Accies are held after poor show

Nov 30 2006

HAMILTON and Ross County fought out a disappointing 0-0 draw at New Douglas Park on Saturday.

In blustery and rainy conditions, instances of thrilling entertainment were few and far between, but at least Accies tried to take something from the game.

Contrary to County manager Scott Leitch’s beliefs, the Highland visitors offered absolutely nothing to this game.

But, as is all too often the case at this level, controversial decisions made by referee Alan Muir provided most of the talking points.

The whistler managed to incite both sets of supporters in the 1180 crowd with some genuinely baffling decisions.

His failure to award Hamilton even one of two blatant penalty claims and a stunning decision to only book County sub Amick Ciani for a clear elbow on debut left-back James Gibson particularly caught the eye.

Hamilton didn’t cause visiting goalkeeper Craig Samson enough of a problem, so it’s not just Muir’s fault that they dropped two points — but they just aren’t getting any breaks at the moment.

Accies boss Billy Reid was again forced into making personnel changes.

Brian Wake replaced star striker Richard Offiong, who sustained a knee injury in training 24 hours earlier, while young James Gibson made his first start in place of the benched Omar Rezgane, and Tony Stevenson came in for James McArthur, who picked up a knock last week at Partick Thistle.

County probably should have taken the lead in three minutes amid controversial circumstances.

As Paul McLeod tore up the right wing, referee Muir deemed it necessary to stop play while a County player lay prone, apparently injured.

County returned the ball following treatment, but didn’t put it out of play.

Goalkeeper Raymond Jellema went to retrieve it near the right touchline but, when put under pressure, sliced his clearance straight at midfielder Michael Gardyne. Luckily for Hamilton, Jellema recovered sufficiently to smother the on-loan Celtic starlet’s low drive.

Accies’ first serious effort came in 24 minutes when young James McCarthy played a neat pass to David Elebert 18 yards out, but the Irishman blasted his shot past the right post.

Three minutes later, a Derek Adams corner from the right was just missed by the head of Andy Dow, coming in at the back post.

On the half-hour mark, an acrobatic overhead kick by Elebert fell into McLeod’s path but the striker’s prodded effort was saved at the bottom right corner by Samson.

Accies’ best chance fell to former Victoria Park striker David Winters in 33 minutes when he cut in from the left wing and got to the corner of the box.

He would have sent a drive scorching into the top right corner but for a deflection off Andy Dowie.

A minute later, Winters drove the ball powerfully into the bottom left corner, but far-side linesman Kevin Graham flagged that the striker had pushed a defender, and the goal was chalked off.

A groin injury then forced off defender Brian Easton, with McArthur replacing him in 37 minutes.

Five minutes from the break, Stevenson’s free-kick from wide on the right was headed past the far post by McLeod, who probably should have done better.

McArthur went close in 43 minutes, sending a fierce drive inches over the bar.

Seconds before the interval, Samson did well to hold McLeod’s powerful drive at the bottom right corner.

Four minutes into the second half, McLeod made his way into the box and turned past Kevin McKinlay, who clumsily brought him down — but amazingly referee Muir, who was in close proximity, waved away Accies’ claims.

A good run by Winters took him down the left before cutting in on goal but he blasted his drive off the side-netting from an acute angle in 55 minutes.

A 16-yard McArthur drive was well taken underneath his crossbar by Samson in 68 minutes.

Another note of controversy arrived in 73 minutes. Gibson won possession ahead of substitute Amick Ciani and prepared to dart past him, only for the Frenchman to react by elbowing him. Despite a clear instance of violent conduct, referee Muir only booked Ciani.

Muir wasn’t finished with controversy, however, and when an Elebert drive was clearly handled inside the box in 79 minutes, he again waved away all claims.