Tennent's Scottish Cup Quarter Final

New Douglas Park, Hamilton,

25th February 2006

Report by Gilbert Mowat

When these two teams met at New Douglas Park on Hogmanay, the resultant goalless draw was an excruciating affair. Although the result of this game was identical, this was a far better match. The fact that it ended in a draw will have surprised no-one, given the fact that Accies have drawn the first match in every round of the cup so far, plus of course the fact that the neither side has been able to win any of the three league matches between the sides this season.

Accies made three changes to the team that lost to St Johnstone last week, with the most important being the return of inspirational defender Mark McLaughlin. The weather was poor for this game with a cold blustery wind swirling around the stadium, but the good news was that a new stadium attendance record of 4486 was set, thanks largely to the fact that Dundee sold out the Spice of Life Stand. Attempts that non ticket holders made to watch the game for free were mostly denied by a police presence on the Sainsbury's access road and the denial of access to the grassy bank in front of it.

The game got off to a cracking start and Accies should have taken the lead after 5 minutes when Juanjo volleyed an excellent Mark Gilhaney cross over the bar from close range. He should have done better, but it was Dave McEwan who made the next significant contribution to the game when he dived low to his left to brilliantly save a netbound John Robertson header from a Dundee free kick. It would have been a bad own goal to lose but the save was really superb and many Accies fans stood to applaud the big goalie. A couple of minutes later Mark Gilhaney got a shooting chance when an Alex Neil corner kick was knocked back to him at the edge of the area. His shot went narrowly wide of the post.

The game fell into a bit of a lull for a while, with Accies continuing to look like the superior side. However, after 32 minutes they came close again when a bit of nimble footwork along the Dundee goalline by Alex Neil ended with Stevie Thomson chipping in a great cross that Scott Tunbridge, just a few yards out and unmarked, should have converted. I think Scott mistimed his jump because his header went well wide. Even better was to come just a couple of minutes later when another well-delivered Alex Neil corner found Steven Thomson 15 yards out. His header looped over goalkeeper Scott Murray but was headed off the line by a Dundee defender.

Dundee were not completely out of it though and they came very close to scoring themselves after 42 minutes. In a rare attack, some nice footwork by Tam McManus gave Kevin McDonald a great chance but Dave McEwan stretched out his leg to save from point blank range. Just before the break, Accies had a superb opportunity, with the Dundee defence caught upfield. Juanjo sent a pass to Brian Wake in the middle, but the pass was underhit and Wake couldn't take control.

The best chance of the game came straight from kick off in the second half. This time it was Juanjo who sent an exquisite pass to Brian Wake as he ran into the area. With the Accies fans rising from their seats, the big striker sliced the ball wide of goal from just 10 yards out. It was a bad miss but to the player's credit, he didn't hide and continued to lead the Accies line pretty well. He was beginning to win the ball in the air from Bobby Mann and a brilliant run through midfield where he beat two men was only stopped when he was fouled by Barry Smith, who correctly earned the game's only yellow card.

Wake was involved again after 64 minutes when some more brilliant wing play by the irrepressible Mark Gilhaney ended with a cross into the area. Wake sent in a glancing back header but the ball cannoned off the foot of the post with Murray beaten. Perhaps this was a sign that Accies were just not going to score. There were more frantic attacks by both sides as the game progressed but, apart from another good save by Dave McEwan from a long range free kick, a goal didn't look likely.

Manager Billy Reid brought Rudy Torres on for Brian Wake and Pat Keogh for James McArthur but as the game petered out it was the visitors who had more of the play, without ever looking like scoring. I think the Accies players had just run out of steam. Right at the end, Alex Neil sustained an injury and limped off, with Brown Ferguson taking his place.

So the teams will reconvene at Dens Park, with the provisional date being 7th March. This may be changed to accommodate Sky Television. It would be wrong to pick out the best players for Accies when so many played very well. Dave McEwan, however, made some game-changing saves and Alex Neil was just everywhere. Accies were the better team and deserved to win the game, but the replay at Dens Park will be very difficult match.

Hamilton Academical: McEwan, Robertson, Balmer, McLaughlin, McArthur (Keogh 81), Neil (Ferguson 90), Juanjo, Thomson, Gilhaney, Tunbridge, Wake (Torres 78). Subs Not Used: Elebert, Jellema.

Dundee: Murray, Robertson, Mann, Calum McDonald, Dixon, Kevin McDonald (Gates 60), Brady, Smith, McCluskey, Lynch, McManus (Deasley 70). Subs Not Used: Hendry, Craig, Britton.

Booked: Smith.

Att: 4,486

Ref: D McDonald

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