Simon on the spot to score winner in basement battle

Jan 22 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

SIMON MENSING returned to Hamilton’s line-up with a bang after scoring a crucial penalty winner against Inverness, and then set his sights on Kilmarnock this Sunday.

The midfield ace missed the trip to Ross County with a virus but regained his place and capped a fine performance with a clinical spot-kick after Caley skipper Grant Munro had felled Joel Thomas.

That was Mensing’s second goal from the season, both from penalties.

He said afterwards: “It’s always good to score and that’s something I need to add to my game but the main thing was the win and it was great to get three points.

“We’ve got a massive game against Kilmarnock on Sunday and if we can come out of that with anything that’s excellent - and it would be nice to score again!

“We know it’s going to be tough – we’re under no illusions about that – but we’re high on confidence and we’re looking to get something out of it.

“We will go level on points with Kilmarnock if we win and that’s a good incentive for us.

“As much as it’s tight at the bottom, it’s tight above us, which is encouraging. Hopefully we’ll put in another good performance and come away with something.”

With Hamilton facing the prospect of going six points clear of their Highland rivals last weekend, both sides knew what was at stake and it clearly showed in what was a drab encounter.

Conditions were appalling, with howling winds and freezing rain making life difficult for both sides, but they at least attempted to make a game of it.

Hamilton won’t care about the performance. At this point in the season, results are more important and Accies are now clear in 10th place.

Inverness survived a third-minute penalty scare. Paul McGowan was sent free down the right and his cross appeared to be handled in the box by Richard Hastings but the defender was given the benefit of the doubt by referee Brian Winter.

Hamilton were thwarted in seven minutes when Brian Easton and Mensing got in each other’s way while going for a dangerous James McArthur free-kick at the left post.

Ross Tokely had Inverness’s best chance of the half in 11 minutes when he drove in from the right and sent a delicate chip inches over the top left corner from 19 yards.

Hamilton were denied what looked like a strong penalty claim in 22 minutes when Thomas found James McCarthy in the box and he jinked past two defenders before being upended by Don Cowie but again referee Winter wasn’t interested.

But when Thomas went on a great run down the right and made his way into the box only to be tripped by Munro, referee Winter was in a good position and this time immediately and correctly pointed to the spot.

Mensing stepped up and confidently rammed the penalty high past Ryan Esson, putting Hamilton ahead after 38 minutes.

Inverness came out for the second half with their tails up and should have levelled in 57 minutes but substitute Garry Wood fluffed a simple back-post header from a Roy McBain cross.

Hamilton went close to doubling their lead four minutes later when Easton went on a roving run down the left and picked out McGowan just outside the box but his chip landed just behind Esson’s goal.

At the other end, Cowie found Hibs loan star Filipe Morais with a neat pass in 63 minutes but he sent a first-time effort just over the top right corner.

Caley were awarded a free-kick on the right corner of the box in 66 minutes and although Iain Vigurs sent his effort inches over, it looked like Hamilton keeper Tomas Cerny had it covered.

Thistle subdtitute Dougie Imrie tried his luck with a 22-yard free-kick in 78 minutes but Cerny blocked the effort with his chest and Chris Swailes hacked the ball clear.

Inverness nearly levelled in 83 minutes when Morais’ curling effort was punched over by Cerny.

Morais’ corner on the right was then headed off the crossbar by Tokely with the ball rebounding off a Caley player and out to safety.

The final whistle brought relief for Hamilton, who extended their winning run to three games and have now recorded four consecutive home wins without conceding a goal.

For their part, Inverness slumped to their seventh straight league defeat, culminating in the dismissal of boss Craig Brewster on Monday.

Hamilton: Cerny, Easton, McCarthy (Lyle, 90), Elebert (Swailes, 45), McLaughlin, McArthur, Thomas (Akins, 70), McGowan, Canning, McClenahan, Mensing. Subs (not used): Murdoch, Gow, McMillan, Graham.

Inverness: Esson, Tokely, McBain, Morais, Barrowman (Wood, 45), Duncan (Imrie, 60), Munro, Cowie (Rooney, 72), Hastings, Mihadjuks, Vigurs. Subs (not used): Fraser, McGuire, Black, Gathuessi.

Attendance: 3070.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Simon Mensing – makes a difference in his preferred midfield role and took his penalty well.