Accies ended their losing run with this draw against Falkirk - but it was a game that ought to have been won. Billy Reid made a few changes, with both Mark McLaughlin and Chris Swailes returning to defence and Martin Canning moving over to right back. More surprising was the decision to play with both Richard Offiong and Lucas Akins up front. Accies took a deserved lead late in the first half with an excellent strike by James McCarthy, but substitute Michael Higdon headed an equaliser for the Bairns just after the break.
There were to be no further goals and, despite this point, Accies have now slipped to two points behind 11th placed St Mirren after Inverness's win at Easter Road.
Hamilton Accies 1 Falkirk 1
New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Saturday, 8th November 2008
Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League
Accies finally ended their run of 6 consecutive defeats with this draw in an entertaining match against Falkirk. It could easily be argued that Accies deserved to win the match but they just lacked that killer touch in front of goal. The big news was that Mark McLaughlin made his long awaited return to the team after missing the last 11 matches. He was partnered at centre back by Chris Swailes, who had also missed the Motherwell game. Derek Lyle, Simon Mensing and Trent McClenahan all moved onto the bench, with Lucas Akins partnering Richard Offiong up front in a rare departure from Accies' usual tactic of playing with just one striker.
Accies got off to a good start and James McCarthy shot wide after just 4 minutes after good work by Lucas Akins. Akins himself came even closer 8 minutes later when his powerful low shot was tipped around the post by Scott Flinders in the Falkirk goal. Brian Easton made several great runs into the area and one of them ended with a cross to Lucas Akins. The big striker nearly scored but the ball rolled agonisingly just wide of the target.
A goal seemed likely and Accies duly got the reward for their efforts in the 37th minute with a well taken goal by James McCarthy. The youngster, who will be 18 on Wednesday, lashed the ball into the roof of the net after Mark McLaughlin's attempted overhead kick fell into this path. James celebrated in fine style and it was no more than he or his team deserved. Accies did their best to increase their lead before the break, with Lucas Akins heading wide and an Alex Neil free kick causing big problems to the Falkirk rearguard.
There wasn't much for Falkirk fans to enjoy in the first half as Accies were clearly the dominant team, but that was to change just a couple of minutes after the interval when towering striker Michael Higdon headed past Tomas Cerny from close range. The cross from Burton O'Brien had been flicked on by both Scott Arfield and Steve Lovell before reaching Higdon so it was a disappointing goal for Accies to lose.
There can be little doubt that Falkirk came into the game much more after the break However, Accies still made some half chances and Mark McLaughlin came close to grabbing an unlikely goal when he blocked a kick-out from Flinders, but the ball went wide. Billy Reid had made his first change by this time, with Richard Offiong being replaced by Joel Thomas.
James McCarthy as ultimately voted as the man of the match and he came close to restoring Accies' lead after 59 minutes with a well hit left foot shot that Flinders was happy to tip over the bar. He picked up a yellow card a minute later for a half way line foul on a Falkirk man as they threatened on the counter attack. Billy Reid made his final changes shortly afterwards, with David Graham coming on for Mark Corcoran and, later, Derek Lyle replacing the hard working Lucas Akins. Corcoran had done well from corner kicks, with the Accies players crowding around Scott Flinders and making his life very difficult. After he went off, Brian Easton took over with corners and he did pretty well in a role he was not accustomed to.
Accies were on the back foot for spells in the second half , but although Falkirk had quite a lot of the ball they rarely threatened Tomas Cerny's goal. Accies pushed forward in search of that vital second goal and Mark McLaughlin came close when he connected with a long free kick into the area. Unfortunately , there was to be no heroic return for Mark as the ball went narrowly wide of the target. Near the end, substitute Joel Thomas had a great run along the goaline but he was unable to beat Flinders. Falkirk had a chance or two of their own and when Tomas Cerny saved from Scott Arfield in the 90th minute, it was his first save of the game.
So it was two points dropped by Accies but they stopped the rot and put in a strong performance. Best in the hoops were the entire back four, who were certainly inspired by having Mark McLaughlin back in the team. Further forward, James McCarthy won the man of the match award for his non stop running and superb goal, while Billy Reid thought that skipper Alex Neil was the man who ran the show.
Despite the fact that Accies are now two points behind the team above them, there's still penty of confidence in the Accies camp. The SPL campaign now moves onto Tynecastle on Wednesday, with Billy Reid saying that he will make some changes to the team for that game.
Hamilton: Cerny, Canning, McLaughlin, Swailes, Easton, McArthur, McCarthy, Neil, Corcoran (Graham 66), Akins (Lyle 73), Offiong (Thomas 55).
Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Elebert, Mensing, McClenahan.
Booked: Offiong, McCarthy, Canning.
Goals: McCarthy 36.
Falkirk: Flinders, McNamara, Barr, Aafjes, Holden, Cregg (Higdon 46), McBride, Arfield, O'Brien, McCann, Lovell.
Subs Not Used: Olejnik, Bullen, Barrett, Riera, Staunton, Lynch.
Booked: O'Brien.
Goals: Higdon 49.
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