Accies extended their lead at the top of the league to 3 points with a hard fought but ultimately well deserved win against the Doonhamers on Wednesday. James McArthur got the only goal of the game in the second half with his first ever headed goal.
Hamilton Accies 1 Queen of the South 0
Irn Bru League Division 1
New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Wednesday 2 January 2008
Prior to this game, there was a minute's applause in memory of Motherwell captain and Hamilton resident Phil O'Donnell, who collapsed and died during his team's game against Dundee United at the weekend. It was impeccably observed, with some fans bursting into a rendition of "There's only one Phil O'Donnell."
For the match itself, Billy Reid was forced into making one change. Simon Mensing's loan from Motherwell having expired, the big midfielder was replaced by David Winters. Mensing sat in the stand alongside striker Gary Twigg, who has agreed terms to join Accies until the end of the 2008/9 season. This gave David Winters the opportunity to return to the team. There was no place in the 16 for striker Brian Wake, who sustained a foot injury in training the previous day. New signing Xavier Barrau from Darlington was on the bench.
On a very cold and blustery day, Accies lost the toss and defended the Sainsbury's end in the first half. They had the wind at their backs but it took them some time to settle into their familiar passing rhythm. Accies found it hard to control the ball and also to penetrate the Queens defence in the first half. David Graham was perhaps their most effective forward player and he was very unlucky with one ferocious shot that beat Jamie McDonald but went narrowly past the far post.
The visitors did manage the occasional foray up the park but most of their moves ended with a misplaced pass or a well timed tackle by the Accies defence. Bryn Halliwell was seldom tested in the Accies goal but he sustained what was described as a "dead leg" shortly before the interval. He managed to limp off the pitch at the break, with Czech goalkeeper Tomas Cerny taking over.
The visitors now had wind advantage and this gave them some encouragement to venture forwards. Indeed, they were always dangerous from set pieces, with the Accies defence really being tested by their crosses into the area and long throw-ins.
It seemed that a change was needed by Accies and Billy Reid introduced Xavier Barrau for the subdued David Winters just after an hour. Almost immediately, Richard Offiong had a great chance to threaten the Doonhamers goal when he broke though the midfield. However, rather than pass the ball out wide towards Barrau, Richard charged forwards as fast as possible. When he was blocked, he managed to squeeze the ball through to the ever enthusiastic James McCarthy. James managed to shoot, but the ball trundled just wide of the target.
At this stage, Xavier Barrau started to get involved in the game and he certainly showed that he has an abundance of skill. He was in sparkling form on the left side of midfield and produced a brilliant run and cross that went over to David Graham at the back post. Graham knocked the ball down but Richard Offiong's shot went just wide of the mark from just 6 yards out.
With the game beginning to open up, a goal seemed inevitable and happily it was Accies who scored after 71 minutes. After a good spell of possession, the ball was passed back to Tom Parratt to cross into the middle. The ball hung in the wind a little and this gave James McArthur the chance to head the ball over the advancing goalkeeper and just over the line. It wasn't the most convincing header of all time, but it was the youngster's first ever headed goal and certainly a good reason for celebration.
Accies went in search of a second goal but it wasn't to materialise. Richard Offiong seemed to pull a muscle 10 minutes after the goal and he was replaced by Mark Gilhaney. The visitors did all they could to get back into the game and they certainly had the chances to do so. In fact, if their finishing had been up to standard they would surely have left NDP with a point. However, the best save of the match came from Tomas Cerny, who had to dive full length to tip a netbound David Elebert header around the post.
So it was a very welcome home win for Accies and the news of the draw at McDiarmid Park made it a very good day for the club. Best in the hoops were man of the match David Graham and the "James Gang" of McArthur and McCarthy. Xavier Barrau made a very impressive first appearance and his signing until the end of the season could well turn out to be a great piece of business by the club.
But there's a long way to go yet.
Hamilton: Halliwell (Cerny 46), Parratt, Easton, McCarthy, Elebert, McLaughlin, Winters (Barrau 61), McArthur, Offiong (Gilhaney 81), Neil, Graham. Subs Not Used: Stevenson, Gibson.
Goals: McArthur 71.
Queen of South: MacDonald, Paton, McQuilken, Robertson, Aitken, Thomson, Harris, Tosh (Gilmour 85), O'Neill (Campbell 76), Burns, Stewart (Dobbie 72). Subs Not Used: Martin, MacFarlane.
Att: 2,298
Ref: S Conroy
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