Accies blew the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table when they were held to a disappointing goalless draw against Stirling Albion on Saturday. Accies had the bulk of the ball, but the visitors defended well and were happy to leave Hamilton with a point. Dundee's draw with Dunfermline means that the gap is still 3 points, but there's no hiding the fact that this is a game that Accies should have won. David Elebert came close to scoring a couple of times for Accies and he was named as the sponsor's man of the match.
Hamilton Accies 0 Stirling Albion 0
Irn Bru League Division 1
New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Saturday 5 January 2008
Accies' less than convincing run of form on their own pitch continued with this uninspired goalless draw against bottom club Stirling Albion. The game was played in near constant rain and there was an unusually quiet atmosphere throughout. there was bad news for Accies before the match, with top scorer Richard Offiong feeling the effects of his leg injury in the pre-match warm-up. He withdrew and his place was taken by new signing Gary Twigg.In addition, Xavier Barrau started the game with David Winters missing out. There was a change of goalkeeper too, with Tomas Cerny taking over from the injured Bryn Halliwell.
It was the visitors who started the game well, with David Mckenna thumping a shot just a couple of feet over the top as Accies found it hard to get started. Accies nearly scored the opener when James McArthur headed a David Graham cross against the foot of the post with Scott Christie rooted to the spot. This turned out to be the closest either team came to a goal throughout the match.
Accies began to take charge of the game and Christie saved his team from an excellent David Elebert header and then thwarted David Graham. The former Gretna man cut in from the right wing before firing in a powerful left foot shot that Christie did well to block. The visitors did have the occasional counter attack but Tomas Cerny was a spectator for much of the first half.
The onslaught continued into the second half, but Accies continued to find it hard to penetrate the massed ranks of the Albion defence. David Elebert was very unlucky to see his diving header tipped around the post by Christie. The next near thing came after Brian Easton made an excellent run down the left before sending a dangerous cross into the box. It was headed out to James McCarthy 15 yards out, but his shot was diverted past the post.
Billy Reid made his first change after the hour, with Gary Twigg being replaced by Mark Gilhaney. Gary had a quiet debut, but genuine chances were few and far between throughout the game. More changes came after 70 minutes, with full backs Parratt and Easton coming off and Brian Wake and Tony Stevenson coming on. This meant that Accies changed to a back 3, with Alex Neil joining Mark McLaughlin and David Elebert at the back. This was no reflection on the performances of the full backs, with Tom Parratt in particular having been responsible for some really dangerous corner kicks.
For a while, the game resembled a siege, with Accies sending cross after cross into the Albion penalty area. Unfortunately for Accies, that one "unmissable" chance never did arrive and players took it in turn to shoot wide or head over the top. It seemed that too many times an extra touch was taken, or the players chose the wrong pass to make at the critical moment.
Stirling took advantage of Accies policy of all out attack and carved out a couple of decent opportunities of their own. The best of these was a low shot by David McKenna that went just wide of Tomas Cerny's post. As the game drew towards it's disappointing conclusion, Mark McLaughlin found space in the area but seemed to be barged over as he prepared to shoot from inside the 6 yard box. Referee Brian winters was unimpressed and both McLaughlin and Laurie Ellis were yellow carded following a bit of pushing and shoving. The last chance was typical of the game, with David Graham hitting the ball across the face of the goal but out of reach of the Accies forwards. It was just that kind of day.
So Accies remain 3 points clear at the top of the league but that shouldn't disguise the fact that this was a frustrating performance and a poor result. David Elebert was named as the man of the match and he was the man who stood out in the hoops.
Hamilton: Cerny, Parratt (Stevenson 70), Easton (Wake 70), McCarthy, Elebert, McLaughlin, Graham, McArthur, Twigg (Gilhaney 62), Neil, Barrau.
Subs Not Used: Gibson, Potter
Booked: McLaughlin.
Stirling: Christie, Nugent, Forsyth, Ellis, Graham, Aitken, Hay, Paartalu, McKenna, Lilley, Walker (Harris 77).
Subs Not Used: Taggart, Tomana, McBride, Hogarth.
Booked: Nugent, Ellis.
Att: 1,410
Ref: B Winter
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