Accies were knocked out of the Scottish Cup for the second time in a week when they went down to a second half Zander Diamond goal at Piittodrie. Accies were the better team for long spells but their inability to take chances in front of goal cost them dear.
Tony Stevenson was outstanding for Accies and was unlucky to see his first half header strike the post with Jamie Langfield beaten.
Aberdeen 1 Hamilton Accies 0
Scottish Cup Round 5
Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Saturday 2 February 2008
This game will end up as the answer of the trivia question as Accies were defeated in the Scottish Cup for the second time within a week. Aberdeen took the spoils and moved into the quarter finals, but there's no disguising the fact that this was an excellent performance by Billy Reid's team. There were a few changes to the team that lost at Glebe Park, with Bryn Halliwell, Tom Parratt, Simon Mensing, Mark Gilhaney and James McCarthy all returning to the starting XI. New signings James Grady and Andrew Waterworth were on the bench after joining the club during the week. Alex Neil missed the game through suspension and it was young James McArthur who was given the honour of skippering the side for the first time. It was bitterly cold at Pittodrie but the pitch appeared to be absolutely fine.
Accies took the game to the hosts from the start and it was Mark Gilhaney who had the first attempt on goal after cutting in from the wing. His right footed shot was on target but Jamie Langfield tipped it over the top. Aberdeen came close after 12 minutes when Tom Parratt was correctly penalised and cautioned for a handball about 25 yards out. New signing Josh Walker hit a good free kick but it went a couple of yards wide of Bryn's Halliwell's goal. Accies came even close a few minutes later with what was to be their best attack of the game. Tom Parratt hit a fine cross in fro the right wing but close range Tony Stevenson's header hit the post with Langfield rooted to the spot.
The home side nearly scored an undeserved opener shortly afterwards when Darren Mackie lobbed Halliwell from just outside the area. Happily for Accies, he got his angles wrong and the ball bounced just wide of the target. Accies were giving as good as they got and Richard Offiong had a good shooting opportunity. However, instead of cracking the ball at goal he elected to try to lob langfield and the ball went over the top. Next to have a go was David Graham, who was giving the Dons defence a really tough time. He played a good 1-2 with James McCarthy but Langfield blocked the shot with his legs.
So it was level at the break and the home fans certainly let their players know how they felt about their efforts so far. As did the Accies fans, who felt that an upset was very much on the cards. Accies had been the better team in the first half but the feeling was, for them to succeed, they needed to score when they were in the ascendancy. The expected onslaught from the home side after the break never really materialised and Accies continued to show that there was no apparent gulf in class between the teams.
Brian Easton was gaining in confidence as the game progressed and he came close to breaking the deadlock with a shot from the edge of the area that Langfield did well to block. From the resulting corner kick there was a stramash in the 6 yards box, with at least one effort from Accies being blocked on the line. Aberdeen did have the occasional attack, but they found the central defensive partnership of Mensing & McLaughlin in fine form for Accies.
So it was against the run of play and a real bow to the solar plexus when the home side scored after 62 minutes, when defender Zander Diamond fired home from a great pass from Barry Nicholson. Bryn Halliwell did well to get something on the shot, but it went in off the inside of the post. Accies were not too deflated by this and continued with their neat passing game that the hosts struggled to cope with. Josh Walker had a decent chance to seal the game as Accies pushed more men forward to try to equalise but Halliwell saved well.
At the other end, both Mark McLaughlin and Richard Offiong had headed attempts that came close. Manager Billy Reid then gave James Grady his debut in place of Mark Gilhaney. The wee man fitted in pretty well as Accies committed themselves to almost all-out attack. Accies really did have the upper hand in midfield, with James McArthur and Tony Stevenson dictating the game. Andy Waterworth got a run out for the last few minutes with the excellent David Graham coming off.
Right at the end, James Grady had the opportunity to mark his debut with a priceless goal when he was sent clear on goal. Unfortunately, the ball got caught between his feet and Langfield was able to mop up. So the game ended in defeat for Accies but it was a very impressive performance by Billy Reid's team. The general consensus from the media was that Accies deserved a replay at the very least and would hold their own against much of the SPL.
That's very gratifying to hear, but the management and players just have to accept this defeat and get their heads down to concentrate on the big picture, which would be promotion to the top league.
The entire team played very well but special mentions have to go to the magnificent pairing of Mensing and McLaughlin at the back and Graham, McArthur and Stevenson in midfield. This is an exceptional group of players at Accies and they did themselves a huge amount of credit in this match.
Hamilton: Halliwell, Parratt, Easton, McCarthy, Mensing, McLaughlin, Graham (Waterworth), McArthur, Offiong, Stevenson, Gilhaney (Grady). Subs: Gibson, Barrau, Cerny.
Yellow Card; Tom Parratt
Referee; D McDonald
Attendance; 6959
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