Accies end great year with a win

May 28 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON brought the curtain down on an excellent debut SPL season with a win over St Mirren in Paisley that secured them a ninth-placed finish.

Gus MacPherson’s side have yet to win a league match at their new stadium and never looked likely to as their toothless front pairing failed to put the bite on Hamilton’s defence.

When Billy Mehmet went closest to scoring for the Buddies, stand-in goalkeeper Sean Murdoch produced a simply breath-taking save, suggesting that he could give Czech Tomas Cerny a real run for the number one jersey next season.

Murdoch was one of two changes from the previous week’s line-up, as stopper Chris Swailes was benched in favour of a more attacking formation that included Richard Offiong as part of a three-pronged assault.

St Mirren enjoyed most of the early possession, but didn’t really do anything with it.

Andy Dorman sent a free-kick across the box in three minutes, with Mehmet missing completely with an attempted diving header.

Ten minutes later David Barron went on a run down the left before cutting inside, but sent his curling effort just over.

Hamilton came into the game and in 19 minutes Derek Lyle’s free-kick evaded Offiong and was caught by Mark Howard at the near post.

A minute later Joel Thomas showed a great piece of skill to set up Lyle but, after checking inside, the striker sent his shot over.

But Hamilton took the lead in 28 minutes when Offiong won a corner on the right, Brian Easton sent a delightful ball into the box and Simon Mensing flashed a header past Howard for his sixth goal of the season – not a bad return for a midfielder.

Hamilton could have doubled their lead in 34 minutes when Offiong timed his run to perfection to collect Alex Neil’s chip forward and beat the offside trap, but sent a header inches past the left post.

Saints created a good move in 43 minutes when Gary Brady collected a Dorman pass and sent a low shot just past the right post.

Hugh Murray was fortunate to escape unpunished five minutes into the second half when he tried to punch Neil on the head; the Hamilton skipper dodged the attempted assault and neither official witnessed the incident.

And Gary Mason was lucky not to concede a penalty in 70 minutes when he simply took James McCarthy out of the game in the box, but referee Calum Murray allowed play to rage on and Thomas was unlucky to see a low shot blocked at the right post.

Dorman and Mehmet linked well a minute later, but the return ball was well blocked by Martin Canning.

Saints went closest in 72 minutes when Dorman’s delightful cross from the right was met with an open-footed volley by Mehmet, but Murdoch brilliantly pushed the ball over for a corner.

McCarthy could have wrapped up the points in 82 minutes when he went on a run down the right, but his low shot was well saved at the far post corner.

St Mirren substitute Stephen O’Donnell had one last chance in 84 minutes, but chipped over from the left corner of the box. The final whistle sounded, and results elsewhere meant St Mirren were safe, with Inverness Caledonian Thistle dropping down to the First Division for the first time in their brief history.

ST MIRREN: Howard, Ross, Mason, Haining, Murray, Dorman, Mehmet, Brady (O’Donnell, 83), Barron, Cuthbert, Thomson. Subs (not used): Mathers, Potter, Wyness, McAusland, McGinn, Camara.

Booked: Murray.

HAMILTON: Murdoch, Easton, McCarthy (Gibson, 83), McLaughlin, McArthur, Offiong (Corcoran, 73), Neil, Thomas, Lyle, Canning, Mensing. Subs (not used): B. Potter, Swailes, McGowan, Taylor, Evans.

Booked: Neil, Thomas.

Referee: Calum Murray.

Attendance: 6747.

Advertiser Man of the Match: James McArthur – turned in a brilliant midfield performance that belied the fact he underwent a cartilage operation this week.