Loan star McGowan sets up cup victory

Jan 15 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

PAUL McGowan was unlucky not to grab a goal on his debut in a match-winning display that helped ease Hamilton past Ross County at Victoria Park.

However, he insisted he was only interested in getting through to the fifth round of the Homecoming Cup.

McGowan (21) isn’t too bothered about personal accolades and despite making a highly impressive debut against the plucky First Division side, the on-loan Celtic striker played his performance down.

He said: “I nearly scored but I wasn’t too bothered about that – it was important that we put in a good performance, the boys got the victory under their belt, and into the next round of the cup.

“I thought my debut went well, the gaffer was pleased, so I thought it went OK.

“The pitch wasn’t really the best for a game of football, so we were just happy to get the 1-0 victory.”

Although County played
well in patches, Hamilton
simply outclassed their Highland
hosts, and could have
won more convincingly.
McGowan’s corner led to Chris Swailes’ 22nd-minute winner, but he then struck the crossbar with a deft chip just before half-time.

At the other end County were left incensed in 31 minutes when keeper Tomas Cerny dropped the ball under pressure by County forward Steven Craig, but claims that he handled it outside his box were ignored by referee Crawford Allan – a real let-off for Accies.

Hamilton started strongly and the County defence were called into action in 10 minutes to block a Mark McLaughlin header, before Swailes’ follow-up effort was well saved by Derek Soutar.

Two minutes later Richard Hart headed a Brian Easton cross away from David Elebert at the last second, with the Irishman in a good scoring position.

In 21 minutes James McCarthy linked with Richard

Offiong down the right and the striker held the ball up well before delivering it into the box.

It eventually fell to McCarthy, but his netbound shot was deflected over.

From McGowan’s corner on the left Swailes arrived at the back post to leave Soutar helpless for his first goal of the season.

The card-happy whistler, however, decided that the 38-year-old’s jump for joy was over-exuberant and booked him – a decision that left many shaking their head in disbelief.

The goal rallied County into action and a couple of Scott Morrison corners presented problems, with Mark McCulloch heading narrowly wide in 29 minutes.

A minute before the interval James McArthur’s free-kick found McGowan on the right and he disguised a delicate chip that left Soutar stranded, but crashed off the woodwork and out to safety.

County went close in 47 minutes when Morrison drove in from the left and drilled a low shot towards the bottom corner, but Cerny blocked well.

Easton went close with a 25-yard free-kick in 58 minutes that curled just the wrong side of the post.

Four minutes later Easton’s cross from the right was met powerfully by Swailes with a back-post header, but this time Soutar was able to save.

County went close again in 66 minutes when Stuart Golabek’s cross was headed past by Hart.

McGowan tried his luck with a delicate curling shot from the left corner of the box that flew inches wide of the post in 74 minutes.

Accies were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when McArthur collected his second booking for a clumsy foul.

County rallied their troops after that, but the closest they came to scoring was when McCulloch sent a low shot into the side-netting.

The hosts were fortunate to keep 11 men on the park when John Stewart, clearly angered as McCarthy nipped away from him, scythed him downwith a crude challenge.

Despite a red card seeming inevitable, Mr Allan saw fit only to caution Stewart.

To add insult to injury Cerny was booked for perceived time wasting while trying to tell the officious official that County players were nowhere near the required 10 yards as he attempted to take the free-kick.

Hamilton now entertain Dundee United in the last 16 at New Douglas Park on Saturday, February 7.