Accies climbed off the foot of the league on Saturday when they overcame Kilmarnock at New Douglas Park. Richard Offiong was the key man with an excellent goal early in the second half.
Hamilton Accies 1 Kilmarnock 0
New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Saturday, 29th November 2008
Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League
Accies at long last climbed off the foot of the league with this narrow victory in a disappointing game in the cold and mist of New Douglas Park. The man who made the difference was Accies' striker Richard Offiong, who scored a beauty shortly after half time. Manager Billy Reid made a couple of changes to the team that almost won at Tannadice, with the suspended Simon Mensing being replaced by David Graham and Martin Canning coming in for David Elebert.
Killie probably had the better of a forgettable first 45 minutes, with Simon Ford's early header rom the pink-booted Willie Gibson the nearest either team came to a goal. Accies were trying to play their normal passing game, but things never really got going for them in the first half. Accies did manage one or two attempts on goal, but didn't do anything to threaten Kilmarnock, who were the more impressive side before the interval.
It was clear that both teams would try to raise their game in the second half and it was to be Accies that broke the deadlock just 7 minutes after the break. It really came out of nothing, with David Graham finding Richard Offiong in space and the young Englishman cracking the ball low past Killie 'keeper Damien Rascle and into the far corner for his 42nd goal for the club. It was a great goal and Richard has now scored in his last 3 matches. Long may it continue. Accies nearly doubled their lead a few minutes later when Mark McLaughlin came close but the ball was booted to safety.
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies tried to take charge of the game by replacing defender Garry Hay with Donovan Simmonds. The substitute missed a great chance to equalise but managed to thump the ball over the bar from close range when he ought to have scored. Accies had a couple of chances to put the game beyond Kilmarnock but they were unable to capitalise on them. Billy Reid used all of his substitutions as the game wore on, with James Gibson, Lucas Akins and Derek Lyle all getting involved. Tomas Cerny had a reasonably quiet afternoon but he made a superb save in added on time at the end from Simon Ford to deny the visitors the point their play deserved.
However, Accies held on for those 3 invaluable points. It wasn't a feast of football by any means but not many Accies fans will be interested in that today. After so much rough luck in the last few weeks, Accies got the breaks in this game and ended that unpleasant winless streak. They now head for Ibrox and a Rangers team that's smarting after their defeat at Tynecastle. No-one said that the SPL would be easy...
There were several good performances by Accies men in an otherwise forgettable match. Tomas Cerny enhanced his growing reputation yet again and the defence were really solid. The most important thing is that Richard Offiong has started scoring again, and it was hard to argue against the man of the match award that came his way.
Hamilton Accies: Cerny, McClenahan, Swailes, Canning, McArthur, McLaughlin, Easton, Neil, McCarthy (Gibson 87), Offiong (Akins 79), Graham (Lyle 76). Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Elebert, Ettien, Taylor.
Booked: McClenahan.
Goal: Offiong 52.
Kilmarnock: Rascle, Fowler, Wright, Ford, Hay (Simmonds 59), Taouil, Bryson, Hamill, Gibson, Pascali, Fernandez (Russell 74). Subs Not Used: Harpur, Murray, Skelton, Flannigan, Cox.
Booked: Wright, Taouil, Bryson.
Att: 2,903
Ref: I Brines
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