Accies wrapped up the league title with this win against Clyde at New Douglas Park.
Before a healthy crowd of 4940, Tony Stevenson gave Accies the lead from the spot after 21 minutes after a handball on the line by Bully Wee defender Neil McGregor. The full back was red carded and it was no surprise when Richard Offiong doubled the lead before the break with a fine goal. That was the end to the scoring as Accies controlled practically the entire game.
Hamilton Accies 2 Clyde 0
New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Saturday, 19th April 2008
Irn Bru League Division 1
Accies clinched promotion to the SPL with this defeat of Clyde that turned out to be pretty easy. As it turned out, closest rivals Dundee lost down at Palmerston, which meant that Accies could have lost this game and still lifted the trophy. Not that there was much chance of that happening. Manager Billy Reid made two changes form the team that won at Almondvale, with Mark McLaughlin making his expected comeback in place of Chris Swailes and David Graham coming in for Stuart Taylor.
Cheered on by a bumper crowd of just under 5000 and in a biting wind, Accies took little time to settle into their passing game and the Clyde team just seemed to be out of their depth. For a while it seemed to be like an extended game of "shootie-in" and the only surprise was that it took Accies so long to open the scoring. The goal was to prove to be crucial as it was coupled with a red card for Clyde defender Neil McGregor. Tony Stevenson hit a superb cross to the back post where David Graham leapt high and beat 'keeper David Hutton to the ball. The ball fell kindly for Simon Mensing but he was denied a goal by the outstretched arm of McGregor on the goalline. It was an obvious penalty and red card offence, with referee Willie Collum wasting no time in dismissing the Clyde man. Tony Stevenson once again displayed the fact that he has a cool head on those young shoulders as he wrong footed Hutton to give Accies a well deserved lead.
To be perfectly honest, the game was as good as over at that point. Accies did suffer a blow just ten minutes later, however, when skipper Alex Neil went off with an injury to his left ankle. Winger Mark Gilhaney took his place. Clyde did manage a shot on goal, with a dipping effort that Tomas Cerny held easily - even though the ball was clearly going wide of target. Shortly before half time, the word went round the ground that Dundee had gone a goal behind down at Dumfries. Moments later, Brian Easton ended a fine run with a neat pass to Richard Offiong on the left side of the area. Richard cracked the ball low into Hutton's far corner and the stadium erupted again. The players left the field at half time to an ovation and with big smiles on their faces - they must have known that the league title was in the bag.
The second half was a bit of a non event to be honest. Accies were content to play "keep ball" for much of the time and their goal was never seriously threatened by a poor Clyde team. Accies did manage a couple of good chances, with Richard Offiong just unable to capitalise on great work by 17 year old midfielder James McCarthy. Apparently under the watchful eye of a scout from Chelsea, James dispossessed a Clyde defender on the goalline before cutting the ball back, but Richard was just in the wrong place and the ball ran free. Mark Gilhaney had a good shot on goal after cutting in from the left wing but Hutton did well to save.
Billy Reid replaced top scorer Offiong with Andrew Waterworth with a quarter of the game remaining and the young Irishman did well without troubling Hutton's goal. Right at the end, Chris Swailes was brought on for the final minute or two in place of Tony Stevenson. There was no sound football reason for the change and it may have been an act of appreciation for the veteran's dedication in travelling up from the north east of England for matches all season. The game was now in "testimonial" mode and it seemed that everyone was just waiting for referee Collum to blow his whistle.
Then the referee did just that and the Accies players and supporters went bonkers. There had been a warning before the game that a pitch invasion by fans would not be welcome but in fact it was tremendous to see all the youth players and officials (who had been introduced to the crowd at half time) participating in the celebrations. There wasn't a dry eye in the house (at least, not for this writer), when skipper Alex Neil eventually lifted the trophy. It was the culmination of a fantastic season for Billy Reid and his players and also the result of 5 years of hard work by Ronnie MacDonald, Les Gray and earlier by George Fairley.
After the game, the players (still in playing kit), visited the function suite and also the social club to show off the trophy amidst the cheers of the fans. A large number of them also visited the Academical Vaults on Clydesdale Street which was packed with Accies diehards and a great time was had by all.
Of course, the hard work of preparing for life amongst Scotland's football elite starts now, but for the moment it's great just to savour the magnitude of this achievement. Ronnie MacDonald was quick to shoot down suggestions that Accies might now recruit some SPL veterans to bolster their SPL campaign and will continue to focus on youth development. For the long term future of the club, that's wonderful to hear.
Congratulations to everyone at Accies!
Hamilton: Cerny, Stevenson (Swailes 89), Easton, Mensing, Elebert, McLaughlin, McCarthy, McArthur, Offiong (Waterworth 68), Neil (Gilhaney 31), Graham.
Subs Not Used: Taylor, Halliwell.
Goals: Stevenson 21 pen, Offiong 43.
Clyde: Hutton, McGregor, James Gibson, Higgins, Bestvina, Wilson (Billy Gibson 54), Bradley (McKay 76), Ruari MacLennan, McSwegan (Arbuckle 46), Clarke, Smith.
Subs Not Used: Masterton, Cherrie.
Sent Off: McGregor (21). Booked: McSwegan.
Att: 4,940
Ref: William Collum
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