Accies go two points clear at the top after narrow win

Aug 23 2007

HAMILTON moved two points clear at the top of the Irn-Bru First Division on Saturday with a deserved 1-0 win over stubborn Queen of the South.

Top scorer Richard Offiong’s 17th-minute strike ensured Hamilton maintained their 100 per cent. league record this season after three games.

Boss Billy Reid restored the side to full strength for the visit of Gordon Chisholm’s men with a starting place for David Winters who re-signed on Friday.

Hamilton dominated large periods of the game and carved out their first chance in just three minutes.

Tom Parratt collected an Alex Neil pass wide on the right and swung an inviting cross into the box but it fell behind Offiong and was cleared.

However, Offiong scored what proved to be the only goal of the game when he latched onto a poor Andy Aitken passback in 17 minutes, drew keeper Jamie McDonald and chipped the ball into the bottom left corner, although the striker appeared to mis-hit his shot.

Queens’ veteran John O’Neil was sent through on goal in 29 minutes but keeper Bryn Halliwell blocked well with his legs.

Ten minutes later, substitute Jamie Mole raced down the right and his cutback was heading to Stephen Dobbie before midfielder James McArthur hacked clear.

McArthur picked out Mark Gilhaney on the left in 41 minutes and his cross was perfect for Offiong but the Englishman’s chip was blocked by McDonald.

Halliwell injured an arm after colliding with defender David Elebert when they both chased a loose ball in 54 minutes, and the keeper was replaced by former Czech Republic internationalist Tomas Cerny.

The young keeper spilled a Queens corner in 62 minutes, but O’Neil blasted the ball over from 12 yards.

Four minutes later, Stuart Taylor met a Winters corner with a powerful header, but Dobbie cleared off the line.

Hamilton were pummelling the Queens defence and nearly moved further ahead with a training ground move in 71 minutes.

Offiong stepped over a free-kick on the right and Neil floated the ball to the left, where the unmarked McArthur was lurking, but his pinpoint header was brilliantly turned round the left post by McDonald.

Gilhaney found substitute James McCarthy in 77 minutes, but the young midfielder’s low drive was well blocked by a defender.

The 16-year-old was sent through on the right in 83 minutes but his low drive was superbly punched clear by McDonald.

Queens nearly grabbed an unlikely equaliser in 87 minutes when Mole’s angled free-kick flew across the face of goal and went inches past the right post.

Gilhaney created the final chance of the game in 89 minutes, with McDonald again brilliantly punching clear.

Hamilton: Halliwell (Cerny, 56), Parratt, Easton, Taylor, Elebert, McLaughlin, Winters (McCarthy, 67), McArthur, Offiong (Wake, 75), Neil, Gilhaney. Subs (not used): Davison, Swailes.

Attendance: 1764.

Referee: Colin Brown.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Alex Neil.