Accies staged a heroic comeback from 2-0 down to win this Broadwood thriller 3-2. The home side raced into an early two goal lead thanks to strikes by Gary Arbuckle and Dougie Imrie. Billy Reid made an inspired substitution after 35 minutes with James McArthur replacing Gary Twigg and James made a quick impact, helping set up Accies' first goal for Richard Offiong.
Simon Mensing drew Accies level after 56 minutes when he headed home a cross from Mark Gilhaney and it was Richard Offiong who grabbed the winner from another Gilhaney cross with 13 minutes remaining. Clyde had a golden chance to grab a draw when they were given a soft penalty with a couple of minutes left, but Bryn Halliwell dived to brilliantly save the spot kick.
Dundee's home defeat to Queen of the South means that Accies have extended their lead at the top to 5 points.
Clyde 2 Hamilton Accies 3
Irn Bru Scottish League Division 1
Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
Saturday 26 January 2008
This was one of those remarkable games that crops up about once in a season. A couple of minutes before half-time, Accies were a beaten, tired team. With Dundee leading against Queen of the South up at Dens Park, the dark blues were poised to assume the leadership of the first division. Then both games changed in Accies favour and they ended the day five points clear at the top of the table.
Manager Billy Reid made a couple of enforced changes for this game. David Elebert was sidelined with a hamstring injury and both James McArthur and James McCarthy had been ill during the week. Of these three, only McArthur was well enough to make the bench and the youngster was to have a dramatic effect upon the game after joining the action after 38 minutes. By that time, Accies were trailing by two goals as they seemed to have brought their poor form with them from last week's defeat at Firhill.
The game was played on one of those gloomy January days (the kind where the house is dark all day) but the pitch did pass the morning inspection. The park was extremely heavy but it was clear that the home side were fired up for the occasion. Former Accies defender John Brown was appointed as the Bully Wee's new manager before the game, but he left touchline responsibilities to Dougie Bell and Gary Bollan. The home team came at Accies from the very start of the match, with a powerful 20 yard shot flashing just past Bryn Halliwell's post within the first 15 seconds. Remarkably, Accies managed to repeat their poor defending of the previous week and they lost a goal in just the 3rd minute. The goal was created by a long free kick into the area from goalkeeper David Hutton. Brian Easton allowed the ball to bounce over his head into the 6 yard box, where Gary Arbuckle made a good job of firing the ball past the exposed Bryn Halliwell.
Worse was to follow for Accies in the 15th minute. Chris Swailes was penalised for a rash tackle just outside the area. Dougie Imrie added to his growing reputation by firing a brilliant left footed free kick into the top corner to give Clyde a deserved two goal lead. Accies just couldn't get going in the first half but the main reason for this must have been the attitude shown by the Clyde team. They surrendered nothing to Accies and were unfortunate not to extend their lead even further. Bryn Halliwell was the man who stood between his former teammates and a win bonus. He made several very good saves and one from another well taken Dougie Imrie free kick was genuinely superb as he stretched to tip the ball over the top. Bryn then clattered into the goal frame and could only continue after treatment from physio Avril Downs.
The Accies goal was under siege and it took a clearance from the goal line to prevent the home side from taking what would have been a match-winning three goal lead. Accies were making practically no headway against the sturdy home defence and Billy Reid made what turned out to be a decisive change when he replaced Gary Twigg with James McArthur. Twigg was visibly unhappy at being replaced so early in the game, but it would have been worrying if he had been pleased to be taken off so soon. In any event, the introduction of James McArthur turned out to be a match winning decision by the manager.
It was James who made a run through the Clyde midfield to feed the ball to Mark Gilhaney just outside the area. Mark took the ball wide of goalkeeper David Hutton and the ball rolled into the path of top scorer Richard Offiong, who made no mistake from 15 yards. It was now game on and the goal came at just the perfect time for Accies.
So at half time, Accies were trailing and Dundee were ahead at Dens Park. Had things stayed that way, Dundee would have been celebrating taking over at the top of the table and it took a stunning combination of events to gave Accies a five point lead by the end of the game. Basically, Accies dominated the game after half time. With James McArthur, Alex Neil and Simon Mensing in the heart of things in midfield, Accies began to take charge of the game. However, they still found it hard to create good chances against a Clyde defence that was playing out of it's skin.
There was an unpleasant incident that led to Clyde acting manager Dougie Bell being sent to the stand. Mark Gilhaney tried to retrieve the ball for a quick throw-in but did not realise that referee Mr Somers had awarded the throw to Clyde. There was an outbreak of the dreaded "handbags" and the result was that Gilhaney was shown the yellow card and Bell was removed from the technical area. (He went to stand in the front row of the stand just 10 feet further away!) Clyde found it hard to make much impression on Accies after the break and forward Dougie Imrie was booked for "simulation".
The equaliser, when it came, was a very simple goal with Simon Mensing flicking a Mark Gilhaney cross beyond David Hutton and into the far corner of the net. The Accies players, fans and especially the management team celebrated in fine style, with manager Billy Reid swinging from the roof of the dug-out!
Accies looked the better team for most of the second period, but they had Bryn halliwell to thank for keeping Clyde, and Dougie Imrie in particular, at bay. Imrie broke through the right side of the Accies defence but Halliwell blocked his low shot brilliantly. Accies, however, grabbed a well deserved winning goal after 77 minutes. It was again created by Mark Gilhaney, who had a hand in all three Accies goals. This time his cross from the right wing was prodded home by Richard Offiong from close range. Accies had chances to wrap up the points, with David Graham being sent clear through on the left. He hit his shot well, but Hutton was able to block.
Just as the Accies fans were beginning to feel good about what appeared to be a great victory, Clyde were awarded an injury time penalty kick. It was given for a trip by Alex Neil for a trip on a Clyde player as he headed out of the penalty area. Dougie Imrie wanted to take the kick and was visibly irritated when Michael McGowan insisted that he take it. In any event, McGowan powered the ball down the middle but Bryn Halliwell capped a marvellous display by blocking the shot. That was to be the last notable event of the game and Accies gathered those vital points.
Best in the yellow were Bryn Halliwell, James McArthur and Mark Gilhaney But this was an excellent performance by the team that may well prove to be vital come the end of the season.
Finally, congratulations are due to both Alex Neil and James McArthur, both of whom marked their 100th Accies game with this memorable victory. These two guys have been central to what has been achieved by Accies in the last three seasons and the club is delighted to have them in the team.
Onwards and upwards...
Clyde: Hutton, Michael McGowan, Higgins, Neil McGregor, McKeown, Smith (Roddy MacLennan 81), David McGowan, Masterton, Ruari MacLennan, Arbuckle, Imrie. Subs Not Used: McKenna, Bestvina, Connelly, Cherrie.
Booked: Imrie.
Goals: Arbuckle 3, Imrie 15.
Hamilton: Halliwell, Parratt (Graham 51), Swailes, McLaughlin, Easton, Neil, Gibson (Barrau 67), Mensing, Gilhaney, Offiong, Twigg (McArthur 38). Subs Not Used: Winters, Cerny.
Booked: Offiong, Gilhaney, Swailes.
Goals: Offiong 43, Mensing 56, Offiong 77.
Att: 1,214
Ref: D Somers
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