Accies gaffer Billy Reid delighted with perfomance against St Mirren

Nov 5 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

MARTIN CANNING helped Hamilton grab a vital win against 10-man St Mirren on Saturday but admitted his clinching second goal was a sclaff!

The defender is doing himself a disservice as he appeared to rifle the ball home in a packed penalty box but Canning insists he didn’t know too much about it.

He said: “I was delighted to score and I don’t get that many so that was something of a collector’s item. But that’s part of my game that I’m hoping to add to, and I would like to score more often.”

He joked: “I’ve heard it being described as a volley but it was more of a tap-in. Richard Hastings was in front of me when Marco Paixao’s cross came in, he tried to head it and missed, so I just reacted and stuck a leg out. Luckily, the ball hit off me and went in.”

Luck didn’t have anything to do with Hamilton’s fine win, which could have been even more emphatic.

Accies got off to a perfect start in two minutes when Hastings’ corner was cleared only as far as James Wesolowski and his shot was controlled by Paixao before the Portuguese striker lashed the ball past helpless Paul Gallacher.

James McArthur was desperately unlucky not to put forward a contender for goal of the season when his dipping 30-yard shot was brilliantly punched clear of the top left corner in 23 minutes.

Saints should have pulled level in the 34th minutes when Michael Higdon was picked out in the box.

However, he tried to be too cute with his shot and Tomas Cerny parried before gathering the rebound thanks to a deflection off defender Mark McLaughlin

Accies made Saints pay in 41 minutes. Paixao’s inswinging corner from the left was booted straight back at him from the near post and his return cross was blasted in by Canning from six yards.

The defender nearly grabbed his second goal four minutes later but Gallacher saved well.

Saints started the second half with their tails up, and in 51 minutes Dorman’s free-kick was glanced past the far post by Billy Mehmet.

The game was over as a contest in 67 minutes when Mickael Antoine-Curier was released just over the halfway line. With no-one between him and Gallacher, but James McArthur getting into position, Lee Mair hauled the striker down. Referee Stephen Finnie had little option but send Mair packing.

Accies began to turn the screw and in 77 minutes McArthur hit a low shot which was held by Gallacher.

Flavio Paixao joined his twin on the pitch in 83 minutes, replacing Antoine-Curier, and made an impact with a fierce shot six minutes later.

In the last minute, a slide-rule pass by Marco Paixao released Wesolowski but he blazed over.

Canning is now looking forward to Saturday’s derby visit by Motherwell and said: “It should be a cracker. Motherwell are doing really well and scoring goals but so are we. Hopefully we can take the three points.”

Hamilton: Cerny, McClenahan (Beuzelin, 72), Hastings, Canning, McLaughlin, Elebert, Wesolowski, McArthur, Mensing (Evans, 80), M. Paixao, Antoine-Curier (F. Paixao, 83). Subs (not used): Murdoch, Andrews, Mills, Kissock.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Martin Canning – scored a great clincher and was a rock at the back when needed.