Stranraer 1 Accies 2: 10 September 2005

Bell's League Division 1

Stair Park, Stranraer, 10 September 2005

Report by Gilbert Mowat

Accies recorded their first league win since the opening day of the season when they defeated Stranraer in this game at Stair Park. Manager Billy Reid made several changes, with Steven Thomson and Mark McLaughlin replaced by Stuart Balmer and Scott MacKenzie, plus Graeme Jones returning to replace Spanish striker Gonzalez. There were a couple of familiar faces in the home side, with former Accies players Michael Moore and David Hamilton in their side.

Accies got off to a cracking start and were a goal up inside the first couple of minutes. Alex Neil was the man who started it all, when he made a surging run through the left side of midfield. This led to Derek Fleming firing in a low cross from the left and Aussie Scott Tunbridge was delighted to crack it home from close range for his third goal of the season. Things got even better after 24 minutes, when Scott was sent tumbling in the area by Stranraer goalie Barry John Corr. The penalty was indisputable ( as was the yellow card for Corr) and Brian Carrigan made his usual expert job of the spot kick.

Accies were now well in command and the two goal cushion was just reward for their excellent passing game. Alex Neil did uncharacteristically lose the ball on a couple of occasions but other than that he was pretty much running the show for Accies, with fine support down the right hand side from John Robertson and Scott Tunbridge. Further forward, Graeme Jones was having an excellent game but his style of play did not go down too well with Ian Brines and he was penalised several times after aerial challenges when little or no contact appeared to have been made.

Being a couple of goals down, the home side upped the pace a bit and they scored a good goal after 30 minutes, when former Accies striker Michael Moore, returning after a lengthy suspension, was allowed to turn in the box and crack the ball high past Dave McEwan. The hosts did have a couple of other efforts before the break with Dave McEwan happy to see a dangerous shot loop just over the bar and another header go over the top from a good position.

There were no goals in the second half but it was keenly contested by both sides. Stranraer probably had the better of the chances and forced Dave McEwan into a couple of good saves, but they were both saves that you would have been disappointed if he hadn't made. Stranraer flung all the had at Accies but the defence did their jobs pretty well, with John Robertson on the receiving end of a nasty crack on the head from Michael Moore when a goal looked likely. Robertson was patched up by Avril Downs and was able to continue and the "cheat" chants from the home fans were outrageous.

Accies did create a few good things too and Brian Carrigan probably should have scored when a Graeme Jones flick gave him a clear sight of goal. But his effort was easily held by Corr. Accies used all three substitutes near the end, with the unlikely sight of Steven Thomson coming on to play up front in Lee Hardy's shirt! Steish did OK in this role, but was never likely to trouble the scorer.

After a minor fright right at the end, when Dave got down to hold a low shot from the edge of the area, referee Ian Brines blew for full time and the points were in the bag. Best for Accies were the superb Alex Neil, Graeme Jones and Scott Tunbridge, although this was an all round good team performance. However, they did lose their way for long spells of the game and I am sure that will have caused Billy Reid some concern.

Stranraer: Corr, Swift, Keddie, Higgins, Henderson, Jenkins, Hamilton, Dowie (Marshall 14), Moore, Hinds (Shields 59), Ross (Walker 73).

Subs Not Used: Sharp, Morrison.

Goal: Moore 30.

Hamilton: McEwan, Robertson, Hodge, MacKenzie, Balmer, Neil, Tunbridge, Wilson, Jones (Hardy 84), Fleming, Carrigan (Thomson 84).

Subs Not Used: Ferguson, Gonzalez, Jellema.

Goals: Tunbridge 2, Carrigan 24 pen.

Att: 622

Ref: I Brines

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