Motherwell too strong in local derby clash

Nov 6 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

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Andy McGilvray at Fir Park

HAMILTON remained rooted to the foot of the SPL table after a disappointing display resulted in a costly defeat against Motherwell at Fir Park.

That Motherwell deserved to take the points from this match is not in doubt – but they owed a lot to referee Mike Tumilty and his assistants.

For the second week in a row, Hamilton conceded a second goal that was clearly offside and while that undoubtedly deflates teams, it’s probably just what happens when you’re bottom of the pile.

Chris Porter’s second goal, which took his tally to four for the season, shouldn’t have stood, as he deflected David Clarkson’s drive home from a position that was several yards offside.

Even if the Englishman hadn’t touched the ball, the fact that he was positioned right next to keeper Tomas Cerny should have meant he was interfering with play.

During the first half, assistant referee John Bicknell also somehow flagged Mark Corcoran offside, despite there being at least three defenders between the Accies winger and keeper Graeme Smith – but Derek Lyle was crucially unmarked at the back post.

Hamilton created the first chance of note in 10 minutes when Corcoran picked out Richard Offiong in the box and while his weak shot on the turn failed to trouble Smith, the striker was in an excellent position and should have made it count.

Two minutes later Motherwell almost opened the scoring when Stevie Hammell and Clarkson combined to set up Porter, and his angled drive was brilliantly palmed past the right post by Cerny.

Offiong collected another Corcoran pass in 17 minutes but again failed to trouble Smith, with Lyle in a better position on the right.

Motherwell could have taken the lead on 30 minutes when Bob Malcolm’s corner from the left was allowed to run through, and Cerny was forced to block it on his line.

Four minutes later Porter inadvertently blocked a Clarkson header on the line from another Hammell corner.

Motherwell took the lead in 37 minutes when Alex Neil was penalised for a foul on Stephen Hughes just outside the left corner of the box, and Malcolm’s superb delivery was deftly head-flicked past Cerny by Porter.

Hamilton should have levelled in 41 minutes when Simon Mensing’s superb through-ball released Corcoran one-on-one with Smith, but the winger dragged his effort well wide of the right post with the goal gaping.

Motherwell came desperately close to doubling their lead in 53 minutes when John Sutton sent an outswinging cross from the right, Clarkson beat David Elebert to the header and nodded past Cerny – only for the ball to bounce off the inside of the right post and land in the grateful keeper’s arms.

Clarkson latched onto a clever through-ball in 61 minutes, drew Cerny and lobbed the keeper, but agonisingly sent the ball inches wide of the left post.

Motherwell got the second goal their play deserved, even though it shouldn’t have stood, in 66 minutes and it was game over at that point.

The fact that keeper Cerny was booked in the aftermatch shows the strength of Hamilton’s protests.

The hosts could have scored again in 73 minutes when another defensive lapse let sub Jamie Murphy through on goal, but Cerny blocked well with his feet.

Hamilton nearly pulled a goal back in 77 minutes when sub Stephen Ettien’s cutback was met with a first-time shot by Elebert which landed just past the right post.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Brian Easton.

MOTHERWELL: G. Smith, Quinn (McGarry, 85), Hammell, Reynolds, Hughes, Malcolm, Porter, Clarkson, Sutton (Murphy, 71), Lasley, Fitzpatrick. Subs (not used): Nielsen, D. Smith, O’Brien, Connolly, Page. Booked: Malcolm, Lasley, Hammell.

HAMILTON: Cerny, McClenahan, Easton, Mensing, Elebert, Canning, Lyle (Ettien, 64), McArthur, Offiong (Thomas, 71), Neil (McCarthy, 64), Corcoran. Subs (not used): Murdoch, Gibson, Akins, Graham. Booked: McArthur, Cerny.