2007-02-17 St Johnstone

Accies were defeated 4-2 by St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park on Saturday. The home side took the lead early on through Jason Scotland, but top scorer Richard Offiong equalised soon afterwards. Further goals by Scotland and Simon Mensing made it 3-1 for the home side, but David Winters pulled another goal back for Accies just before the break. The second half did not live up to the promise of the first 45 minutes and it was left to Filipe Morais of St Johnstone to score the final goal just before the end.

St Johnstone 4 Hamilton Accies 2

McDiarmid Park, Perth

Saturday, 17th February 2007

A sunny McDiarmid Park greeted Billy Reid's men with both sides looking to break he deadlock of draws this season. Having served his suspension, Marvyn Wilson returned to the side at right back. The first chance of the game came for Saints in 2 minutes with Simon Mensing rifling a shot goalwards but it was well held by Raymond Jellema. Shortly afterwards St Johnstone's Alan McManus limped off to be replaced by Steven Anderson.

Wilson and Winters sent some probing crosses into the Saints' box but they were fruitless. Accies looked like scoring in the 10th minute with the ball pin balling around the Saints' goalmouth, however a clearance from the defence saw Jason Scotland outstrip Marvyn Wilson and calmly slot the ball past a stranded Jellema. Five minutes later, another Accies offensive surge was cut short, Wilson was this time lobbed in defence, but Peter McDonald's shot blasted off Jellema and a defender and went out for a corner. This was headed over the bar by Simon Mensing. St Johnstone's Lawrie was booked for a trip on Gilhaney and during the resultant stoppage, Wilson was replaced by Tom Parratt.

Accies had a penalty claim denied after Offiong was shoved in the box, but the hoops kept the pressure up with Winters' shot being pushed wide. The short corner eventually fell to Richard Offiong who bundled the ball over the line to equalise. Two minutes later Saints answered back when Derek Fleming failed to clear. The ball fell to Simon Mensing, in acres of space once more, whose 35 yard shot was helped into the net by the crossbar.

Accies fans were worried when striker Richard Offiong required treatment after heavy tackle.

Physio Avril Downs was barely back to the dug out before her services were required by Alex Neil after a clash of heads. The drop ball from that incident came back to a static Accies defence who could only watch as a flick-on to Jason Scotland was slid past Jellema from 8 yards. To their credit Accies refused to lie down, and after a free kick for a foul on Mark Gilhaney, they strung together some excellent passes allowing David Winters to send a low drive into the bottom left corner of Cuthbert's net.

In the second half Tony Stephenson was replaced by James McCarthy and Offiong emerged with a heavily strapped left knee. Within 4 minutes, Alex Neil was booked for upending Jason Scotland. 10 minutes later, a struggling Offiong was replaced by Brian Wake who made his presence felt immediately, but couldn't quite get his head on the end of a superb cross from David Winters. After a heart-in-the-mouth scramble in the Accies box, Jason Scotland was denied a hat trick by an acrobatic save from Jelly.

Accies stepped up the pressure in the 75th minute with Parratt having two shots denied by Cuthbert. Soon after Saints' Peter MacDonald was replaced by Derek Lilley. Hamilton's forays into the St Johnstone half proved uneventful, and Coyle made his final substitution, bringing Filipe Morais on for Willie McLaren. Filipe Morais, on loan from Millwall, capitalised after a pass from McArthur went awry. He chipped Jellema and after hitting the bar and the left hand post the ball fell into the net.

This was to prove the final nail in the coffin, with only a hopelessly wide shot from McArthur providing any excitement to a decidedly lacklustre finish. Final score St Johnstone 4 Accies 2. MOM for Accies, in this reporters opinion, was David Winters for a superb goal and first class work-rate.

St Johnstone: Cuthbert, Lawrie, Stanic, McInnes, McManus (Anderson 10), James, McLaren (Morais 82), Mensing, MacDonald (Lilley 78), Scotland, Sheerin. Subs Not Used: Jackson, O'Brien.

Booked: Lawrie.

Goals: Scotland 12, Mensing 26, Scotland 42, Morais 84.

Hamilton: Jellema, Wilson (Parratt 19), Fleming, Stevenson (McCarthy 45), Elebert, Easton, Winters, McArthur, Offiong (Wake 59), Neil, Gilhaney. Subs Not Used: McLeod, Murdoch.

Goals: Offiong 24, Winters 45.

Att: 2,259

Ref: C Allan

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