Accies 2 Partick Thistle 0

Accies restored their 6 point lead at the top of the league with this win against the Jags that was far more convincing than the scoreline would suggest. Richard Offiong opened the scoring with an excellent left foot shot midway through the first half and defender Chris Swailes made the points safe with a fine header late in the game.

Hamilton Accies 2 Partick Thistle 0

New Douglas Park, Hamilton

Saturday, 10th November 2007

Irn Bru League Division 1

Accies got back to winning ways on Saturday with this defeat of Partick Thistle at New Douglas Park. Although the margin of victory was not great, Accies were clearly the far better team and thoroughly merited the win. This takes Accies' lead at the top of the table back to 6 points, although that may change when Dundee face Clyde at Dens Park on Sunday. Manager Billy Reid made one crucial change to the team that lost at Palmerston, with Tony Stevenson coming in for James Gibson at right back. Gibson had acquitted himself well at Dumfries, but it made more sense to have a right sided player in that position. Gibson was on the bench, alongside regular subs Brian Wake and Tomas Cerny plus Stuart Taylor and Paul McLeod who had been missing through suspension and illness respectively.

On a windy, drizzly day in Hamilton it was the visitors who took the initiative early on but left back Marc Twaddle squandered several good crossing opportunities, with his crosses either being overhit or going harmlessly behind Bryn Halliwell's goal. Accies started to get into the game, with James McCarthy once again showing why he's been getting such good write ups with his energy and abundant skill on the ball. McCarthy came close to giving Accies the lead after 15 minutes when he took advantage of a flick-on by Richard Offiong to lift the ball over the advancing Craig Hinchcliffe. This left him with an almost empty goal but although he struck his volley well, defender Gary Harkins was able to block the effort for a corner kick.

Accies were attcking at will now and David Winters was given a great opportunity to open the scoring when he ran onto a slide-rule pass from Mark Gilhaney. This left him with just Hinchcliffe to beat from an excellent angle but although his shot beat the diving 'keeper it went a foot or so over the top of the empty goal. Happily, Accies were not to be denied and they took the lead after 24 minutes after a moment of genius from top scorer Richard Offiong. Richard went on a run towards the edge of the area, heading towards the corner flag. He looked around but had no-one open for the pass. Instead, he cut inside one of the Jags defenders before curling a beautiful left foot shot that took goalkeeper Hinchliffe by surprise and clipped the inside of the post on the way into the net.

Accies created some other decent chances in the first half as the Jags were overrun in midfield by the ever impressive trio of McCarthy, McArthur and Neil. Mark Gilhaney and David Winters showed great skill at times too and it was a surprise that Accies only had that one goal lead at the interval. If Accies had been much the better team before the break it has to be said that there was no real change after half time.

Thistle did manage the occasional attack when they got the better of the Accies midfield, but then they came up against the very impressive pairing of Mark McLaughlin and Chris Swailes and their attacks quickly petered out. Tony Stevenson had an excellent second half on the right side and looks to be the right choice for that position until Tom Parratt regains fitness. There was some minor alarm for Accies when Bryn Halliwell had to dive to his left to save a low shot from Scott Chaplain, but this was his only geniune save of the game and it was a routine one at that.

However, while Accies only had that one goal advantage there was always a danger that the Jags would come back into the game. That worry was sorted out 13 minutes from the end when Chris Swailes scored with a thumping close range header from a sweetly struck corner kick by Tony Stevenson. The kick was taken from the windiest part of the stadium and Stevenson was unable to make the ball stay inside the quadrant. The referee, realising the problenm, told him just to take the kick even though the ball was a few inches outside the proper area. Swailes celebrated his first Accies goal in great style as he was mobbed by his delighted teammates.

The second goal was the signal for Billy Reid to make a couple of changes, with Brian Wake and James Gibson replacing David Winters and Richard Offiong. Near the end, Stuart Taylor came on for Mark Gilhaney and the assistant manager came close to extending the lead even further. However, this time Hinchliffe made a good save. There were to be no further goals and Accies gathered all three points.

Richard Offiong won the champagne as the man of the match but decent arguments could have been made for most of the Accies team. This was not a classic game but it was a good performance by Accies and a very valuable three points.

Hamilton Academical: Halliwell, Stevenson, Easton, McCarthy, Swailes, McLaughlin, Winters (Gibson 78), McArthur, Offiong (Wake 78), Neil, Gilhaney (Taylor 86). Subs Not Used: McLeod, Cerny.

Booked: Neil

Goals: Offiong 24, Swailes 77.

Partick Thistle: Hinchcliffe, Robertson, Twaddle, Storey, Harkins (McKinlay 72), Archibald, Cameron, Rowson, Buchanan (Roberts 29), Keegan (Murray 59), Chaplain. Subs Not Used: McStay, Tuffey.

Att: 2,755

Ref: C Allan

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