2006-12-23 Gretna

Accies fell 11 points behind Gretna when they lost 1-0 at Raydale on Saturday.

Gretna 1 Hamilton Accies 0

Raydale, Gretna

Saturday, 23rd December 2006

Hamilton returned without a point from this entertaining game after matching their hosts for most of the game but once again succumbing to a defensive lapse. Billy Reid changed the selection and with a win important to keep up with the Raydale Park club in the promotion race, played Brian Wake from the start in place of Mark Gilhaney. Marvyn Wilson came in for James McCarthy who joined Mark on the bench.

Gretna started the better team, forcing Dave McEwan into a couple of early saves, but Accies survived the early scare and began to settle, Slowly they worked their way into the game and Paul McLeod brought out the best in Alan Main in the Gretna goal as he pulled off a great save from a fierce shot. Unfortunately Richard Offiong, while being his usual penalty area nuisance, slipped and strained his thigh and limped off after 22 minutes to be replaced by David Winters. Brian Wake moved from his position on the right up front on his own with Paul McLeod retuning to his more customary position on the right.

Accies continued to match Gretna and Main again came to the home side’s rescue with the last action of the first half when following a goal mouth scramble a header from Brian Wake somehow found itself into the keeper’s relieved clutches. Gilhaney came out in the second half in place of Paul McLeod who had been one of Accies’ better players in the first half. The game restarted in much the same vein as the first half with Dave McEwan keeping Gretna at bay. Accies then went up the park and watched in disbelief as Alan Main somehow tipped away Wake’s looping header from just under the crossbar.

Minutes later all Accies good work was undone when Colin McMenamin found himself in acres of space twelve yards from goal and gleefully headed Allan Jenkins’ cross into the bottom corner. Two minutes later Wilson was withdrawn and James McCarthy entered the fray. However Accies struggled to create anything of note for the rest of the game. Gretna’s right back, Townsley was fortunate to escape with only a yellow card after taking out Mark Gilhaney which affected Gil’s confidence.

So this was another frustrating day for the Accies’ fans. The team played well with Brians Wake and Easton performing well, but were undone by a defensive lapse. Playing a less talented team would have resulted in a win for Accies and they need to take this performance into the next three matches which will define the way the season will pan out.

Gretna: Main, Townsley (Barr 83), Grainger, Jenkins (McGuffie 72), Canning, Innes, Paarpalu, Nicholls, McMenamin, Graham, Skelton (Berkeley 78). Subs Not Used: McGill, Fleming.

Booked: Townsley, Main.

Goals: McMenamin 57 pen.

Hamilton: McEwan, Parratt, Sharp, Wilson (McCarthy 59), Elebert, Easton, McLeod (Gilhaney 46), McArthur, Offiong (Winters 22), Neil, Wake. Subs Not Used: McJimpsey, Jellema.

Booked: Sharp, Wake

Att: 1,226

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