Ref’s blunder costs Accies dearly as ’Well win derby

Feb 19 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON captain Alex Neil reckons his side were robbed of at least a point from Saturday’s derby but said their away form must improve.

Neil was left fuming when Simon Mensing’s sixth-minute goal was chalked off for an alleged handball incident that only referee Dougie McDonald saw.

But with only three wins from 13 trips on the road, Neil knows his side’s away record has to improve, starting with Saturday’s trip to Falkirk.

The midfielder said: “It was frustrating to lose because I thought from our play – especially in the first half – we deserved something.

“We scored what looked like a good goal and had it chalked off. It looked legitimate to me. I’ve seen it on TV and I still don’t know what was wrong with it – I was dumbfounded.

“The referee said Simon used a hand to take the ball away from the goalkeeper but I didn’t see that and I didn’t see it on the TV replay.

“Having the goal chalked off definitely cost us but Motherwell’s goal was a poor one to lose. We should have defended it better but we had a whole half to try to get a goal back and weren’t able to do it.”

Neil added: “It’s important we try to take something from Falkirk on Saturday. Our away form hasn’t been good. We must improve on that and we’re looking to pick up points from Falkirk.”

Hamilton started the better team and in five minutes James McCarthy laid the ball off to James McArthur, whose 25-yard drive was cleverly headed goalwards by Kenny Deuchar – only for Graeme Smith to brilliantly turn it past for a corner.

Neil’s set-piece from the left was met with a powerful header by Mark McLaughlin that Smith could only parry and Mensing reacted with a scissors kick to knock the ball into the net but referee McDonald had already blown for the alleged infringement.

Motherwell came more into the game and David Clarkson released Stephen Hughes down the left, with the former Rangers midfielder sending an angled shot narrowly pastt.

James McCarthy latched onto a defensive error by ’Well captain Stephen Craigan in 26 minutes but shot over from a good position.

Eight minutes later, Deuchar took the ball round Smith but was blocked by Stevie Hammell.

Motherwell made Hamilton pay for their misses by taking the lead on the stroke of half-time with their first real attack. Hammell was given time and space to send the ball into the box, Sheridan and Tomas Cerny collided, and Clarkson side-footed home, despite McLaughlin’s attempt to clear.

Neil went close in 55 minutes but his fierce drive was blocked by Smith before being cleared for a corner.

Motherwell could have doubled their lead in 73 minutes but Sheridan’s effort went well over.

Hamilton survived what looked like a decent shout for a penalty when Cerny appeared to haul Paul Quinn down in the box, but TV pictures suggested the keeper touched the ball first.

Motherwell: G. Smith, Quinn, Hammell, Reynolds, Craigan, Klimpl (Lasley, 86), Hughes, D. Smith (Fitzpatrick, 82), Sheridan, Clarkson (Murphy, 90), O’Brien. Subs (not used): Krysiak, Malcolm, Sutton, McGarry.

Hamilton: Cerny, Easton, McCarthy, McLaughlin, Deuchar (Offiong, 67), McArthur, Neil, Swailes (McGowan, 67), Canning, McClenahan, Mensing (Thomas, 81). Subs (not used): Murdoch, Gibson, Lyle, Quinn.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Simon Mensing – worked hard and was unlucky to have his goal chalked off.