Motherwell 2 Accies 0

Accies were left on the foot of the table on Saturday when they lost 2-0 at Fir Park. Motherwell were clearly deserved winners, with little going right for Accies on the day. Perhaps one crumb of comfort was the performance by Brian Easton, who was outstanding at left back.

Motherwell 2 Hamilton Accies 0

Fir Park, Motherwell

Saturday, 1st November 2008

Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League

No-one at this game would dispute the fact that the better side won. Motherwell were just that bit quicker in thought and action than Accies and could have won by more than just the two goal margin. Accies boss Billy Reid restored Martin Canning and Simon Mensing to the team after they missed the trip to Ibrox. He left out Lucas Akins and James McCarthy and brought in Derek Lyle on the right side of midfield and Richard Offiong up front.

Accies settled down quite well and Richard Offiong was clearly in the mood to end his barren spell in front of goal. However, his 10th minute turn and low shot after a low cross by Mark Corcoran did not really trouble Graeme Smith in the home goal. Tomas Cerny was the busier 'keeper and he did well to tip a Chris Porter shot past the post. Bob Malcolm had an opportunity from a free kick but he thumped it against the wall. His next free kick, awarded for a soft tackle by Alex Neil on Stephen Hughes, was nodded home by Porter.

Accies tried to get back into the game right away and Brian Easton sent Mark Corcoran clear on the left with a brilliant pass. Unfortunately, the assistant referee on the far side raised his flag as he judged the player offside but many felt he looked to be in an onside position. Accies' best chance of the game came just a few minutes before the break when some good play by ex 'Well man Simon Mensing sent Mark Corcoran clear through on goal. Unfortunately, Mark was unable to add to his goal tally for Accies as he dragged the ball wide of the target.

Motherwell clearly had the upper hand in the first half and they went in search of further goals after he interval. They were unlucky to be denied in the 53rd minute when Chris Porter headed the ball past Tomas Cerny only for the ball to rebound to the Accies 'keeper off the back post. A few minutes later, he scorned another chance when he ran onto a long ball through the Accies defence but although he lifted the ball over Cerny, he missed the target.

Billy Reid decided it was time to freshen things up and brought on James McCarthy and Stephen Ettien for Alex Neil and Derek Lyle. Billy Reid confirmed later that his skipper wasn't injured and that he thought he wasn't having enough impact on the game. The arrival of McCarthy certainly improved how Accies played. There was an unfortunate incident just a couple of minutes later when McCarthy fouled Keith Lasley and the Motherwell skipper reacted angrily. There was a little bout of the usual pushing and shoving and it ended with James McArthur receiving a caution.

The defining moment of the game came shortly afterwards when the home side went 2-0 up. Some neat passing ended with David Clarkson firing the ball across the face of the goal where Chris Porter tapped home from a few yards out. He certainly looked to be in an offside position at the time and TV pictures seem to support this. The Accies players were outraged and Tomas Cerny was booked for his part in the protest to the Assistant on the far side. However, the goal stood and Accies now really faced an uphill task.

Billy Reid's reaction was to replace Richard Offiong with Joel Thomas. Offiong had done pretty well but had not been provided with much of the ball as Motherwell took hold of midfield. Accies did their best to get something from the game but their best effort was a powerful shot by David Elebert that just went past the post after good work by Ettien.

So it was to be yet another defeat for Accies in the SPL. Best for us were Martin Canning and Brian Easton, with James McCarthy impressing again in his brief performance despite the taunts from the Motherwell fans.

Motherwell: Graeme Smith, Quinn (McGarry 85), Malcolm, Reynolds, Hammell, Clarkson, Lasley, Hughes, Fitzpatrick, Porter, Sutton (Murphy 71). Subs Not Used: Nielsen, Darren Smith, O'Brien, Connolly, Page.

Booked: Malcolm, Lasley, Hammell.

Goals: Porter 37, 66.

Hamilton: Cerny, McClenahan, Elebert, Canning, Easton, Mensing, McArthur, Neil (McCarthy 65), Corcoran, Lyle (Ettien 65), Offiong (Thomas 71). Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Gibson, Akins, Graham.

Booked: McArthur, Cerny.

Att: 6,205

Ref: M Tumilty

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