Accies maintained their 6 point advantage at the top of the table with this hard fought win at Forthbank. James McCarthy deputised for the suspended Simon Mensing and made a great start with a well struck goal after just a couple of minutes of play. That was to turn out to be the only goal of the game as the Binos made it anything but easy for the league leaders.
With Dundee winning at Dunfermline by a similar scoreline, it's still very tight at the top of the table.
Stirling Albion 0 Hamilton Accies 1
Irn Bru League Division 1
Forthbank Stadium, Stirling
Saturday 22 March 2008
Accies held their 6 point lead at the top of the table with this result, but they made heavy work of it, with just an early James McCarthy goal separating the sides. Manager Billy Reid was forced to make one change, with teenager McCarthy replacing the suspended Simon Mensing in midfield. Stuart Taylor made a surprise return to action, being listed as a substitute for his first appearance in an Accies shirt since November. The home side had former Accies men Chris Aitken and Colin Cramb in their team.
Accies started the game in determined fashion and they stroked the ball about very well. An early goal was the perfect way to start the game and they got it after just three minutes. Alex Neil hit a brilliant crossfield pass to Mark Gilhaney out on the right wing. Mark exchanged passes with Tony Stevenson and James McCarthy before he took on the full back and got to the byeline. He then spotted the unmarked McCarthy calling for the ball just inside the area. Mark's pass was perfect and young James volleyed it low past the motionless Myles Hogarth in the Albion goal. It was an excellent strike and the sizeable Accies following were delighted.
Accies played some lovely stuff for the rest of the first half but they didn't manage to get that second goal that would have allowed them to relax a bit. There was a succession of half chances, with Richard Offiong heaving at least three attempts to beat Hogarth. The best of these was a header that went just past the post and Mark Gilhaney also had a decent chance but he volleyed wide of goal from a good position. The home side were finding it hard to penetrate the Accies defence but finally managed a shot or two near the interval that didn't cause Tomas Cerny any real anxiety.
The pitch at Forthbank was causing a bit of trouble as the bumpy surface made it hard for the Accies players to run with the ball. Alex Neil and Mark McLaughlin both suffered injuries in the first half but managed to continue to the interval. Alex was unlucky to be cautioned by referee McKendrick for a seemingly innocuous foul in midfield just before the break.
So Accies were pretty comfortable at the interval but there was bad news at the restart, with Alex Neil being replaced by James Gibson. Accies didn't dominate the second period in the same way as they had in the first half, with the Binos raising their game significantly. Accies did have some half chances, with Mark Gilhaney being a real nuisance to the home defence down the right wing. Richard Offiong had a chance to run at defender Laurie Ellis and clearly had beaten him for pace when he was brought down by the Stirling defender. Referee McKendrick decided that a yellow card was sufficient punishment for Ellis, but a great chance was lost.
However, as the game progressed the home side began to make inroads towards the Accies goal and Tomas Cerny had to make two excellent near the end of the game saves to deny them. Billy Reid had made a couple of further changes by his time, with David Graham and Richard Offiong being replaced by James Grady and Stuart Taylor. The assistant manager didn't manage to get too involved in the game, although he did manage to pick up a late caution. James McArthur fell out with the referee as well and was booked for a foul.
As the game drew to a close the home side threw all they could at Accies, with Myles Hogarth even coming up for a corner kick right at the end. However, they didn't manage the equaliser they craved and Accies held on for a win that they just about deserved, even though this was not one of their better performances.
At this stage of the season, points are far more important than pleasing performances and it was another potentially difficult game negotiated without mishap. Manager Billy Reid will be concerned about the fitness of skipper Alex Neil and it's hoped that he will be fit for next week's difficult game at home against Partick Thistle. James McCarthy was the best of the Accies players as he never gave up and showed great skill and composure in midfield.
Stirling: Hogarth, Nugent, McKay, Ellis, Paartalu, Aitken (McBride 75), Bell, Malloy, Cramb (Trialist 70), Rodriguez, Taggart (McKenna 70).
Subs Not Used: Lithgow, Christie.
Booked: Ellis.
Hamilton: Cerny, Stevenson, Easton, McCarthy, Elebert, McLaughlin, Graham (Grady 72), McArthur, Offiong (Taylor 82), Neil (Gibson 46), Gilhaney.
Subs Not Used: Swailes, Halliwell.
Booked: Neil, McArthur, Taylor.
Goal: McCarthy 3.
Att: 984
Ref: J McKendrick
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