Accies make a point against title hopefuls

Apr 19 2007

HAMILTON and Gretna fought out an entertaining draw in the April sunshine on Saturday.

Since both sides had chances to win the match a point was probably fair — but Accies would be entitled to feel that they could have won this encounter.

Young midfielder James McArthur came within an inch-and-a-half of spectacularly opening the scoring with two minutes left, but his delightful chip crashed off the right-hand post with keeper Zbigniew Malkowski well beaten.

And Gretna have the on-loan Hibs keeper to thank for two wonderful first-half saves, with which he denied McArthur and David Elebert.

Having said that, Gretna striker Colin McMenamin passed up a superb opportunity in the first half, Elebert cleared off the line, and James Grady slid a late shot inches past the post.

Accies boss Billy Reid replaced injured James McCarthy with Tony Stevenson, the sole change from the XI that convincingly put Livingston to the sword last weekend.

And Hamilton carved out a decent chance in six minutes when big Brian Easton raced down the left flank before swinging in an inch-perfect cross for McArthur, but the midfielder found himself crowded out in the box and the danger was cleared.

From that clearance, Gretna managed to pick out striker Grady but his low drive was well held by Sean Murdoch.

David Winters and Richard Offiong linked well in 17 minutes, with the big English striker’s shot on the turn flashing past the left post from 12 yards.

McArthur then picked out Offiong on the edge of the box, he laid the ball back to Winters, but the striker’s drive flew wide of the right post in 20 minutes.

McArthur then took the game by the scruff of the neck three minutes later, and went on a brilliant run which ended with his deft chip brilliantly punched over by Malkowski before it could dip under the bar.

David Elebert rose like the proverbial salmon to meet Alex Neil’s right-wing corner at the back post, but Malkowski again superbly punched his header over the top right corner.

Grady was nearly sent through on goal in 26 minutes, but the impressive Easton calmly headed back to Murdoch, effortlessly clearing the danger.

Gretna probably should have led in 28 minutes when Grady darted down the right wing, past Elebert, and his cutback was met at the back post by McMenamin, who somehow sent his effort past with the goal gaping.

Ten minutes later, McMenamin drove in from the right before blasting in a low shot that Murdoch spilled at the left post. Grady scooped it over him, but Elebert was able to boot clear from the line — only for the ball to ricochet off Gavin Skelton’s shins and fly over.

Good claims for a Hamilton penalty were then denied when Mark Gilhaney cut in from the left flank, made his way into the box, and was unceremoniously dumped on the turf — and referee Dougie McDonald was wrong to play on.

With five minutes remaining in the first half, an Alex Neil corner from the right was taken at the back post by Malkowski — but the Pole appeared to push Winters forward so that he could get there.

In 44 minutes Gilhaney went on a good run through the middle, which ended with the winger drilling wide of the left post from 16 yards.

Hamilton replaced ineffectual Stevenson with James Gibson at half-time.

Ten minutes into the second half Neil went on a good run, with a blistering shot stinging Malkowski’s palms before he gathered at the second attempt.

Erik Paartalu fouled Gilhaney on the edge of the box in 57 minutes, with Winters curling the set-piece just past the left post, although Malkowski appeared to have it covered.

Accies were dealt a blow in 59 minutes when top scorer Richard Offiong was forced off with an injury and he was replaced by Brian Wake.

McMenamin was ‘cute’, using his experience to win a free-kick off Tom Parratt in 69 minutes.

Danny Grainger curled his effort towards the top left corner, but Murdoch superbly pushed it away to safety.

Gilhaney was replaced by Paul McLeod in 71 minutes, as boss Reid looked to inject some fresh pace to Hamilton’s attack.

But it was midfielder McArthur who went closest when a foraging run took him deep into Gretna’s half, he drew Malkowski, deftly curled his effort past him from 25 yards, but watched in agony as it crashed off the inside of the post and bounced back into play.

In stoppage time a Matt Berkeley cross from the right was just too far ahead of McMenamin at the back post.