mobility from the midfield and Marcel Mahouvé, Mark Corcoran, David Hamilton and Colin Cramb were all out of sorts. To his great credit, however, Crammy did have the guts to stick away that vital and historic penalty kick. It may turn out to be "massive" in a few weeks time.

Hamilton Accies: McEwan, Paquito, Thomson (Hardy 46), McLaughlin, Hodge, Javary (McPhee 54), Ferguson (Hamilton 68), Mahouve, Corcoran, Keogh, Cramb. Subs Not Used: Carrigan, Jellema.

Booked: Javary, Ferguson, McLaughlin, Cramb.

Goal: Cramb 80 pen.

Queen of the South: Barnard, Paton, Reid, Thomson, English, Lovell, McColligan, Bowey, Payne (Wood 65), McNiven, Lyle (Williams 84). Subs Not Used: McLaughlin, Craig, Scott.

Booked: McColligan, Reid, Lyle.

Goal: McNiven 1.

Att: 1,560

Ref: C Murray

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