Accies suffered their fourth consecutive SPL defeat when they lost out to St Mirren at New Douglas Park on Saturday. The Saints took the lead after 17 minutes when Franco Miranda strolled through the Accies defence before shooting past Tomas Cerny. Accies equalised after 27 minutes when Mark Corcoran's free kick was deflected past St Mirren 'keeper Mark Howard. Billy Mehmet had the opportunity to restore his side's lead but his spot kick was well saved by Cerny. He made amends just before the interval when he scrambled the ball over the line from close range.
Accies improved after the break with both Chris Casement and Stephen Ettien impressing but despite plenty of pressure there were to be no further goals.
Hamilton Accies 1 St Mirren 2
New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Saturday, 18th October 2008
Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League
Accies slumped to their fourth consecutive league defeat when they lost out to a more experienced St Mirren team. As ever, Accies played really well for long spells but lacked that cutting edge that makes so much difference at this level. Billy Reid made a couple of changes following the defeat at Celtic Park, with Mark Corcoran returning to face his former club and Richard Offiong coming back after missing the last few games. Derek Lyle and David Elebert were left on the bench.
Accies opened the game quite brightly and Mark Corcoran almost gave them an early lead when his inswinging corner kick was just kept out by Saints keeper Mark Howard. Another corner kick from the left by David Graham was headed over the top by Martin Canning but genuine attempts on goal from Accies were pretty scarce as St Mirren defended very well. It was an entertaining and open game but it was the visitors who took the lead after 17 minutes when Steven Robb skipped past the challenge of Simon Mensing in midfield before giving the ball to Franco Miranda who advanced into the area and tucked the ball past Tomas Cerny.
Accies got themselves back into the game just 10 minutes later when a wicked inswinging free kick from Mark Corcoran took a deflection off the head of a St Mirren defender before beating Howard at the post. Accies pressed hard after this but it was the visitors who had the better chance to get back in front when Simon Mensing was penalised for pulling back Steven Robb inside the area. Referee David Somers considered the incident for a couple of seconds before awarding the spot kick and Accies skipper Alex Neil was yellow carded for dissent. However, it turned out well for Accies, with Tomas Cerny saving Billy Mehmet's spot kick and clutching the following header.
This only seemed to inspire St Mirren and they scored what proved to be the winner a few minutes before the interval, when a cross from Miranda on the left was headed back across goal by Hugh Murray and Billy Mehmet got just enough power on his header to force the ball over the line despite the efforts of the Accies defence to clear.
Just before the interval, the popup sprinklers in the Accies half came on unexpectedly and the game had to be stopped as the situation was resolved. Tomas Cerny was the unlucky man to be standing beside one of them and he was tripped up as well as receiving a soaking. It was later revealed that the sprinklers had been on a timer and the delay in starting the game meant that they came on before the interval. Richard Offiong was also yellow carded before the break for a late challenge inside the St Mirren penalty area.
Billy Reid made a change at the break, with Chris Casement replacing Simon Mensing. This brought more stability to the right side of the Accies defence and Accies were all the better for it. they went on to dominate the second half of the game, although St Mirren did look dangerous when they caught Accies out on the break. Billy Reid's second change was to bring on French striker Stephen Ettien for David Graham and the wee striker was very impressive.
Accies poured forwards whenever they could but the St Mirren defence was in no mood to concede them anything. St Mirren found it hard to cope with Ettien's trickery and he linked up well with the midfield and also with Richard Offiong. However, for all their territorial domination, Accies didn't create much in the way of genuine chances to score, with a left footed shot over the bar from Richard Offiong the closest they came. With Accies pushing forward so much, it was inevitable that St Mirren would find the occasional breakaway chance but they found Tomas Cerny in excellent form in the Accies goal. Lucas Akins came on for Mark Corcoran and he certainly added a more physical dimension to the Accies attack. However, Accies were unable to grab that vital goal and the points headed to Paisley.
Best in the hoops were 'keeper Cerny, Brian Easton at left back and James McCarthy in midfield. Billy Reid's men now face a tough double header against Rangers, with the Ibrox men visiting NDP on Saturday and a Co-operative cup match at Ibrox the following midweek. The manager was fairly upbeat after the game but his team will have to start winning games soon or the early season confidence will surely start to wither.
Hamilton: Cerny, Mensing (Casement 46), Canning, Swailes, Easton, McCarthy, McArthur, Neil, Corcoran (Akins 68), Offiong, Graham (Ettien 59).
Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Elebert, Lyle, Taylor.
Booked: Neil, Offiong.
Goals: Corcoran 27.
St Mirren: Howard, Ross, Haining, Potter, Miranda, Murray (Dorman 78), Mason, Brady, Robb (McGinn 74), Mehmet, Wyness (Dargo 74).
Subs Not Used: Smith, McAusland, McShane, Cuthbert.
Booked: Potter.
Goals: Miranda 17, Mehmet 41.
Att: 3,397
Ref: D Somers
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