Hamilton Accies SWPL receive a blast from gaffer

Oct 1 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Accies were undone by set-pieces as Spartans ran out 4-2 winners in this SWPL game.

Furious manager Kevin Murphy kept the players in the dressing room for a long time, and said: “Obviously we are very disappointed with the way in which the game went.

“We spoke before the match about the danger the opposition posed at set-pieces, yet three of their four goals came from just such positions.

“The fact that Spartans played for over an hour with only 10 players and we were unable to capitalise is unacceptable.”

Accies made a good start to the game when, after good defending, Jen Thomson picked out Sam McManus on half-way, she flicked the ball forward to Sarah Crilly, and the striker outstripped the defence before slamming the ball into the net off the underside of the bar.

Hamilton’s lead lasted only three minutes, with Claire Crosbie heading into the net from a corner.

Spartans repeated this seven minutes later to go ahead.

Hamilton drew level in 25 minutes when good work down the left resulted in a good cut-back breaking to Sam McManus, who drilled low into the net.

Spartans scorer Crosbie’s day ended on a sour note in 31 minutes when she hauled down midfielder Ashley McDonald as she bore down on goal and saw red for denying a clear goalscoring chance.

With the numerical advantage Hamilton finished the half in control, but without adding to the scoresheet.

However, Spartans seized the initiative in the second half and after hitting the crossbar went ahead in 54 minutes when a cross from the left was headed in at the post for 3-2.

Spartans wrapped up the points in 70 minutes when a speculative long ball was misjudged by the Accies defence, letting Diane Barry in to round the goalkeeper and squeeze the ball home from a tight angle.

Frustrated Murphy said: “At this level, failure to do the basics well can cost you games, and this was a fine example.

“The players and I had a long discussion in the dressing room after the match and I have asked them questions that I hope they can answer, both in training and in next week’s match.

“Nobody can shirk their responsibility and everyone must work together to keep the club going in the right direction.”

Hamilton’s next match is at Boroughmuir on Sunday.

HAMILTON: Fleming, Thomson, McGovern, Hogg, King, Templeton, Inglis, Grant, McDonald, McManus, Crilly. Subs: Makarainen, Fairlie, Murray, Lafferty.

HAMILTON’S Divisional team took a well-earned point from league leaders Glasgow Girls.

It took Accies a while to get into the game with Glasgow creating some good chances and Laura Cheshire, in particular, looking dangerous.

Glasgow deservedly opened the scoring after 30 minutes, and shortly after this scored a second.

Accies didn’t let their heads go down and pulled one back just before half-time through Angie Nee, who was making her first start of the season.

Hamilton started the second half strongly and Tiff McLoy quickly levelled the scores.

The game was even with both sides looking for a winning goal and creating some good chances.

Overall it was a good performance from Accies who did well to come back from 2-0 down to get a well-deserved point.

Player of the match was Laura Smith.

HAMILTON: Gibson, Murphy, McLoy, Smith, Paton, McAnulty, Burns, Lindsay, Nee, McLaren, McIntyre. Subs: Park, McEwan, Fluke.

HAMILTON’S under-11s Team 2 enjoyed a 9-4 win over Prestwick, with goals from Arlene Carr (3), Danya Devine (2), Olivia Quinn (2), Iona Campbell and Suzanne Smith.

Player of the Match was Beth Murray.

The Team 1 and Team 2 squads are away to Kilbirnie and Kilmarnock, respectively, next week.

HAMILTON: Higgans, Murray, Dickson, Pink, Quinn, Campbell, Carr, Devine, Smith.