2006-08-30 Gretna

Accies were knocked out of the Challenge Cup at Gretna on 30th August, a match that was to signal the end of the Accies career of former captain Steven Thomson.

Challenge Cup Round 2

Raydale, Gretna, 30th August 2006

Gretna 3 Hamilton Accies 1

Report by Gilbert Mowat

Accies were knocked out of the Challenge Cup by an experienced Gretna side at Raydale on Wednesday evening. Manager Billy Reid made several changes to the side that had defeated Airdrie United at the weekend, with Hearts youngster John Neill making his debut on midfield after joining the club earlier in the day. There was no place in the team for regulars like David McEwan, Mark McLaughlin, Alex Neil, Richard Offiong and Scott Tunbridge, so the accent was very firmly on youth.

Accies had hardly got started before they found themselves a goal behind. Steven Thomson, playing on the right side of a three man defence, mistimed a header, leaving Ryan Baldacchino clear on the wing. He swung over a high cross to the back post where it was headed back into the middle for David Graham to net from close range. It was a sore one to lose and it immediately brought back memories of Accies' last visit to Raydale just three weeks ago, when they conceded 6 goals without reply.

Accies didn't let the early setback knock them out of their stride for too long and they quickly created a good chance with some good work by Tom Parratt (playing in an advanced midfield role) and Brian Wake. The ball was eventually passed to Mark Gilhaney 15 yards out but David Mathieson got down well to make the save. Accies got the equaliser they just about deserved after 17 minutes, when Mark Gilhaney made an excellent run down the left wing. He had two players to pick from in the middle but it was the debutant John Neill who was there to thump the ball home from close range.

Accies enjoyed a good spell for a while but as the half wore on the home team were clearly that bit better than the young Accies team. They began to pass the ball really well and Baldacchino was a thorn in the side of the Accies defence. Another goal looked likely and they had a few near misses, but when the second goal came it was eminently avoidable. The home side won a corner and no-one noticed Davie Nicholls standing on his own 25 yards out. The ball was cut back to him and he fired in a venomous shot that Raymond Jellema did well to save. The ball bobbled about in the 6 yard box and was eventually lashed into the roof of the net by Derek Townsley. It was 2-1 for the home side at the break and it was hard to argue that they deserved their slender lead.

The game was effectively finished as a contest just 6 minutes after the break when David Elebert fouled a Gretna player inside the area. It was an easy decision for the referee to make and Ryan McGuffie just beat Raymond Jellema with a low shot. To be honest, the scoreline did not flatter the home team, who had seen Kenny Deuchar crash a shot against the crossbar shortly before the third goal. Gretna did their utmost to extend their lead but the quality of the finishing was not great. Accies managed to create a couple of half chances but Paul McLeod was unable to test the goalkeeper on either occasion.

McLeod had replaced John Neil, with Ross McCabe coming on for Steven Thomson in a double change after 65 minutes. Accies played reasonably well during the final spell of the game but the final result was never in question. David Elebert picked up a caution for a foul near the end but this was not a dirty game.

So although there is always disappointment in defeat and the expulsion from a Cup that has been good to Accies in the past, there are many positives to be taken from the game. Youngsters like Tom Parratt, John Neill, Brian Easton and especially James McArthur can only have benefited from playing a good hard game against quality opposition. When the key players mentioned at the top of this report make a comeback, this will be an Accies team that will be able to compete with anyone in the league.

Gretna: Mathieson, MacFarlane, McQuilken, McGuffie, Townsley, Innes, Baldacchino (Berkeley 88), McGill, Deuchar (Bingham 82), Graham, Nicholls.

Subs Not Used: Barr, Jenkins, Fleming.

Goals: Graham 3, Townsley 42, McGuffie 51 pen.

Hamilton: Jellema, Parratt, Fleming, Thomson (McLeod 65), Elebert, Easton, McArthur, Wilson, Wake, John Neill (McCabe 65), Gilhaney.

Subs Not Used: Agnew, Galloway, White.

Booked: Elebert.

Goals: John Neill 17.

Att: 841.

Ref: M Stroule

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