Bell's League Division 1

New Douglas Park, Hamilton, 1st October 2005

Report by Gilbert Mowat

There can't be much in football that's better than playing the league leaders off the park. That's exactly what Accies did in this game, courtesy of superbly taken goals by Brian Carrigan and Brown Ferguson. Manager Billy Reid made just one change to the starting X1 from midweek at Perth, with Aussie striker Scott Tunbridge replacing Paddy Keogh up front.

The visitors settled better than Accies and Dave McEwan had to dive to save a shot by Simon Lappin. It was really just a training ground save though and it would have been really disappointing if a goal had come from it. Accies took their time to get going, but when they did they scored the opening goal from almost their first attack. The move started with an excellent cross into the penalty area from Derek Fleming out on the left. It went straight to Scott Tunbridge, who did his best to control it. The ball fell nicely to Brown Ferguson, who lashed it home from 10 yards out. It was great to see Brown follow up Tuesday's winner with another goal, his confidence must be very high after two goals in the last 12 minutes of football. The Accies fans in the stadium went bonkers, as you might expect.

Accies played some sublime stuff in the first half and the Saints midfield found it particularly hard to deal with Alex Neil's trickery. By the interval, John Potter, Kevin McGowne and Andy Millen had all been yellow carded for a variety of fouls on Accies men. Derek Fleming saw yellow too, for pushing a St Mirren player to remove him from the back of an Accies man. Saints had a few attacks before the break and almost equalised when a header from a corner was booted off the Accies line. That came from a corner that had resulted from non communication between Scott Tunbridge and the defence, with Scott heading the ball to safety when it could have been left alone.

As the half wore on, however, there could be no doubt that Accies were in control of the game. They nearly scored another when a cross was cleared from just under their crossbar with goalkeeper Smith beaten. From the resulting corner, however, Accies grabbed another goal. The corner kick was cleared about 15 yards out and Alex Neil's trickery was just too much for former Accies man Andy Millen. Alex went down in a heap and referee Dougie McDonald correctly pointed to the spot. Brian Carrigan made his usual expert job of the spot kick, thumping the ball high past Smith and running off to do his trademark somersault. Surprisingly, although we're all well used to Carrots' expertise from the spot, that was only his seventh successful penalty kick for Accies.

Accies were good value for their two goal lead at the break and visiting manager Gus McPherson made what he hoped would be a significant change at the break, with former Accies man Mark Corcoran replacing the veteran Millen. As it turned out, Corky had one good run in the second half but was otherwise well policed by the Accies defence. A subject of conversation at half time had been the fact that Accies never seem able to score more than two goals at home. Well, with the second half just a couple of minutes old, they grabbed the third goal that assured them of all three points. Brian Carrigan swung over a swerving inswinger of a corner kick and young Saints goalie Chris Smith really should have been able to deflect it over the bar to safety. Happily for Accies however, he caught the ball but fatally took a bit step back over his goalline. The referee and his assistant immediately awarded the goal for Accies and those members of the Accies support that wasn't cheering was laughing in incredulity. Scott Tunbridge had a go from 20 yards just a few minutes later but Smith did well to turn his shot around the post.

With Accies three goals ahead, it was perhaps inevitable that the visitors would do all they could to get back into the game. They were hampered in their efforts by an injury to Kirk Broadfoot, who went down in a heap without having been tackled. It looked like a nasty twist of the knee or ankle, but there was no request for the stretcher to be brought on and he limped off with Accies defender Mark McLaughlin helping the physio take him to the touchline. Ian Maxwell came on in his place. Saints made their third change soon afterwards, with Billy Mehmet being replaced by former Raith Rovers, Dundee and Millwall man John Sutton. This increase in energy led to the Saints only goal, when a cross to the back post was headed back into the 6 yard box where it was knocked into the net by top scorer Stewart Kean.

Accies manager Billy Reid made his first change of the game a few minutes afterwards, when youngster Mark Gilhaney came on to make his NDP debut in place of Scott Tunbridge. The wee guy was a real bag of tricks and showed that he could be a major player for Accies this season. The sluggish Saints defenders found it hard to cope with him and he put in a really impressive 20 minutes. Later on, Graeme Jones replaced Brian Carrigan, who received a standing ovation from many Accies supporters. Right at the end of the game, Sandy Hodge came on for Marvyn Wilson, who looked like he had picked up a knock. Sandy had little time to do much and the referee's whistle was sweet music to our ears.

Stuart Balmer won the sponsor's man of the match award, but it's hard to see past Alex Neil (yet again). Apparently George Fairley keeps reminding manager Billy Reid that it was he who found Neil and recruited him from Mansfield, rather than the manager. He should be proud of this capture as Alex is a player who should be in the SPL. Let's hope he can get there as party of a triumphant Accies team. Given the way that Accies have disposed of St Johnstone and St Mirren (the title favourites and league leaders) this week, it's not unrealistic to think that Accies might make it into the SPL this season.

Hamilton: McEwan, Balmer, Thomson, McLaughlin, Fleming, Ferguson, Wilson (Hodge 86), Neil, Carrigan (Jones 82), Tunbridge (Gilhaney 70), MacKenzie. Subs Not Used: Keogh, Jellema.

Booked: Fleming. Goals: Ferguson 6, Carrigan 43 pen, 47.

St Mirren: Smith, van Zanten, Millen (Corcoran 46), Potter, Broadfoot (Maxwell 53), Murray, Lappin, McGowne, Mehmet (Sutton 63), Kean, Reid. Subs Not Used: Baird, Hinchcliffe.

Booked: Potter, McGowne, Millen. Goal: Kean 65.

Att: 3,016

Ref: D McDonald

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