Derby day drubbing – but Accies are safe

May 21 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

NINETY minutes is a long time in football.

Hamilton fell to their heaviest home defeat of the season but made the record books by retaining top-flight status for the first time in 63 years.

It’s also the first time Accies have ever retained their Premier League place.

The fact that Motherwell ran out 3-0 winners in the final derby of the season was almost irrelevant; Kevin Kyle’s late winner for Kilmarnock against Inverness saved Hamilton from needing a win at St Mirren on Saturday to ensure their safety.

Instead Inverness host Falkirk in what is pretty much a winner-takes-all match, as the loser will drop down to the First Division.

While a result elsewhere isn’t exactly the ideal way to secure SPL status for another season try telling that to Hamilton’s supporters, who are understandably proud of their side’s exploits through a battering season.

That at least five of Billy Reid’s battle-weary stars will need operations in the summer tells a story of its own.

Hamilton started this game well, with only a brilliant block from Brian McLean denying James McCarthy a sight of goal after the youngster had latched onto Joel Thomas’ flick-on after just four minutes.

Seconds later Thomas played a delightful ball across the pitch to James McArthur and he drove in from the left wing, but saw his shot blocked at the near post.

Motherwell midfielder Maros Klimpl tried his luck with a long-range effort in 13 minutes, but it flashed wide of the left post.

But Motherwell took the lead in 22 minutes with their first real chance when Cillian Sheridan drove down the left, drew a blocking save from Tomas Cerny at his near post and then squared the rebound to David Clarkson, who grabbed his 13th league goal of the season.

Hamilton nearly drew level in 29 minutes when Derek Lyle’s free-kick from the left was met with a point-blank volley by Mark McLaughlin that drew an instinctive save from Graeme Smith before the ball was hacked clear.

Easton’s corner from the right was headed off the left post by Chris Swailes.

Jamie Murphy saw a decent shot well blocked by Cerny two minutes into the second half, before Jim O’Brien’s corner was headed past by Sheridan.

Hamilton created a good chance in 56 minutes when Simon Mensing and Thomas combined in an overlap on the right flank, before the striker sent an angled shot flashing wide.

But Motherwell doubled their lead in 58 minutes. Stephen Hughes darted down the right and when Martin Canning collided with Cerny while trying to clear his cutback, the ball fell to Sheridan who rammed it home from an acute angle.

McLaughlin went on another foraging run in 61 minutes, but sent his shot inches over the bar.

Mensing tried his luck with a dipping shot from 22 yards which landed just wide of the left post.

Motherwell could have grabbed a third on the break in 69 minutes when Sheridan was put through on the left, but sent an angled shot inches past the far post.

Hughes’ cross from the right was too far ahead of sub Steven McGarry in 70 minutes, but Mensing headed inches past his own left post.

Two minutes later McCarthy’s cross was just too far ahead of Brian Easton, sliding in at the back post.

Hamilton threw on assistant manager Stuart Taylor in 77 minutes and almost immediately sent a fizzing shot just over from 18 yards.

Hughes saw his 19-yard effort well taken by Cerny – albeit at the second attempt – in 84 minutes.

But Motherwell wrapped up the points two minutes later when Sheridan darted down the left and picked out sub John Sutton, who rammed the ball high past Cerny.

HAMILTON: Cerny, Swailes (Deuchar, 54), Canning, McLaughlin, Easton, Neil, McArthur (Taylor, 77), McCarthy, Mensing, Thomas (McGowan, 61), Lyle. Subs (not used): Murdoch, Gibson, Evans, Corcoran.

Booked: McArthur, Neil, McLaughlin.

MOTHERWELL: G. Smith, Hutchinson, Craigan, McLean, Quinn, Hughes, O’Brien (Slane, 87), Klimpl, Murphy (McGarry, 67), Clarkson (Sutton, 78), Sheridan. Subs (not used): Krysiak, Malcolm, D. Smith, Meechan.

Booked: Clarkson, Klimpl.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Mark McLaughlin – never stopped pushing forward and was a rock at the back.