Hamilton through after extra time

Oct 2 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

ALEX Neil was delighted to deliver a derby win in last Wednesday’s Co-operative Insurance Cup third round clash at Fir Park.

And he insists Hamilton will do their best to deliver a shock against holders Rangers at Ibrox in this month’s quarter-final.

He said: “It was a great win, especially since it was against our derby rivals, and it was great for the fans – we’re delighted for them.

“It was an excellent game to play in; in the first half I thought we started well, they got a man sent off and we dominated until our goal, but then for whatever reason we didn’t play so well for the next 15 minutes and they equalised.

“But we kicked back into it, dominated, and it was end to end stuff, but I thought we deserved our win.”

On the quarter-final draw he said: “We would have preferred a home tie as it would have given us a better chance of getting through, but our record on the road has been good, so we’ll go there, give it our best shot, and see what happens.”

Motherwell went close inside the opening 33 minutes, with Stephen Hughes and David Clarkson both striking woodwork, while Mark Corcoran couldn’t connect with Chris Casement’s back-post cross.

Seconds before the break Chris Porter was shown a straight red card for a clumsy challenge on David Elebert, a decision that seemed slightly harsh.

Accies took the lead eight minutes into the second half when David Graham collected Casement’s quick free-kick on the right, span round Paul Quinn and raced in on goal before sending an exquisite shot past Graeme Smith and into the bottom left corner.

Motherwell levelled in 66 minutes when Quinn and sub John Sutton combined to set up Murphy on the right, who drilled low into the far post corner.

Hamilton struck the woodwork in 77 minutes when Derek Lyle’s shot was parried into the path of James McCarthy and, with an open goal, he somehow hit the right post.

Motherwell thought they had won the game when Murdoch caught Clarkson’s looping effort but seemed to be stumbling over his own line before Bob Malcolm clattered into him, and a foul was given.

Accies grabbed the winner five minutes into extra-time when Easton’s cross from the left was missed by Thomas, but Ettien bundled the ball home from close range.

In a frantic finish James McArthur struck the crossbar, Simon Mensing was sent off for collecting the second of two avoidable bookings, and Malcolm saw a free-kick crash off the junction of post and crossbar.

MOTHERWELL: G. Smith, Quinn, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan (Fitzpatrick, 38), Lasley, Hughes (Sutton, 60), Malcolm, Porter, Clarkson, Murphy (D. Smith, 72). Subs (not used): Nielsen, McGarry. Sent off: Porter. Booked: Hammell, Reynolds, Quinn.

HAMILTON: Murdoch, Casement, Easton, Mensing, Elebert, Swailes (McCarthy, 49), Lyle (Thomas, 80), McArthur, Corcoran, (Ettien, 74), Neil, Graham. Subs (not used): Cerny, Akins. Sent off: Mensing. Booked: Corcoran, Casement, Neil, McArthur, Ettien, McCarthy, Thomas.

Referee: Iain Brines.

Attendance: 5590.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Alex Neil – captain led by example and was immense in a midfield mire.