Accies finished the year with a fine 3-1 win down at Cappielow on Saturday. Richard Offiong gave Accies an early lead, but his goal was cancelled out by a Russell goal just 6 minutes later. David Graham restored the lead for Accies on the half hour and a fine goal by Simon Mensing just before the break sealed the victory.
After the game, Billy Reid revealed that Graham had now joined the club until the end of the season.
Morton 1 Hamilton Accies 3
Cappielow Park, Greenock
Saturday, 29th December 2007
Irn Bru League Division 1
Accies maintained their good run of form against Morton with this comfortable 3-1 win down at Cappielow. Manager Billy Reid made a significant change to the team that drew with Clyde in midweek, with defender Tom Parratt returning to the side after a nine match absence following his metatarsal fracture. This meant that Simon Mensing moved forward into midfield and David Winters was on the bench beside Mark Gilhaney, Brian Wake, James Gibson and goalkeeper Tomas Cerny.
Accies got off to a good start with a goal after 12 minutes that had the appearance of a set piece that had been rehearsed in training. A long David Elebert throw in from the right was headed onwards by Simon Mensing and Richard Offiong nodded home from close range.
Accies came close to doubling their lead just a few minutes later, when Offiong almost dispossessed goalkeeper David McGurn. However, the Morton man managed to clear the ball just in time. The home side were keen to use the aerial power of striker Chris Templeman at every opportunity and this helped them to equalise just 6 minutes later, when the tall striker headed the ball on to Iain Russell who scored with a well hit volley. It looked like a borderline offside decision, but there were no major protests from the Accies players as the Morton players celebrated. (In fact, Tom Parratt conceded later that he thought he had played Russell onside.)
This goal gave the home side a huge lift and they gave the Accies defence a tough time for the next 10 minutes or so. David Graham came close to restoring the lead for Accies with a well hit shot that just went narrowly wide. Minutes later, he made amends with his first goal for the club. He took possession just inside the Morton half and ran at the retreating defence before thumping the ball low past McGurn from 20 yards. It was an excellent goal and a great way to celebrate his arrival as a properly signed Accies player.
The goal gave Accies the momentum they needed and they began to dominate proceedings. Their passing was excellent, with the return of Tom Parratt and the change of position for Simon Mensing giving the team a more balanced look and it was no huge surprise that Accies scored again before the interval. This goal was largely down to the perseverance of David Graham, who chased a long ball from Mark McLaughlin to the byeline. He then cut the ball back to Simon Mensing who had followed up and big Simon scored with ease. That was the last action of the half and it must have been a killer blow to Morton.
The third goal really was the turning point in the game and the second half was always going to be a disappointment after the events of the first 45 minutes. There were to be no further goals, although several Accies players such as Richard Offiong, James McArthur and even Tom Parratt had shooting opportunities from outside the area. The home side seemed to rely on the high ball to Chris Templeman as their default attacking move but he was well marshalled by David Elebert and Mark McLaughlin and the home side never looked like clawing their way back into the match.
Big Mark had another superb performance for Accies (as did all of the defence) and the news that he has extended his Accies contract for a further two seasons is terrific for the club. As the half progressed there was the usual flurry of substitutions, with David Graham, Richard Offiong and Tom Parratt being replaced by James Gibson, Brian Wake and Mark Gilhaney. By this time the game was over as a contest and the home fans were starting to drift away.
This was a really good, professional team performance from Accies. There were no failures in the side and all played their part. The fans left the stadium to the sound of The Smiths singing "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now". Not many in the healthy and noisy Accies support felt that way at 10 to 5 on Saturday.
Morton: McGurn, Shields, Harding, Greacen, MacGregor, McLaughlin (McAnespie 71), McAlistair, Weatherson, Russell, Templeman, Graham (Stevenson 62). Subs Not Used: Gardyne, Millar, Robinson.
Booked: Shields.
Goal: Russell 18.
Hamilton Accies: Halliwell, Parratt (Gilhaney 86), Easton, McCarthy, Elebert, McLaughlin, Mensing, McArthur, Neil, Offiong (Wake 81), Graham (Gibson 78). Subs Not Used: Winters, Cerny.
Booked: Easton.
Goals: Offiong 12, Graham 31, Mensing 45.
Att: 2,632
Ref: W Collum
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