Accies saw their lead at the top cut to just 4 points when they were defeated at Perth on Saturday. Mark Gilhaney scored an excellent opener for Accies after 31 minutes but two goals in 4 second half minutes gave the home side the points.
St Johnstone 2 Hamilton Accies 1
McDiarmid Park, Perth
Saturday, 16th February 2008
Irn Bru League Division 1
Accies came back down to earth with a solid bump with this defeat at Perth. The good news, however, is that they are still 4 points clear at the top pf the league. Manager Billy Reid made just one change to the team that beat Dunfermline, with Mark McLaughlin returning from suspension to replace Chris Swailes.
The opening stages of the game were undistinguished and the first half chance for Accies came to Simon Mensing, back on his old ground. However, the ball bounced too high for him to control it and the chance was lost. A few minutes later, Accies had Brian Easton to thank for an excellent clearance in front of goal when a Saints goal looked likely. Accies were playing fairly well but chances were very thin on the ground.
St Johnstone were causing concern with some attempts on goal but it was Accies who took the lead just after the half hour with a superb goal from Mark Gilhaney. The winger was picked out by a long pass from Alex Neil and he controlled it superbly before dodging past a defender as he cut into the penalty area before lashing the ball past Alan Main and into the far corner.
This was just the boost that Accies needed and they began to play with a bit more confidence. Brain Easton tried his luck with a direct free kick from 25 yards out but the ball went well over the top. Significantly, Alex Neil was yellow carded for a solid tackle on Rocco Quinn a few minutes before the interval.
Accies held the lead at half time and left the filed to an ovation from the healthy travelling support but it was ominous to see Neil coming back out early for a fitness test with Avril Downs during the break. As it turned out, he did restart the game before coming off a couple of minutes later with teenager James McCarthy taking over. Accies had the upper hand for long spells of the second half with Easton, Graham and McArthur particularly effective.
Saints manager Derek McInnes had made a double switch after just 53 minutes but Accies still looked the more likely team. As the half progressed St Johnstone began to lose their discipline with several bad fouls being committed and 3 yellow cards being handed out in quick succession. Billy Reid made a further change with Richard Offiong being replaced with James Grady. Brian Easton made a superb defensive block to snuff out a St Johnstone attack and was injured in the process. Billy Reid was on the brink of taking him off and putting on Chris Swailes but the teenager recovered.
The whole game then turned in the space of four minutes. Firstly, Liam Craig found himself in acres of space inside the Accies penalty area before thumping the ball past Bryn Halliwell. With their tails up, the home side swarmed forward and Peter McDonald took advantage of some bad defending to lob the ball over the advancing Halliwell. There were three Accies men on or around the goal line but despite their efforts the referee's assistant correctly decided that the ball had crossed the line.
Accies did all they could to get back into the game but only one decent chance was created, with James Grady being sent through on Alan Main. However, the ball did not sit up properly for the Accies striker and Main gathered the ball easily. That was really it for Accies and home side collected the points.
Accies did play reasonably well in this game, with David Graham, Mark Gilhaney, James McArthur and Brian Easton outstanding. However, McDiarmid Park appears to be a bit of a bogey ground for them.
St Johnstone: Main, Irvine, Stanic, Cameron (Sheerin 53), Rutkiewicz, Anderson, Quinn (Moon 71), Craig, Jackson, MacDonald, Weatherston (Milne 53). Subs Not Used: McManus, Tucuth.
Booked: Irvine, Rutkiewicz, Jackson, Craig.
Goals: Craig 77, MacDonald 81.
Hamilton: Halliwell, Parratt (Waterworth 86), Easton, Mensing, Elebert, McLaughlin, Graham, McArthur, Offiong (Grady 60), Neil (McCarthy 48), Gilhaney. Subs Not Used: Swailes, Cerny.
Booked: Neil.
Goals: Gilhaney 31.
Att: 2,973
Ref: E Norris
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