Accies’ five-star show stuns Pars

Oct 25 2007

RUTHLESS Hamilton ran riot against Dunfermline at East End Park on Saturday, thrashing the pre-season title favourites 5-0.

Brilliant individual goals by James McArthur, James McCarthy and Richard Offiong had Accies 3-0 ahead after 30 minutes.

Striker David Winters wrapped up the points with a quick-fire double early in the second half.

While Accies were ruthless, Dunfermline were toothless, not even registering a weak shot on target until the 68th minute.

Defender Sol Bamba had an absolute nightmare for the Pars, and Accies gleefully capitalised on his many mistakes.

This was a match the Pars simply had to win to avoid slipping a potentially-fatal 13 points behind league-leaders Hamilton... and their challenge now looks to be over before Hallowe’en.

On this performance, Hamilton look unstoppable and now must be taken seriously as title contenders.

Hamilton went ahead with just four minutes on the clock when Richard Offiong pressurised Bamba into losing possession. Midfielder James McArthur picked up the loose ball, drove forward, and with defenders backing off, he curled a wicked shot past helpless Paul Gallacher from 16 yards.

Dunfermline created a good chance in 11 minutes when a great ball by Mark Burchill picked out Tam McManus, but Mark McLaughlin covered brilliantly to clear the danger.

McCarthy delivered a beautiful 40-yard crossfield pass to Mark Gilhaney on the left flank in 14 minutes, but this time Bamba was alert enough to clear.

Gallacher prevented McArthur from doubling Accies’ lead in 17 minutes, diving at his feet after terrific set-up play by Tom Parratt.

But the second goal was delayed by only 60 seconds.

Bamba was woefully short with a headed passback to Gallacher, and as the desperate keeper ran to meet it, McCarthy nipped in, calmly rounded him, and walked the ball into the empty net.

Dunfermline fans voiced their displeasure at conceding such an easy goal, but they started leaving in droves when Accies scored a spectacular third goal after 30 minutes.

Offiong collected a cross from the left, controlled it and flicked over a defender’s head, before sending a stunning dipping volley crashing over helpless Gallacher from fully 30 yards.

It was a quite outstanding way to effectively end the game as a contest, and must surely be a candidate for goal of the season.

During the interval Pars boss Stephen Kenny threw on Owen Morrison and Darren Young for Nicky Phinn and Jim Hamilton — the latter of which appeared to elicit sarcastic cheers from the home support — as his side looked to claw their way back into the game.

But Hamilton grabbed a fourth straight from kick-off when Bamba was again horribly short with a headed clearance and inadvertently set up David Winters on the right flank.

The striker collected the ball and brilliantly lobbed Gallacher, sending the ball dipping into the top left corner from the edge of the box.

Gallacher proved his worth with an outstanding one-handed save to deny Offiong in 48 minutes after excellent set-up play by Winters.

But Hamilton scored a superbly well-worked fifth goal in 53 minutes.

McLaughlin played a neat ball down the left flank to Offiong who darted past his marker before delivering a low diagonal pass into the box for Winters, coming in from the right, to send an angled shot into the bottom left corner, completely wrong-footing Gallacher.

Large sections of the Dunfermline crowd immediately left thereafter, and although the Pars seemed to find a bit of a spark, they failed to trouble Accies keeper Bryn Halliwell.

There was some concern for Hamilton, however, when right-back Tom Parratt was carried to the dressing room in 80 minutes, having broken a bone in his foot.

Dunfermline: Gallacher, Woods, Wilson, Phinn (Morrison, 45), Bamba, Glass, McManus, Crawford (Ryan, 81), Burchill, Hamilton (Young, 45), Muirhead. Subs (not used): Harris, Murdoch.

Booked: Wilson.

Hamilton: Halliwell, Parratt, Easton, McCarthy (Stevenson, 67), Elebert (Swailes, 62), McLaughlin, Winters, McArthur, Offiong (Wake, 62), Neil, Gilhaney. Subs (not used): McLeod, Cerny.

Booked: McArthur.

Referee: Steve Conroy.

Attendance: 3846.

Advertiser Man-of-the-Match: David Winters – took his two goals superbly.