Graham stunner sparks Accies win

Mar 13 2008 By Andy McGilvray at New Douglas Park

Hamilton Accies 3 Morton 0

HAMILTON eased past strugglers Morton to open up a five-point gap at the top of the Irn-Bru First Division, taking advantage of Dundee’s Scottish Cup involvement.

This game was perceived by many as a potential banana-skin, with captain Alex Neil continuing his suspension while he was joined by midfield general James McArthur.

Hamilton were also forced to reshuffle their pack after just 20 minutes when comeback defender Tom Parratt was carried off with a suspected broken metatarsal, his place taken by young James Gibson.

Tony Stevenson switched to right-back, with Simon Mensing moving into midfield.

Morton had started brightly, with Ryan McGuffie and Kevin Finlayson forcing saves from Tomas Cerny inside the opening 24 minutes.

The Greenock side were then given a let-off in 34 minutes when David Graham’s cross from the right appeared to be handled inside the box, but the strong penalty claims were waved away.

Two minutes later Hamilton took the lead when Brian Easton’s passback was launched upfield by Cerny, the ball was allowed to bounce over the static defence, and Graham sent a sweet half-volley past helpless keeper David McGurn.

Hamilton were visibly lifted by their goal, and Tony Stevenson sent a curling free-kick off the joint of left post and crossbar in 44 minutes. Seconds later, sub James Gibson struck the top of the bar with a dipping volley.

McGurn kept his side in the game in 50 minutes when he brilliantly blocked from Graham and James McCarthy in quick succession.

But the keeper was forced to bring down McCarthy in 54 minutes after the young midfielder had latched onto Graham’s clever through-ball, with Stevenson clinically converting the penalty.

Hamilton wrapped up the points in 70 minutes when Stevenson’s free-kick from the right was headed back into the box by Simon Mensing at the back post and Gibson volleyed into the roof of the net.

HAMILTON: Cerny, Parratt (Gibson, 20), Easton, McCarthy, Elebert (Swailes, 75), McLaughlin, Graham, Mensing, Offiong (Waterworth, 75), Stevenson, Gilhaney. Subs (not used): Barrau, Halliwell. Booked: Mensing.

MORTON: McGurn, McGregor, S. McLaughlin, Millar, Greacen, Harding, Finlayson (J. Stevenson, 56), McGuffie (Russell, 68), Weatherson (Wake, 80), Jenkins, McAlister. Subs (not used): Walker, Robinson.

Referee: Steve Conroy.

Attendance: 1980.

Advertiser Man of the Match: David Graham.