Hamilton squander chances as bogey team take points

Mar 12 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON slumped to a disappointing defeat by Hibs at New Douglas Park last Wednesday.

Hibs seem to have the Indian sign over Accies this season because, without playing particularly well, they’ve managed to notch up three straight wins without conceding a goal.

Hamilton could have been ahead by half-time if they had taken one of their many chances.

In seven minutes James McCarthy darted past Darren McCormack down the left, but his cutback was taken by Grzegorz Szamotulski ahead of Kenny Deuchar.

A minute later Brian Easton’s throw-in found its way to McCarthy and he let fly from 20 yards, but his effort landed just past the right post.

Paul McGowan was unlucky to see an effort come off the crossbar in 16 minutes, while Derek Riordan’s deflected free-kick was well taken at the other end 11 minutes later.

Good work by McGowan took him into the left corner of the box in 34 minutes, but his cross was hooked past the near post by Deuchar.

Three minutes later James Gibson’s free-kick to the right was headed back into the box by Mensing, but Deuchar’s shot landed just past the left post.

Denes Rosa was booked by referee Stevie O’Reilly five minutes from the interval for a cynical dive under a ‘challenge’ by Mensing.

But two minutes later Hibs should have taken the lead when Colin Nish’s cutback from the right found Alan O’Brien and his first-time effort skidded inches past the left post.

Hamilton passed up a glorious chance 10 minutes into the second half when McCarthy’s low drive deceived Szamotulski and skidded across goal, but McGowan was unable to add the final touch that would have resulted in a goal.

Hibs took a grip of the game after that and in 57 minutes John Rankin’s cross was headed over by Nish.

A minute later Fletcher found himself in acres of space but sliced wide of the left post with just Tomas Cerny to beat.

But Hibs took the lead in 80 minutes when Riordan’s pass was slammed home by Fletcher.

HAMILTON: Cerny, McMillan, Easton, McCarthy (Lyle, 81), Elebert, Deuchar (Offiong, 65), Neil, Swailes, Gibson, McGowan (Quinn, 76), Mensing. Subs (not used): Murdoch, Thomas, Kirkpatrick, Evans.

HIBS: Szamotulski, Hogg, Fletcher, Nish, O’Brien (Chisholm, 90), Stevenson, Rankin, McCormack (Thicot, 56), Bamba, Rosa, Riordan. Subs (not used): Ma-Kalambay, Yantorno, Keenan, Campbell, Johansson.

Booked: Rosa, Stevenson, Rankin, Nish.

Referee: Stevie O’Reilly.

Attendance: 4046.

Advertiser Man of the Match: James Gibson – faultless performance from the young defender.