2006-08-26 Airdrie United

Accies goalkeeper Raymond Jellema's record of never having lost a game for Accies was maintained when they defeated Airdrie United 2-1 on Saturday afternoon. The goalscorers for Accies were Mark Gilhaney (right) and substitute Paul McLeod.

Scottish League Division 1

Excelsior Stadium, Airdrie, 26th August 2006

Airdrie United 1 Hamilton Accies 2

Report by Gilbert Mowat

There were a few surprises in store for the Accies fans when the teams were announced. There were no places for the unfit Alex Neill or Richard Offiong, so Brian Wake came in to make his first starting appearance of the season. Billy Reid opted for a 4-4-2 formation at the start, with Javier Payo partnering Wake up front.

The home side settled better than Accies and for the first five minutes or so they kept Accies pinned back in their own half. Accies came into things more after that poor start and the most impressive feature of the first half was the fine performance of Tom Parratt at right back. The youngster did his defensive duties well, but it was his fine crossing and dead ball ability that really caught the eye. One cross that he whipped in from the right had both Scott Tunbridge and Javier Payo stretching but neither could reach it.

Mark Gilhaney was in decent form on the other side of the pitch and on several occasions he cut in from the left to fire in a shot at goal. One of these efforts came very close to giving Accies the lead but the ball fizzed just past the post.

There was a controversial incident midway through the half when Brian Wake was yellow carded by referee Mike McCurry for a foul on Paul Lovering. Some of the Airdrie defenders rushed towards Wake to remonstrate with him and Mike McCurry sprinted to intervene. The game was getting a bit tousy at this stage and both Mark Gilhaney and Tom Parratt required treatment from physio Avril Downs for injuries sustained off the ball that went unseen by the officials.

Airdrie did have their moments in the first period, with most of the threat coming from high balls played to former Accies favourite Brian McPhee. He was well marshalled by Mark McLaughlin but Raymond Jellema had to make a couple of good saves; the best being from a header from an unusually subdued Willie McLaren.

Spanish striker Javier Payo struggled to make much impression on the game and he was replaced by Paul McLeod just 5 minutes into the second half. Accies were on top now and it was no real surprise to anyone when they took the lead after 65 minutes win an excellent goal by Mark Gilhaney. He picked the ball up a long way out and ran unchallenged towards the penalty area. With Brian Wake looking for a through ball and other players steaming forward, wee Mark decided to have another crack at goal. This time his fierce shot was on target and it crashed past Robertson into the postage stamp corner; thumping in off the post. It was an excellent strike and the Accies fans were delighted.

The goal really settled Accies and they went looking for a second. It would have come too, had it not been for Stephen Robertson who made two great saves to deny Scott Tunbridge. The home side made three quick substitutions, with Brian McPhee one of those to leave the park early. Perhaps their midweek exertions at Tannadice were having an effect on them.

Airdrie tried what they could to get back into the game, but this left them a bit exposed at the back. This was to be their downfall in the 82nd minute, when Marvyn Wilson played an excellent through ball for Paul McLeod at the half way line. Young Paul got in front of the defender and showed him a clean pair of heels as he raced towards the goal. He took his time before slotting the ball neatly underneath the advancing Robertson.

Accies were in control of things by now and the two goal cushion was no more than they deserved. Billy Reid made his remaining changes, with Steven Thomson replacing Mark McLaughlin and Brian Easton replacing Scott Tunbridge. Accies were forced onto the back foot for much of the remainder of the game and were really unfortunate to lose a soft goal near the end, with Stuart Taylor heading over Raymond Jellema. It was a bad goal for the team to lose but happily it was the only one.

Right at the end of the game, Brian Wake got possession of the ball on the left wing and ran into the area. He could have passed the ball but was obviously determined to go it alone. He beat a couple of defenders and was just about to shoot when he had his legs taken away (not literally) by a defender. It was a stonewall penalty, but referee Mike McCurry decided instead to blow the final whistle.

This was an excellent win for Accies and the home side could have no complaints. No-one played badly but the standout performances came from Tom Parratt, David Elebert and Mark McLaughlin at the back, Marvyn Wilson and Mark Gilhaney in midfield and Brian Wake up front. The big guy didn't look like scoring but he did all the hard work and held the ball up well. A partnership with Richard Offiong could be something special for Accies.

Airdrie Utd: Robertson, Smyth, Lovering, Taylor, Christie, Tierney (McGowan 69), Watson (Twigg 73), McKeown, Prunty, McPhee (McDougall 65), McLaren.

Subs Not Used: McKenna, Hollis.

Booked: McLaren, Taylor.

Goal: Taylor 88.

Hamilton: Jellema, Parratt, Fleming, Turnbridge (Easton 89), Elebert, McLaughlin (Thomson), McArthur, Wilson, Wake, Payo (McLeod 50), Gilhaney.

Subs Not Used: Agnew, Findlay.

Booked: Wake.

Goals: Gilhaney 65, McLeod 82.

Att: 1,416

Ref: M McCurry

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