Accies move off foot of SPL table after crucial win

Dec 4 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

RICHARD OFFIONG gunned down Kilmarnock to take Hamilton off the foot of the SPL - and then set his sights on Rangers at Ibrox.

The English striker would love to make it four goals in as many games when Accies take on Walter Smith’s stuttering side.

The 24-year-old said: “We’ve got Rangers at Ibrox on Saturday and it won’t be easy but it would be good to get another goal and make it four in four games. Hopefully we can get a good result.

“I think we’ve definitely turned the corner. We’ve shown that in recent games by the way we’ve played and we’re starting to pick up some results.”

Offiong added: “I’m happy that I got the goal on Saturday but even more so that we got the three points. We were delighted with the win.”

The importance of this win could scarcely be underestimated, and goalkeeper Tomas Cerny’s stoppage-time save from Simon Ford could prove pivotal this season not just in terms of points but morale.

Last week, Accies lost an agonising stoppage-time equaliser against Dundee United when they were on the brink of an excellent win but this time Lady Luck finally favoured them.

It has been no more than Billy Reid’s side have deserved in recent weeks, having lost goals that were clearly offside and conceded a penalty against Celtic for an offence that wasn’t committed inside the box.

Over Saturday’s 94 minutes, they just about merited the points but Offiong’s 51st-minute strike lifted the tedium on a bitterly cold afternoon that wasn’t exactly conducive to free-flowing football.

Kilmarnock started the better team and could have taken a seventh-minute lead but Ford’s header from a Willie Gibson cross bounced past the right post.

Spaniard David Fernandez latched onto a Mehdi Taouil pass 13 minutes later but Cerny wasn’t troubled.

It took Hamilton until the 31st minute to get a shot on target but James McArthur’s effort didn’t threaten Damien Rascle’s goal.

Hamilton could have taken the lead eight minutes later but Mark McLaughlin’s looping header from an Alex Neil free-kick was well held by the keeper..

Accies came out for the second half with their tails up and David Graham should have done better than blaze over from a good position in 49 minutes.

However, his pass two minutes later released Offiong on the right and he turned past a defender and slammed a low shot into the bottom left corner for his fourth goal of the season

Hamilton were denied a decent shout for a penalty when McLaughlin appeared to be hauled down inside the box in 56 minutes. Referee Iain Brines wasn’t interested.

Kilmarnock should have levelled in 62 minutes when Ford’s mis-hit pass fell at the feet of sub Donovan Simmonds, who controlled the ball but then blasted high over the bar from four yards. He didn’t need to be told it was a bad miss but his bench did so anyway - and in no uncertain terms.

Hamilton nearly grabbed a second goal a minute into stoppage time when substitute Lucas Akins’ cutback found McLaughlin and, despite being grounded, the defender raked a shot towards goal that had to be hacked clear.

Kilmarnock could have levelled right at the death when Ford found himself one-on-one with Cerny, but the Czech keeper blocked well with his legs.

Hamilton: Cerny, Canning, Easton, McCarthy (Gibson, 87), Swailes, McLaughlin, Offiong (Akins, 79), McArthur, McClenahan, Neil, Graham (Lyle, 76). Subs (not used): Murdoch, Elebert, Ettien, Taylor.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Richard Offiong - the striker has hit a rich vein of form - and Hamilton will hope it continues.