Queen of The South 1 Accies 2: 1 January 2005

Bell's Scottish Football League Division 1

Palmerston Park, Hamilton, 1 January 2005

Report by Muttley

ACCIES got 2005 off to a flier as sensational goals from Mark Corcoran and Paul McLeod gave them a 2-1 win at Palmerston Park. In driving rain and swirling winds, Hamilton travelled to Dumfries with Mark McLaughlin, Derek Ferguson, Brian McPhee and Scott Tunbridge missing, while late fitness tests were carried out on Sandy Hodge and Stevie Convery.

While both were deemed fit enough to play, 17-year-old McLeod replaced Convery after just five minutes. Following a well-observed minute's silence for the victims of the Tsunami Disaster, the game got underway with Accies kicking off. The first chance of the half fell to McLeod in 10 minutes when he reacted fastest to a Corcoran slip after the winger had raced onto a superb through ball from Chris Aitken, but his shot from the edge of the box was well-held by Colin Scott.

David Hamilton tried to set up McLeod four minutes later with a cross from the right, but David Craig did well to partially clear and the striker's volley was off the side-netting.

Queens had a hopeful appeal for handball waved aside by referee Mike Tumilty in 19 minutes following a run and attempted cross by Stephen Bowey. Corcoran robbed Willie Gibson on the right before racing in on goal in 25 minutes but his long-range effort posed no problem for Scott, who mopped up efficiently enough.

But Accies took the lead in stunning style after 32 minutes through sheer determination from Mark Corcoran. The winger chased down errors by both David Craig and David Bagan before unleashing an unstoppable drive into the top left corner from the left corner of the box. Corcoran could have doubled Accies' lead in 36 minutes after a brilliant run down the right flank, but after beating Scott with a low drive the 24-year-old watched in anguish as the ball cannoned off the right post.

In 38 minutes the winger seemed to be off and running again on the left side, reacting to an error by James Thomson, who was fortunate not to be spotted striking Corcoran in the face.

A defensive howler in 44 minutes nearly let Queens winger Willie Gibson in to score, but his shot on the turn was superbly palmed past the left post by Dave McEwan. Four minutes after the restart Accies went 2-0 up. Paul McLeod raced onto a Chris Aitken back-header and coolly slammed the ball between Scott and the right post for what was an absolutely superb finish.

A minute later Craig tried his luck from close range, but watched in amazement as McEwan got something on the ball to keep the effort out. David Hamilton had a low drive from the edge of the box well saved in 52 minutes. But Eric Paton pulled the Doonhamers back into the game in 52 minutes with a superb curling free kick 20 yards out on the left, which flew into the top left corner.

This got Queens' tails up and they pounded Accies for the remainder of the game. Paton saw another curling free kick from the right, 25 yards out, superbly clawed away from the top right corner by McEwan in 57 minutes. Sub Gary Wood, Gibson and Bowey all had efforts on goal, none of which caused any real problems. But ex-Accies striker David McNiven - a late sub for David Bagan - nearly levelled in 84 minutes when he turned in the box and unleashed a curling right-foot effort, which beat McEwan but flashed narrowly past the right post.

But Accies held on for a well-earned, well-deserved, and absolutely vital three points.

QUEEN of the SOUTH: Scott, Paton, English (Jaconelli, 81), Burns, Craig, Thomson, Bagan (McNiven, 56), Bowey, McLaughlin (Wood, 56), Lyle, Gibson. Subs (not used): McColligan, Barnard.

Booked: Thomson, Lyle, Gibson.

ACCIES: McEwan, Fyfe, Hodge, Thomson, Walker, Hamilton, Convery (McLeod, 5), Aitken (Arbuckle, 71), Keogh, Carney, Corcoran. McLeod replaced by Waddell, 78. Subs (not used): Lumsden, Jellema.

Booked: Aitken, Carney, Hamilton.

Attendance: 1790.

Referee: Mike Tumilty

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