Accies went two points clear at the top of the league on Saturday with a narrow victory over the Doonhamers at New Douglas Park. The only goal of the game was a fine first half strike by top scorer Richard Offiong, his fourth goal of the season.
Hamilton Accies 1 Queen of the South 0
New Douglas Park
Saturday, 18th August 2007
Irn Bru League Division 1
Accies maintained their excellent start to the season with this narrow win against the Doonhamers. Manager Billy Reid made a couple of changes to the team that had defeated Clyde a week earlier, with Bryn Halliwell taking over from Tomas Cerny in goal and David Winters returning to the side after he signed a new deal the previous day. Neil Teggart was unavailable through illness. The visitors had a strong looking team, with no fewer than 4 former Gretna players in their side.
Accies created the first good chance of the game with a fine move down the right that concluded with a brilliant cross into the area from Tom Parratt. Richard Offiong met the ball about 6 yards out but couldn't divert it goalwards. The only goal of the game followed after 17 minutes when Richard Offiong dispossessed Andy Aitken 25 yards out. He strode forward and swept the ball past Jamie McDonald in the Queens' goal.
The visitors made their first change after this, with Stevie Tosh limping off to be replaced by on loan Hearts striker Jamie Mole. The visitors had a couple of decent chances to equalise before the break, with Halliwell saving well from John O'Neil and then James McArthur making a brilliant interception in front of goal to prevent Stephen Dobbie from having a tap-in. Dobbie had come on in place of veteran Jamie McQuilken, who was also injured.
Accies were unable to increase their lead before the interval but some of the passing football they played was a joy to watch, with Alex Neil in the heart of things and David Winters showing the good sense of the management in getting his signature on a new deal.
Accies were to suffer injury problems of their own just after the interval, when Bryn Halliwell rushed from goal to clear the ball from a visiting forward. In doing so, he collided with David Elebert and both players needed treatment. Elebert was fine but Halliwell had to be replaced by Tomas Cerny. Billy Reid revealed after the game that he had sustained a "dead arm" and that he should be fine in a few days.
As the game wore on, Accies began to dominate play much more. There was one moment near the end when a cross into Cerny's area was flicked just past the post, but apart from that close thing they were never really threatened. At the other end, Jamie McDonald had a fine game between the sticks as he saved several shots from Mark Gilhaney and others. James McCarthy (who had come on for the tiring David Winters) was unlucky to see his netbound shot blocked by a diving Queens defender and Stuart Taylor had a header cleared off the line. Accies nearly scored from a neat free kick move that saw Alex Neil cross the ball to the unguarded James McArthur at the back post. His header was good but it was well saved by McDonald.
Billy Reid made a further change with Brian Wake coming on for Richard Offiong. Big Brian put himself about pretty well and looked dangerous. There were to be no further goals and Accies held on for a very well deserved maximum points. Alex Neil was named the man of the match but there were good performances throughout the team. The win took Accies two points clear at the head of the league but no-one was getting over excited as there is a long way to go. However, it's certainly a good start.
Hamilton Accies: Halliwell (Cerny 54), Parratt, Easton, Taylor, Elebert, McLaughlin, Winters (McCarthy 67), McArthur, Offiong (Wake 75), Neil, Gilhaney. Subs Not Used: Davison, Swailes.
Goal: Offiong 17.
Queen of the South: MacDonald, Paton, McQuilken (Dobbie 37), MacFarlane, Aitken, Scally, O'Neill, Tosh (Mole 19), Bingham (Gilmour 81), Burns, Harris. Subs Not Used: Grindlay, Robertson.
Att: 1,764
Ref: C Brown
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