Young guns shoot down the big boys

Sep 27 2007

HEROIC Hamilton stunned SPL cracks Kilmarnock in the CIS Cup third round on Tuesday, running out comfortable 2-0 winners at New Douglas Park.

Jim Jefferies’ side battered Accies’ defence for periods of the game but without ever really threatening.

And their task was made even harder when experienced striker David Fernandez was sent packing by referee Kenny Clark after picking up two needless bookings inside a minute.

It will have been a night to remember for young goal-scorers James McCarthy and James McArthur, who showed terrific composure to leave experienced keeper Alan Combe for dead.

Combe produced several outstanding saves to keep the score down, and but for him Accies would have really humbled Killie.

Make no bones about it, Billy Reid’s men thoroughly deserve to be in today’s quarter-final draw for the first time since 1989 — particularly when you consider that Hamilton were without FOUR key players.

Brian Easton was on the bench, while Mark McLaughlin, Stuart Taylor and Alex Neil were completely rested.

Their places were taken by James Gibson, Chris Swailes, David Winters and Tony Stevenson.

Accies stunned Kilmarnock by going 2-0 up inside the first half.

In 16 minutes Winters darted past Simon Ford on the right, and swung in a cross that was poorly dealt with by David Lilley, young James McCarthy picked up the loose ball and drilled low past Combe.

Hamilton deservedly scored their second in 37 minutes when Mark Gilhaney’s cross was knocked out of the box by Lilley — looking suspiciously like he used a hand — and James McArthur promptly drilled a controlled half-volley past helpless Combe and into the bottom left corner.

Accies were flying, and David Winters nearly grabbed a third a minute later, but Combe brilliantly blocked his first shot, while Ford reacted quickly to block the striker’s rebound effort.

Kilmarnock had actually threatened first in the opening minute of what was a pulsating first half when Rhian Dodds’ corner on the right was headed past by Colin Nish.

Top scorer Richard Offiong was sent through on goal in 10 minutes, but Combe read the situation well and cleared.

A Tony Stevenson corner caused havoc in the Kilmarnock box two minutes later, but James Gibson hooked his drive just over from 14 yards.

In 25 minutes a Bryn Halliwell kick-out was headed on by Chris Swailes, Lilley again failed to clear and allowed Winters to race through on goal, but after beating Combe to the ball the striker could only find the left side-netting.

At the other end after 31 minutes, Craig Bryson’s low drilled shot was just too far ahead of Ford, sliding in for what could have been an equaliser.

When a Lilley corner was headed out of the box in 33 minutes, Johnston flashed a volley inches past the left post with Halliwell stretching.

The second half was much less frantic, and it took until the 68th minute before a meaningful chance was created, and again it was Hamilton.

Gilhaney tore down the left flank before finding Winters, who checked inside before sending a curling effort towards the top right corner, but Combe saved well.

Ten minutes later sub Fernandez was booked for a silly foul, but seconds later the Spaniard said enough to referee Clark to merit a second booking and he was dismissed.

Hamilton would have scored a third in 81 minutes but for a stunning save by Combe.

McArthur found sub Brian Wake in the box with a delicate chip forward, but Combe somehow stopped the striker’s point-blank volley at the right corner.

Two minutes later McCarthy found Gilhaney on the left and he checked inside before sending a curling effort towards the top right corner, but Combe superbly pushed away his netbound effort.

Referee Clark, however, bizarrely awarded a goal-kick when it was a certain goal but for Combe’s terrific intervention.

Sub Brian Easton had a low 25-yard drive well saved in 85 minutes.

Hamilton nearly wrapped up the win in 88 minutes, but Wake sent his curling effort inches past the right post.

Advertiser Man of the Match: David Winters — never gave Killie’s defence any peace.

HAMILTON: Halliwell, Parratt, Gibson, McCarthy (Easton, 84), Elebert, Swailes, Winters, McArthur, Offiong (Wake, 77), Stevenson, Gilhaney. Subs (not used): McLeod, Crawford, Cerny.

KILMARNOCK: Combe, Fowler, Murray, Lilley, Wright, Ford, Gibson, Dodds (Flanagan, 9), Nish, Bryson (Jarvis, 45), Johnston (Fernandez, 45). Subs (not used): Hamill, Rascle.

Booked: Lilley, Wright, Fernandez.

Sent-off: Fernandez.

Referee: Kenny Clark.