Strong Accies tame Lions

Feb 28 2008 By Andy McGilvray at New Douglas Park

Hamilton..............3 Livingston................ 1

HAMILTON maintained their four-point lead over Dundee at the top of the Irn-Bru First Division with a deserved win over Livingston.

The win proved Accies were capable of bouncing back from the previous Saturday’s defeat at St Johnstone, and in doing so set a new club record of 1006 minutes without conceding a goal at home in any competition.

That record had stretched since Livingston striker Steven Craig scored an equaliser in the 54th minute of a 1-1 draw on September 22, and ironically the former Motherwell star set up the goal that shattered it.

Hamilton were comfortable in their win while never hitting top form, and although Robert Snodgrass pulled a goal back for Livingston in 70 minutes the game was finished by then.

Billy Reid’s side started with two changes as goalkeeper Bryn Halliwell was dropped to the bench in favour of Tomas Cerny, while injured Tom Parratt’s place was taken by Tony Stevenson, who was a thorn in Livi’s side throughout the game.

After just two minutes Mark McLaughlin’s net-bound bullet header from a Stevenson corner was cleared off the line by Livi defender Craig James.

Two minutes later Mark Gilhaney skinned Graham Dorrans down the left flank before cutting inside, but his shot flew across goal with no takers.

Livingston threatened in five minutes when James’s 30-yard free-kick took a deflection on its way towards the bottom corner, but Cerny saved well.

Hamilton opened the scoring in seven minutes when Stevenson’s free-kick from a position wide on the left, fully 35 yards from goal, flew across the box before landing in the bottom corner for the young defender’s first goal of the season.

Livingston could have levelled in 16 minutes when Lee Makel sent Robert Snodgrass through on goal, but his angled drive was blocked on the line by David Elebert and bounced into the grateful arms of Cerny.

Three minutes later Stevenson sent another free-kick zipping across the box, but it was just too far ahead of Simon Mensing at the far post.

Dorrans sent a 25-yard drive crashing off the crossbar in 25 minutes.

But some nice skill by David Graham saw him twist and turn past James on the right before forcing Stewart into a terrific one-handed save as he turned the ball past the post.

Three minutes from half-time Mensing cleverly clipped the ball over James McPake in the box, controlled and drew Stewart, but sent his low angled drive past the right post.

Struggling Elebert, still not fully fit, made way for Chris Swailes during the interval.

Four minutes into the second half Hamilton doubled their lead when Brian Easton tore down the left flank, picked out Richard Offiong just outside the six-yard box and the striker’s shot was blocked on the line by James, only to see the ball cannon off keeper Stewart and fly over the line for an own-goal.

Livingston gaffer Mark Proctor responded by replacing Liam Fox with Steven Craig in 55 minutes.

But Hamilton wrapped up the points in 64 minutes when Stevenson’s wicked cross from the right was glance headed into the bottom corner by McLaughlin.

Livingston pulled one back in 70 minutes when Hamilton’s defence switched off and failed to pick up sub Steven Craig, whose cross was bundled home from close range by Snodgrass.

Hamilton could have stretched their lead in 76 minutes when Offiong beat the offside trap and raced on to James McArthur’s threaded pass, but Stewart brilliantly turned his low drive round the upright to avert the danger.

Hamilton were reduced to 10 men for the remaining five minutes when substitute James McCarthy, who had replaced captain Alex Neil in 67 minutes, was stretchered off after going over on an ankle.

Shortly afterwards Craig suffered a similar fate, and the sub was replaced by Steven Weir for the final minute or so.

HAMILTON: Cerny, Stevenson, Easton, Mensing, Elebert (Swailes, 44), McLaughlin, Graham, McArthur, Offiong (Grady, 82), Neil (McCarthy, 67), Gilhaney. Subs (not used): Gow, Halliwell. Booked: McArthur.

LIVINGSTON: Stewart, Mackay, James, McPake, MacDonald, Makel, Dorrans, Malone, Griffiths, Fox (Craig, 55) (Weir, 95), Snodgrass. Subs (not used): Walker, Jacobs, Lunn. Booked: Fox.

Referee: Stuart Dougal.

Attendance: 1800.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Tony Stevenson — young defender was a constant menace to Livingston with an excellent performance in which he scored and set up another.

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