Accies gave their hopes of avoiding the drop a huge boost when they defeated Motherwell 2-0 at New Douglas Park on Saturday. James McCarthy was the star of the show with a well taken goal in each half. Accies have now caught up with Motherwell, Falkirk and Inverness on points, although Accies have inferior goal difference.
Hamilton Accies 2 Motherwell 0
New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Saturday, 20th December 2008
Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League
Accies gave warning that they're not ready to be written off as relegation favourites with this well deserved win against a disappointing Motherwell side. In James McCarthy, they had the best player on the pitch and the 18 year old again proved that all the talk about him isn't just empty hype. He scored two fine goals and cleared Motherwell's most dangerous effort from his own goal line at a vital time. This win takes Accies to level with three other teams as the foot of the table gets really congested.
Accies started with just one change to the team that lost at Easter Road, with skipper Alex Neil returning from injury to replace Derek Lyle. Martin Canning was available after suspension but had to be content with a place on the bench as David Elebert kept his place.
Richard Offiong was on his own up front, but young McCarthy was playing an advanced role just behind him and the partnership worked extremely well. They carved out a good chance for Richard after just five minutes, when he headed the ball to McCarthy, who then flicked it back into Offiong's path. The striker had a clear run at goal but unfortunately his first touch was clumsy and the ball ran through to Graeme Smith in the Motherwell goal.
Motherwell had an opportunity a couple of minutes later when Chris Porter ran onto a long ball into the Accies half. Tomas Cerny was quickly off his line to clear but Porter collided with him. Cerny was able to continue after treatment but was certainly shaken by this. There was no suggestion that Porter's challenge had been malicious.
The game then went into a fairly turgid spell, with no real chances being created. Motherwell came close to scoring when Jamie Murphy nodded the ball just wide from a cross by Stevie Hammell and then Richard Offiong was thwarted by Smith when he tried to capitalise on a blocked shot by James McArthur. The visitors then had a couple of decent shots on goal, with Tomas Cerny taking two attempts to hold a long range drive from Paul Quinn and then doing really well to tip a half volley from Chris Porter over the top. That was to be Cerny's last involvement in the game, as he was clearly struggling after the earlier challenge by Porter and was replaced by Sean Murdoch.
Accies have lost more than their fair share of goals just before half time this season, so it was great to see them take the lead just before the interval. It was very simple too, with Simon Mensing heading the ball forward to a just-onside James McCarthy. The teenager strode forward before smacking the ball through Graeme Smith's legs. It was a tremendous finish and the Accies fans and players celebrated in style. Too much for referee Brines though, who cautioned McCarthy for his over exuberant reaction to the goal.
That was it for the first half and Accies came close to doubling their lead just a couple of minutes after the interval when McCarthy volleyed just over the top from a difficult angle. Motherwell had clearly had a stern talking to from Mark McGhee and for the opening 10 minutes or so of the second half they really gave the Accies defence a hard time. Decent crosses were fired in from both sides but there were no takers.
Accies suffered a major blow after 56 minutes when Sean Murdoch accidentally kneed Mark McLaughlin in the back when clearing a high cross ball. Martin Canning took over and played really well. However, McLaughlin suffered painful bruising to his kidney and may struggle to be fit for Accies' final visit to Love St on Saturday. Motherwell were in the ascendancy for the first half of the second period, but that vital clinching goal arrived for Accies after 67 minutes. This time it was another ball over the top from Brian Easton that caused the problems, with Mark Reynolds at fault. He tried to clear the ball but only succeeded in hitting it against James McCarthy, who took his time before prodding it through Smith's legs.
The next crucial moment in the game came when Smith launched the ball upfield and it ran past David Elebert. John Sutton got in behind him and Elebert appeared to hold him back a little. Sutton went down inside the area and it looked to be a clear penalty kick (even from the opposite end of the main stand). However, Iain Brines was too far away to be able to give it with any certainty and the assistant clearly didn't think it was a penalty. So Accies escaped and got their first break in a long while.
Motherwell kept up the pressure and Sean Murdoch had to dive full length to save from Chris Porter and then James McCarthy cleared a late John Sutton shot from his own goal line. The referee added 5 extra minutes because of the injury to Mark McLaughlin but Accies were not to be denied this notable victory.
There were several excellent performances from the players in red & white hoops, with Simon Mensing, Richard Offiong, Trent McClenahan and the assorted centre backs all playing well. But they were all overshadowed by that man McCarthy, who lived up to his reputation and will deserve all the plaudits in the press this week.
Hamilton: Cerny (Murdoch 36), Elebert, Swailes, McLaughlin (Canning 56), Easton, McClenahan, McArthur, Neil, Mensing, Offiong (Thomas 70), McCarthy.
Subs Not Used: Gibson, Stevenson, Akins, Lyle.
Booked: Neil, McCarthy.
Goals: McCarthy 45, 67.
Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Saunders, Klimpl, Quinn, Reynolds, Hammell, Murphy (O'Brien 58), Lasley, McGarry (Darren Smith 64), Porter, Sutton.
Subs Not Used: Nielsen, Malcolm, Fitzpatrick, McHugh, Hutchinson.
Booked: Klimpl, McGarry, Quinn.
Att: 3,527
Ref: Ian Brines
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