2007-08-25 Morton

Morton 0 Accies 2

Saturday, 25 August 2007

Accies maintained their two point lead at the top of the table with a hard fought but well deserved win down at Cappielow on Saturday. Richard Offiong was once again the man who grabbed the headlines with two second half goals, the second of which was from the penalty spot. Home defender Jay Shields was red carded for the trip on Offiong that caused the penalty to be awarded by referee Willie Collum. There were a further seven players yellow carded, with 6 of them in Accies colours.

Morton 0 Hamilton Accies 2

Cappielow, Greenock

Saturday, 25th August 2007

Irn Bru League Division 1

Accies maintained their two point lead at the top of the league with this fine win over Morton at Cappielow. Manager Billy Reid made two changes to the team that defeated Queen of the South, with Chris Swailes making a comeback in defence and youngster James McCarthy starting the game in midfield. The players who dropped out were Stuart Taylor through illness and David Winters, who was one of the substitutes. These changes to the starting lineup meant that Accies had an unfamiliar shape to them, with David Elebert on the right side of the defence and Tom Parratt pushed into a midfield role.

The first half was an unremarkable period of football. Both teams had periods when they were in the ascendancy, but neither side was able to trouble the other team's goalkeeper too much. Accies came close to grabbing the lead after 20 minutes, when Mark Gilhaney intercepted a woefully short pass back from Stuart Greacen. He just got to the ball ahead of Morton 'keeper Lee Robinson but the ball trundled wide of the goal. For a moment, it looked like referee Willie Collum had awarded Accies a penalty kick for Robinson's challenge on Gilhaney, but it was just a goal kick. It took 35 minutes before Morton threatened the Accies goal, but Jamie Stevenson's shot went well over the top from a good position. James McArthur had Accies' best chance of the half just before the interval when he found himself in space just outside the area but his shot also went over the top.

The half had been punctuated by a series of fouls as Accies showed their determination to win the ball at all times. As the game wore on, referee Collum yellow carded no fewer than six Accies men although there was hardly a serious foul in the match.

It was level at the break but it only took Accies 7 minutes of the second half before they made the crucial breakthrough, and a fine goal it was too. James McArthur showed great tenacity to win a 50/50 challenge with a Morton defender and he then released Mark Gilhaney down the left wing. Mark beat the defender and got to the byeline before looking up to see that Richard Offiong had made a good run to the edge of the 6 yard box. Mark's cross was perfect, as was Richard's textbook downward header to give Accies the lead.

Things got even better for Accies after 66 minutes when Tom Parratt sent a perfect pass into Richard Offiong's path. He darted into the area and his pace was too much for Morton defender Jay Shields. The player clearly tripped Offiong when he was about to shoot and the referee had no option other than to award the penalty kick and send off the Morton man. It was not a malicious foul, but he did deny Offiong a clear goalscoring opportunity. Richard made his usual clinical job of the penalty for his 6th goal of the season. It is interesting to note that Accies have now benefited from winning penalty kicks and having the opposition reduced to 10 men in three of the four league matches they have played this season.

Accies were now well in control of the game and they enjoyed having both the two goal cushion and the extra space provided by the reduction in numbers of the Morton team. The home side had already committed all of their substitutes by this time, so Jim McInally couldn't do anything to change his side. Billy Reid took the opportunity to rest both Mark Mclaughlin and Richard Offiong with 20 minutes remaining. James Gibson and Brian Wake took their places. It was great to see both McLaughlin and Offiong receiving an ovation from the Accies fans as they warmed down. Morton did try their best to make an impression on the Accies defence and Chris Templeman had both a header and a crisp shot that warmed Bryn Halliwell's hands. However, the Accies goalkeeper was well positioned to save on both occasions.

Accies were naturally keen to stretch their lead even further and nearly did so when Brian Easton got to the byeline and fired in a low cross. It was deflected over his own crossbar by Ryan Harding but it was a close thing. Billy Reid made his final change after 79 minutes, with Paul McLeod replacing Tom Parratt. Accies continued to run the show but there were to be no further goals.

This was an excellent win for Accies against a team that had been unbeaten so far. Best for Accies were the magnificent Mark McLaughlin at the back, Alex Neil, Mark Gilhaney and James McArthur in midfield plus of course Richard Offiong up front. Richard found it hard to get into the game in the first half but is very quick and he certainly knows where the goal is. There were no failures in the Accies team and confidence in the camp is very high. Long may it continue.

After the match, Billy Reid repeated his statement that the club plans to strengthen the squad with two or three signings before the transfer window closes on Friday night. Along with a tricky trip to Berwick for a CIS Cup tie, that should make it an interesting week for Accies prior to the Firhill game next Saturday.

Morton: Robinson, Harding, Greacen, Keenan, Shields, Millar (Finlayson 55), Stevenson (Coakley 55), McAlistair, Walker (McAnespie 28), Weatherson, Templeman. Subs Not Used: Graham, McGurn.

Sent Off: Shields (65).

Booked: Templeman.

Hamilton: Halliwell, Parratt (McLeod 79), Elebert, McLaughlin (Gibson 72), Easton, McArthur, Swailes, McCarthy, Neil, Gilhaney, Offiong (Wake 72). Subs Not Used: Winters, Cerny.

Booked: Swailes, McCarthy, Parratt, McArthur, McLaughlin, Elebert.

Goals: Offiong 52, 66 pen.

Att: 3,189

Ref: W Collum

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