Accies show mettle but can’t make capital gain

Dec 18 2008 by Alastair McNeill, Hamilton Advertiser

A HARD-FOUGHT performance couldn’t prevent Hamilton from slumping to a 2-0 defeat against Hibs at Easter Road.

The Edinburgh side maintained their recent unbeaten league run thanks to goals in each half from Derek Riordan and captain Rob Jones, although there was a hint of controversy over the second.

Hamilton worked hard to frustrate their hosts in the first half, and in the second period dominated for large spells, but the closest they came to scoring was when Richard Offiong’s 25-yard rocket crashed off the crossbar.

Hamilton boss Billy Reid was forced into two changes, with David Elebert stepping in for suspended Martin Canning while skipper Alex Neil – who was injured in training – was replaced by striker Derek Lyle.

The opening exchanges were fairly even, with Accies keeper Tomas Cerny racing off his line to beat Steven Fletcher, before Derek Lyle sent a 20-yard effort well over at the other end.

Good covering by Chris Swailes cleared the danger after Alan O’Brien had darted down the left flank.

Hamilton passed up a good chance in 13 minutes when Mark McLaughlin played a delightful through-ball to James McCarthy on the left. He outmuscled David Van Zanten on the edge of the box before clipping a shot past the far post with the outside of his right foot, but referee Brian Winter had blown for a foul on the Hibs stopper.

Having scored from over 40 yards against Celtic the previous week, John Rankin had adopted a shoot-on-sight policy, but his long-range effort failed to trouble Cerny in 13 minutes.

Hibs were dealt a blow in 20 minutes when David Elebert caught Steven Fletcher with a late challenge and the striker was replaced by Riordan. Fletcher is, thankfully, expected to make a full and swift recovery.

Hamilton nearly took the lead in 21 minutes when Richard Offiong’s ball was allowed to drift through to McCarthy, who raced through on goal before sending a powerful shot towards the bottom left corner, only for Yves Ma-Kalambay to divert it round his post.

As Cerny collected a long ball four minutes later he was clearly caught by Rankin, but referee Winter failed to take action.

Hibs went close in 26 minutes when O’Brien’s corner on the right was headed off the left post by Sol Bamba, with Colin Nish blasting the rebound over the top-left corner.

Six minutes later Hibs intercepted an Accies free-kick but Nish sent a 35-yard shot drifting over from the left flank.

Hibs were turning the screw and in 36 minutes Jones met a Van Zanten free-kick with a looping header, but Cerny brilliantly tipped it over. From Riordan’s corner on the left, Nish’s diving header struck the near post side-netting.

Hamilton should have taken the lead in 40 minutes. McCarthy was sent clear on the left and bore down on goal, his path was blocked and the ball fell to Simon Mensing seven yards out, but his first-time shot was blocked by Ma-Kalambay’s chest.

As is too often the case, Hibs made Accies pay for that profligacy two minutes later when Ian Murray was sent down the left and his cutback was tapped in by Riordan from close range.

A minute from the interval Riordan sent Nish through on goal and, despite him looking well offside, the striker was allowed to bear down on goal, but Cerny blocked with his chest.

Four minutes into the second half Offiong came desperately close to equalising when his long-range shot bounced clear off the crossbar with Ma-Kalambay helpless – but this is just an example of Hamilton’s luck at the moment.

Two minutes later Riordan found Nish with a great ball, but Swailes again brilliantly covered.

McCarthy was in the mood and in 58 minutes he superbly set up Lyle on the right who, despite clearly being fouled, sent a curling effort inches past the left post.

A minute later Trent McClenahan played a short corner to Offiong on the right and he picked out stand-in captain James McArthur but his shot was deflected past the right post.

Hamilton appealed for a penalty in 61 minutes when Lyle burst through and crashed to the ground under a challenge by Jones, but while the Hibs captain didn’t touch the ball, there appeared to be minimal contact with the ex-Dundee striker.

Referee Winter made a great call in 67 minutes when O’Brien was sent through on the left, forcing Cerny to race off his line to tackle and clear the ball to Swailes. O’Brien crashed to the turf and the home fans bayed for a red card, but the whistler correctly stated that the Czech keeper had played the ball.

Riordan should have put the game beyond doubt in 72 minutes when he had two attempts at hitting the target after being brilliantly sent through by Nish, but he failed with both.

At the other end sub Joel Thomas saw his shot spilled by Ma-Kalambay in 77 minutes but Bamba brilliantly cleared before McArthur could knock in the equaliser.

Hibs went close in 82 minutes when Jones headed a Chris Hogg free-kick off the bar.

But Mixu Paatelainen’s side sealed the points in 88 minutes when Riordan’s corner on the left was powered into the net by Jones, who bulled his way through a ruck of defenders.

HIBERNIAN: Ma-Kalambay, Van Zanten, Hogg, Jones, Murray, Fletcher (Riordan, 20), Nish, O’Brien, Thicot, Rankin, Bamba. Subs (not used): McNeil, Yantorno, Keenan, Stevenson, Chisholm, Pinau, Riordan.

Booked: Van Zanten.

HAMILTON: Cerny, Elebert, Swailes (Ettien, 25), McLaughlin, McClenahan, Mensing, McArthur, Easton, Offiong, Lyle (Thomas, 61), McCarthy. Subs (not used): Murdoch, Gibson, Taylor, Stevenson, Graham.

Booked: Thomas, Offing, Ettien.

Referee: Brian Winter.

Attendance: 10,437.

Advertiser Man of the Match: James McCarthy – was behind most of Hamilton’s positive moves and showed great determination.