Reid slams his side for lack of firepower

Jul 19 2007 By Andy McGilvray at Meadowbank Stadium

RAGING Hamilton boss Billy Reid tore into his flops after their dismal performance in Wednesday’s 1-0 friendly win over Edinburgh City.

James McArthur headed in a Kevin Davison cross to grab what proved to be the winner, but Reid warned his men they need to play to a better standard, even in a training game.

He said: “We didn’t score enough goals, our overall general play was poor and we were slack.

“Our players were a wee bit flat and we need to set better standards than that.

“Too many players were off-colour and we didn’t play at the tempo that we want to play, but I have worked them really hard.

“I didn’t think we were clinical enough — OK, we hit the woodwork, had a few off the line but at the end of the day you need to put the ball in the net.

“There are a lot of people fighting for positions, there’s major competition, and the bottom line is that if players are not doing it, they won’t play.”

Reid added: “I’m delighted that James McArthur scored his goal, I think he looked lively for us, and Kevin Davison showed glimpses of what he can bring to the club.”

Hamilton arrived in the capital with a somewhat patchwork side, as top stars Richard Offiong and Neil Teggart were among those who sat out the game.

Young Ian Cook started the game, while Dougie Mackay, Matt Sheridan, Nathan Taylor, David Dimilta and Gary Gow were listed as substitutes.

Hamilton also played the game in a training kit of red T-shirt and black shorts, as opposed to their actual strips.

Hamilton started the more lively side and after just five minutes some wing trickery by Marc McJimpsey saw him twist past defenders down the right before cutting back for Mark Gilhaney, but he blasted well over from eight yards.

City’s Kenny Young tried his luck with a curling 25-yard free-kick from the left in seven minutes, which Bryn Halliwell comfortably took at the right post.

McJimpsey put James McCarthy through on goal in 12 minutes but the midfielder mis-hit his shot... only to see it creep inches past the left post with keeper Markos Koukos scrambling.

Five minutes later McCarthy fluffed a shot again — and once more Koukos made a hash of it, allowing the ball to slip through his legs before he recovered it on the line.

Hamilton went close in 26 minutes when Gilhaney’s cross from the right was headed across goal by McArthur but the ball bounced inches wide with Koukos beaten.

Four minutes later McJimpsey’s corner from the right was headed off the crossbar by Brian Easton.

In 34 minutes Gilhaney’s cross from the left was headed goalwards by Cook but cleared off the line.

Last chance of the half came in 43 minutes when McJimpsey’s corner from the right was headed by Easton and blocked and fell to Neil, whose header was also blocked.

Hamilton opened the scoring in 58 minutes. The ekusive goal came after substitute Kevin Davison, on for McJimpsey, raced down the right wing before sending in a dipping cross that deceived Koukos and allowed McArthur to bundle it in at the far post.

City nearly pulled level in 74 minutes when Euan Campbell was sent through on goal, drew Halliwell, but stabbed his shot past the right post.

Another City forward was sent racing through on goal a minute later, but after drawing Halliwell, poked his shot past the left post.

Hamilton nearly doubled their lead in 76 minutes when Derek Young’s corner from the left was glance-headed over by Alex Neil.

A minute before the end McArthur went on a mazy run through the City defence, but blazed over from 16 yards.

All in all, this was a decent win for Hamilton but the match served up poor entertainment for the small band of fans who travelled through to Meadowbank.

Edinburgh City..........................0 Hamilton Accies.......................1