Report by Gilbert Mowat
Accies strolled into their first Scottish Cup quarter final for 39 years with an accomplished display against Alloa at Recreation Park. Manager Billy Reid made four changes to the team that had struggled against the part timers at the weekend, with Brian Wake, Stuart Balmer, Scott Tunbridge and the injured Brian Carrigan making way for Marvyn Wilson, Pat Keogh, Rudy Torres and former Alloa man Brown Ferguson. The inclusion of Wilson was a very welcome surprise and his outstanding display reminded the fans of just how badly he had been missed since the turn of the year.
To be honest, Accies killed off Alloa in the first 20 minutes with two goals from set pieces. First of all, Mark McLaughlin timed his run into the danger area to meet Juanjo's corner kick to perfection and young goalkeeper Paul Ferguson was given no chance by his header from close range. Marko celebrated in style and better was to come after 19 minutes when Alex Neil wrongfooted Ferguson from the spot after Rudy Torres had been tripped.
Alloa were only seen as an attacking force on the rare occasion when an Accies player misplaced a pass or made some other mistake, but their main threat seemed to be from corner kicks. They did win several during the first half but they were mopped up quite easily by the Accies defence, with Mark McLaughlin in his usual commanding form. Accies should probably have increased their lead shortly before the interval when Mark Gilhaney sliced the ball wide from the middle of the 6 yard line. However, although that was a disappointing miss the winger had an excellent first 45 minutes.
The pattern didn't change much in the early stages of the second half, with Accies controlling the ball for long spells and manufacturing the occasional chance. They had the Alloa goal under siege for a spell, with Rudy Torres missing what appeared to be an open goal and Steven Thomson having another effort cleared from the line. Pat Keogh should probably have done better too when he seemed to block a shot when he was almost on the goal line. The home team did turn up the pressure a little bit as the clock counted down, with Dave McEwan at last having to make a save worthy of the name.
However, there was to be only one goal in the second half and it came very late, with Brown Ferguson tapping in at the far post after good work by Mark Gilhaney on the wing. To his credit, the former Alloa man didn't celebrate the goal, even though it ended the match as a contest. That was Billy Reid's cue to replace the injured Mark McLaughlin with David Elebert and Marko was yellow carded as he left the pitch, as was Alloa's Ian Nicolson. Right at the end, substitute Brian Wake received the same punishment for what looked like a reckless and unnecessary foul inside the Alloa half.
So it was a simple enough win for Accies and they played some decent football to outclass the opposition. it was great to see Marvyn Wilson back in action and his presence allowed Alex Neil to take control of the midfield. Alloa simply couldn't compete with those two.
Alloa: Ferguson, Nicolson, Ovenstone, Townsley, Forest, McColligan, Grant, McGeown (Learmonth 28), Muir (Mortimer 65), Stevenson, Sloan.
Subs Not Used: Greenhills, Stuart.
Booked: Nicolson.
Hamilton: McEwan, Robertson, Juanjo (Wake 81), Thomson, McLaughlin (Elebert 87), Neil, Ferguson, Wilson, Keogh (Tunbridge 66), Torres, Gilhaney.
Subs Not Used: McArthur, Jellema.
Booked: McLaughlin, Wake.
Goals: McLaughlin 13, Neil 19 pen, Ferguson 87.
Att: 1,210
Ref: S Conroy
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