Accies extended their lead at the top of the table to 6 points with this controversial win against Morton at New Douglas Park. Accies took the lead early with a well taken goal by James McCarthy , who latched onto an excellent pass by teenager Grant Evans and lobbed the ball over the advancing Morton goalkeeper.
Hamilton Accies 1 Morton 0
New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Saturday, 27th October 2007
Irn Bru League Division 1
Accies extended their lead at the top of the league to 6 points in this controversial match. With Accies leading thanks to an early James McCarthy goal, Morton's Chris Templeman appeared to have scored from close range with just a couple of minutes remaining. The Morton players and fans celebrated while referee Craig Thomson gave the goal. However, the Accies players were incensed at the decision as Templeman had apparently punched the ball into the net. The Accies players surrounded the stand side assistant referee and when the referee arrived to consult with him, Mr Thomson took the decision to disallow the goal. This then led to the Morton players charging back up the field to remonstrate with Thomson and his assistant and they were clearly angry that the decision had been changed. When the dust settled, Thomson sent both Morton manager Jim McInally and his assistant Martin Clark to the stand and showed a red card to Accies assistant manager Stuart Taylor, who had been an unused substitute.
So it turned out to be a narrow win for Accies and they just about deserved it for their first half display. Manager Billy Reid was forced into two defensive changes, with 17 year old defender Grant Evans making his league debut at right back in place of the injured Tom Parratt and Chris Swailes replacing David Elebert, who had failed a pre match fitness test.
Morton started the game brightly and were given the early initiative when an overhit passback was hurriedly thumped into the stand by Bryn Halliwell. They then won a corner kick, which was punched out by halliwell for another on the Morrison's side of the ground. The inswinging corner was met by the unmarked Stewart Greacen and his close range header flew just wide of the goal. It must, therefore, have been really disappointing for Morton when Accies then scored with their first attack of the game. It was a simple goal, with Grant Evans playing a nice ball through the inside right channel to James McCarthy. James saw that the ball was holding up in the strong wind and he lifted it over the advancing David McGurn from 20 yards.
Accies took heart from this and were in charge of the game for most of the first half. They created a string of decent chances but were unable to increase their lead. Both Brian Easton and Mark McLaughlin had headers from close range that missed the target, while James McArthur side-footed the ball past the goal when it seemed to be easier to score. The reason for the dominance was that the midfield really clicked into gear and David Winters and Richard Offiong were giving the Morton defence a tough time further forward. The visitors did have a couple of attempts on goal, principally well struck shots by top scorer Peter Weatherson, but Bryn Halliwell coped easily with everything that came his way.
The second half, until the late controversy, was a much more balanced period of football. Accies found it hard to get going and Morton played much better than in the first half. It seemed that both teams fared better shooting towards the Sainsbury's end and against the wind, than the did when the wind was in their favour. However, apart from one cross that flew across the 6 yard area but was missed by Weatherson, they were unable to cause much concern amongst the Accies defence. They also had a direct free kick from Weatherson that went just over the top.
Accies found Morton a much stronger proposition that Dunfermline the week before and chances were few and far between. James McCarthy was in sublime form, however, and one sweeping pass out to David Winters on the wing was magnificent. Brian Easton was yellow carded after what appeared to be a legitimate challenge for the ball was punished by Mr Thomson. Then came that late "goal" that will dominate the reports of this match and have disciplinary repercussions as well.
Grant Evans did well for his first league game although he was understandably a bit nervous at the beginning. Mind you, he did really well to set up the match winning goal for James McCarthy. Young James was given the "man of the match" award and it would be hard to argue with the decision. There were no standouts in the rest of the team but no failures either. Quite simply, if they had taken one or two of the good chances they created in the first half then none of the controversy about the disallowed goal would have mattered at all.
So it wasn't exactly a great game but it was certainly dramatic. However, it's another vital 3 points as Accies do their best to reach the SPL. Results elsewhere were very helpful and Accies now sit 6 points clear with vastly superior goal difference.
Hamilton: Halliwell, Evans, Easton, McCarthy, Swailes, McLaughlin, Winters, McArthur, Offiong (Wake 71), Neil, Gilhaney.
Subs Not Used: Stevenson, Gibson, Taylor, Cerny.
Booked: Easton. Sent off: Taylor
Goals: McCarthy 5.
Morton: McGurn, Weatherson, McAnespie, Harding, Greacen, Shields, Finlayson (Gardyne 69), Stevenson (Millar 46), Russell (Templeman 69), McLaughlin, McAlistair.
Subs Not Used: Walker, Graham.
Booked: McLaughlin, Weatherson.
Att: 2,562
Ref: C Thomson
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