Hamilton Accies' efforts against Rangers undone with penalty

Jan 14 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

STUART ELLIOTT insists referee Charlie Richmond was wrong to deny Accies a dramatic Scottish Cup win over holders Rangers after awarding the Ibrox side a controversial penalty in Sunday’s thriller.

Richmond immediately pointed to the spot in the 62nd minute after Elliott made contact with the ball while he was on the ground.

However, the Northern Ireland internationalist, making his debut for Accies, insists he couldn’t avoid the ball.

Kenny Miller converted the spot-kick to secure a 3-3 draw, forcing a replay at Ibrox on Tuesday.

Elliott said: “It was an interesting debut and obviously I enjoyed it but I was disappointed with the referee’s decision for the penalty because I don’t think I could have done anything about it.

“I couldn’t get my hand out of the way and I think it was a very soft decision but it happens.

“I basically fell on the ball and it was disappointing because I think we could have gone on to beat Rangers because we had them there for the taking.

“We knew they’d come at us in the second half – they’re Rangers after all – but it was a very encouraging first half and although our second-half performance could have been a bit better we’ll take a lot of belief from it.”

In what was clearly one of their best performances in recent years, Hamilton stormed back from a 2-0 deficit to lead 3-2 at half-time, with Rangers reeling.

Accies started well against the SPL champions and in the opening minute Elliott delivered an inch-perfect cross for Mickael Antoine-Curier but the striker couldn’t connect properly with an overhead attempt and Simon Mensing stabbed the ball wide of the right-hand post.

In the fourth minute, Rangers scored with their first attack. Steven Davis’s free-kick on the right was headed on by Lee McCulloch and poor defending left space for Steven Whittaker to drive the ball into the roof of the net.

Two minutes later, ’Gers keeper Allan McGregor did well to hold an Elliott drive before Rangers were given a let-off when David Weir clearly handled an Antoine-Curier flick-on in the box in 11 minutes.

Accies nearly levelled in 19 minutes when Marco Paixao’s left-wing corner was punched off the line by McGregor.

And they went close again in 27 minutes when Trent McClenahan’s cross from the right was volleyed over by Richie Hastings, who should have done better.

Rangers scored with their second attack, in the 30th minute. Kris Boyd delivered a defence-splitting knock-on from a Davis pass and Miller was given time and space to pick his spot.

Hamilton were given a lifeline in 37 minutes when Kirk Broadfoot pushed Mark McLaughlin off the ball in the box and referee Richmond pointed to the spot. Despite McGregor guessing the right way, Mensing clinically converted the spot-kick.

Accies nearly levelled in 44 minutes when a cross from the left by Hastings was flicked on by Mensing, but Antoine-Curier just missed with a back-post header.

Mensing should have done better than head over moments later after good work by Elliott.

But a minute into stoppage time, a Hastings free-kick was headed goalwards by Antoine-Curier and although McGregor saved brilliantly, he could do nothing to stop Marco Paixao netting the rebound.

Amazingly, just three minutes later, Antoine-Curier capitalised on a Weir slip to race through before expertly clipping the ball past the onrushing McGregor and into the bottom right corner for his sixth goal of the season.

The striker’s celebrations saw him whip off his shirt and throw it to the ground but it’s doubtful that the ensuing booking will have registered!

A very different Rangers side emerged for the second half and despite injuries having forced off Davis and Boyd in the first half, they looked much more threatening.

McCulloch had a powerful header saved by Tomas Cerny at the bottom right corner in 49 minutes and seconds later Miller’s delightful chip forward released Kyle Lafferty but the Irishman could only fire past the left post from an acute angle.

McCulloch connected with a low Kevin Thomson free-kick in 52 minutes, but again Cerny was alert to the danger.

But Rangers were given the lifeline they needed in 62 minutes when Elliott was harshly penalised for handball. Although he blocked the ball, TV pictures showed that he desperately tried to get his arm away in time and simply couldn’t. Miller didn’t care and was clinical with his finish to bring Rangers level.

The game ended on a low point for Accies when left-back Richie Hastings received his marching orders for a second bookable offence, a clumsy foul on substitute Andy Little, in the 80th minute.

Elliott feels this performance proves that Accies need not fear the Old Firm and hopes they can go forward from here.

And he promised supporters there’s more to come from him.

He said: “That performance shows what is within the club and I just look forward to the games that are coming now and take a lot of belief from that.

“I thought I did alright on my debut but I’m capable of a lot more and hopefully the supporters will see that in the weeks to come.”

Hamilton: Cerny, McClenahan, Hastings, Canning, McLaughlin, McArthur, Antoine-Curier, Neil, Elliott (F. Paixao, 89), M. Paixao, Mensing. Subs (not used): Murdoch, Elebert, Crawford, Sullivan.

Rangers: McGregor, Broadfoot, Weir, Wilson, Papac, McCulloch, Davis (Thomson, 35), Miller, Boyd (Little, 45), Whittaker, Lafferty. Subs (not used): Alexander, Edu, Smith.

Referee: Charlie Richmond.

Attendance: 3940.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Mickael Antoine-Curier – was a real threat to Rangers and scored an absolutely sensational goal.