Football: Hamilton lose 4-0 opener against Aberdeen

Aug 19 2010 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

FORMER Hamilton star Paul Hartley’s bizarre hat-trick of penalties condemned Accies to a heavy opening-day defeat on Saturday.

The turning point in the game came in 18 minutes when Sone Aluko crashed to the turf under a challenge by Simon Mensing, with Paul Hartley scoring from the spot.

Five minutes from the break, Jack Ross was guilty of a tug on Aluko’s shirt – a crime referees have been told to clamp down on – and Hartley was given the chance to grab his second goal in an Aberdeen shirt.

And he completed his hat-trick in 64 minutes when Chris Maguire darted down the left side of the box past Ross and everybody watching could see the foul coming a mile away.

Zander Diamond also got off the mark with a 51st minute strike and it could have been even worse for the visitors as Josh Magennis nearly scored with a deft header in 72 minutes that would have made it 5-0.

There is also the argument that Ross could easily have seen red, particularly as Aluko was about to pull the trigger when he was hauled back at Aberdeen’s second penalty.

Had referee McDonald deemed the offence worthy of a yellow card, the defender would almost certainly have received his marching orders for the foul on Maguire.

Hamilton boss Billy Reid handed debuts to Ross, captain-for-the-day Gavin Skelton, David Buchanan and Gary McDonald, while new signings Joel Thomas and Jon Routledge came off the bench.

Perhaps more significantly, however, Accies were missing defenders Mark McLaughlin and David Elebert, alongside captain Alex Neil – and it showed.

Accies started the game well and tried to take the game to their hosts but Aberdeen went closest in seven minutes when a 20-yard Aluko free-kick struck the bar and goalkeeper Tomas Cerny but was cleared from Magennis by Martin Canning before Maguire also had his road to goal blocked.

In 11 minutes, Marco Paixao darted down the left and cut the ball back but McDonald, sliding in, saw his shot blocked for a corner.

Aberdeen then got the first of their three penalties, with Hartley burying the ball into the right corner.

Aluko saw a fierce shot saved well by Cerny in 31 minutes and 60 seconds later Flavio Paixao sent Dougie Imrie through on goal but his tame effort was no threat to Mark Howard’s goal.

Aberdeen could have scored their second of the game from open play in 37 minutes when Buchanan lost possession to Magennis but Cerny parried his strong effort before the ball was cleared.

Three minutes later, Ross pulled Aluko back as he tried to bag his first goal of the season and Hartley this time buried the spot-kick to the left.

Aberdeen grabbed their third of the game in 51 minutes when a corner came in from the right, causing havoc in the Hamilton box, and Diamond lashed the ball home from eight yards.

Imrie went close for Hamilton in 54 minutes when he sent a curling free-kick just over from 22 yards but the rout was complete in 64 minutes when Ross pushed Maguire and Hartley again sent his spot-kick to the right and past the helpless Cerny.

Four minutes later, Imrie’s cross was met on the volley at the back post by substitute Routledge but he failed to trouble Howard.

Marco Paixao and Mensing linked with a free-kick routine before getting the ball to Imrie in the box in 83 minutes but he sent his shot past.

Thomas had the last chance to grab a consolation in the final minute but sent a low effort just past the left post, although Howard looked to have it covered.

Accies will need to return to the drawing board for Saturday’s visit of Hearts, but hopefully will have defenders Mark McLaughlin and David Elebert back.

Aberdeen: Howard, McArdle, Considine, Ifil, Diamond, Folly, Pawlett (Fyvie, 55), Hartley (Young, 66), Maguire, Magennis (Mackie, 68), Aluko. Subs (not used): Langfield, Jack, Magginson, Shaughnessy.

Booked: McArdle.

Hamilton: Cerny, Ross, Canning, Mensing, Skelton, Imrie, Wilkie (Thomas, 41), Buchanan (Kirkpatrick, 55), McDonald (Routledge, 66), F. Paixao, M. Paixao. Subs (not used): Murdoch, Graham, McAlister, Gillespie.

Booked: Cerny, Thomas.

Referee: Dougie McDonald.

Attendance: 12,005.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Flavio Paixao – at least he tried to make things happen.