Reid’s men suffer first league defeat

Oct 4 2007

HAMILTON were brought back down to earth with a bump on Saturday as St Johnstone inflicted their first league defeat with a thumping 4-1 win in Perth.

Having gone seven previous league games unbeaten, this was undoubtedly Hamilton’s worst performance of the season.

While Hamilton’s heroes humbled Kilmarnock in midweek minus captain Alex Neil, the influential midfielder was badly missed on Saturday.

Boss Billy Reid will hope to have him in place for Saturday’s visit by second-placed Dundee.

Hamilton started the brighter side and nearly scored in just two minutes.

Mark Gilhaney’s corner from the left caused havoc in the Saints box. Mark McLaughlin put the ball back into the area but David Winters’ shot was blocked.

A minute later, Hamilton deservedly took the lead. Winters’ free-kick from the left was poorly cleared, Stuart Taylor picked up on the right side of the box, checked inside a lunging Steven Anderson, and drilled a shot past Alan Main.

In five minutes, Winters’ deep free-kick was headed past the left post by Brian Easton.

A minute later, Derek McInnes’s quickly-taken free-kick on the left found Andy Jackson and he set up Paul Sheerin in the box but his angled shot flew past the right-hand post.

Saints nearly levelled in nine minutes when Goran Stanic’s cross from the left was powerfully headed goalwards by Kenny Deuchar but Bryn Halliwell superbly blocked and the danger was cleared.

Sheerin could have been booked for diving in 21 minutes when he went down under a challenge by McLaughlin but referee Eddie Smith correctly waved play on.

He got it badly wrong four minutes later, however, booking Taylor when he looked to have been the victim of a horror challenge by Anderson that merited at least a caution for the Saints defender.

In 27 minutes, Winters’ free-kick on the left was headed by Taylor but Main saved at the bottom left corner.

Deuchar should have levelled in 37 minutes, but bulleted his header past from a Sheerin cross.

Just before the interval, Gilhaney linked well with Winters down the left flank before finding Richard Offiong but his low drive was comfortably saved by Main.

St Johnstone came out a totally different side in the second half, and when Jackson darted past McLaughlin in the box, the stopper pulled him back and referee Smith pointed to the spot.

Sheerin blasted his spot-kick past Halliwell to provide Saints with a 48th-minute equaliser.

Hamilton nearly went back in front just three minutes later when Gilhaney took the ball for a run down the left flank, but after checking inside, the winger sent a curling effort just over the top right corner, with Main stranded.

Willie McLaren played a neat ball through to Jackson in 57 minutes, with the striker’s low effort saved by Halliwell before his follow-up was blocked.

Saints went ahead in 63 minutes when Rocco Quinn found Jackson with a perfectly-weighted pass on the left. He drew Halliwell and slotted his shot into the bottom right corner.

Saints were running riot and in 66 minutes McLaren found Quinn with a searching ball but Halliwell did well to save his low effort.

Substitute Brian Wake was sent through at the other end in 67 minutes, but after drawing Main, the striker chipped the ball inches past the right post.

Three minutes later, James McCarthy had a curling effort well held by Main.

Saints then killed the game off with two quick-fire goals.

In 72 minutes, McLaren’s powerful drive deflected off team-mate Quinn, deceiving Halliwell. The ball fell to Deuchar and the former Gretna striker had a simple tap-in.

Seven minutes later, Deuchar turned provider by flicking on for Jackson, who lobbed the ball over the stranded Halliwell.

St Johnstone: Main, Irvine, Stanic, McInnes, McManus, Anderson, Quinn (Moon, 83), Sheerin, Deuchar, Jackson (MacDonald, 81), McLaren (Stewart, 85). Subs (not used): Lawrie, Cuthbert.

Booked: McManus, McLaren.

Hamilton: Halliwell, Parratt, Easton, Taylor (Gibson, 61), Swailes, McLaughlin, Winters (McLeod, 72), McArthur, Offiong (Wake, 61), McCarthy, Gilhaney. Subs (not used): Elebert, Cerny.

Booked: Taylor.

Referee: Eddie Smith.

Attendance: 2713.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Mark Gilhaney — tried to make things happen.