Hamilton make heavy weather of passage into next round

Aug 9 2007

SUPER-SUB Paul McLeod spared Hamilton’s blushes with a late winner against East Stirlingshire, earning his side a place in the CIS Cup second round.

Hamilton dominated this match for huge stretches, but did very little with it, while Danny Wylde’s Third Division side provided almost nothing.

In fact, their road into this tie was via an unbelievably soft penalty decision which allowed Kevin McBride to level in 58 minutes.

Boss Billy Reid handed debuts to Czech Republic international keeper Tomas Cerny and winger Kevin Davison.

There were several other changes from Saturday’s team, with Chris Swailes, Mark McLaughlin and Stuart Taylor amongst those who were rested.

Davison went close in three minutes when his 20-yard free-kick flew inches over with keeper Darren Hill beaten.

Offiong caught Hill in possession in 10 minutes and the ball broke to Davison, but his cross was dive-headed past by Brian Wake.

In a rare foray up front, Shire’s Graham McLaren went close in 26 minutes, but his low drive was well stopped by Cerny.

Hamilton had been battering the visiting defence, earning a succession of corners, and they finally made the breakthrough in 30 minutes with a simple goal.

Marc McJimpsey’s corner from the right was headed past Hill by unmarked Offiong.

Tom Parratt sent a fierce 30-yard drive whistling inches over the top left corner three minutes later.

In 42 minutes Kevin McBride’s thundering 25-yard free-kick was punched clear by Cerny.

East Stirlingshire were awarded a penalty in 57 minutes when Alex Neil was judged to have tripped Mark McKenzie in the box.

Whether the award was merited or not, Kevin McBride stepped up and sent his kick to the bottom left corner, just out of Cerny’s reach.

James McCarthy set up Offiong on the edge of the box in 65 minutes, but his shot on the turn flew over.

A minute later McBride sent a 35-yard free-kick zipping inches past the bottom right corner.

Reid threw on Paul McLeod for Davison in 70 minutes, and the striker made a huge impact.

Fellow sub Mark Gilhaney was sent down the left, cut inside and found McLeod in the six-yard box, who cheekily flicked the ball past Hill with the outside of his right boot for the winner in 76 minutes.

McLeod passed up two gilt-edged chances, but Hamilton were through.

Shire were reduced to 10 men in 87 minutes when sub Kevin Struthers was shown a straight red card for swearing at referee Chris Boyle.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Alex Neil.

HAMILTON: Cerny, Parratt, Easton, McCarthy, Elebert, Wake (Gilhaney, 55), McJimpsey (Gibson, 55), McArthur, Offiong, Neil, Davison (McLeod, 70). Subs (not used): Taylor, Halliwell.

Booked: Neil.

EAST STIRLINGSHIRE: Hill, Doyle, K. McBride, Moffat, Thywissen, Brownlie, McKenzie, Brand, Savage (Struthers, 55), McLaren (Kelly, 83), P. McBride. Subs (not used): King, Ure, Mitchell.

Booked: Moffat, McLaren. Sent off: Struthers.

Referee: Chris Boyle.