Two wonder-strikes sink frustated Accies

Mar 10 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

CELTIC swept aside Hamilton Accies on Saturday with two superb strikes from Scotland winger Kris Commons.

While the result was never really in any serious doubt, both strikes were out of the top drawer, even if the second was somewhat gift-wrapped following an ill-judged defensive pass by David Elebert.

Following the fire and brimstone of Celtic’s 1-0 Scottish Cup fifth round replay win over Rangers the Wednesday before, the atmosphere at Celtic Park was somewhat flat, despite 51,811 supporters crowding into the stadium.

For Celtic fans watching a match like this, there’s more of a feeling of expectation rather than hope that their heroes will deliver the win they crave, but other than the constant racket from the right-hand corner of the stadium facing the main stand, you could have heard a pin drop for most of the afternoon.

Perhaps it was a result of their midweek exertions, but the SPL leaders never really got going either.

Celtic came close to opening the scoring in bizarre fashion inside the first minute when a simple ball into the box from Scott Brown was sliced wide of his own goal by a nervous-looking Simon Mensing and 60 seconds later Anthony Stokes fired hopelessly high and wide from a good position.

Hamilton settled down and, in 11 minutes, Dougie Imrie’s cross from the left picked out Nigel Hasselbaink, but the danger was effectively cleared by Daniel Majstorovic.

A superb run down the right by Jon Routledge then provided space for Mark Carrington to get in a shot from the edge of the box but his effort was deflected past.

Flavio Paixao’s corner was headed over by Elebert.

Celtic created what should have been a decent chance four minutes later but Charlie Mulgrew’s outswinging corner from the left was volleyed wildly past by Stokes on the right.

Majstorovic then sent a header wide from a Ki Sung Yeung corner in 41 minutes.

By this point, Tomas Cerny had been untroubled by Celtic, but could do absolutely nothing about Commons’ spectacular opener on 42 minutes.

Mulgrew’s cross was defended well enough, but Brown spotted Commons lurking 25 yards out and the former Derby County star sent a half-volley flying into the top left corner via his left foot.

Celtic nearly doubled their lead a minute later when Commons’ cross from the right was met with a header by Georgios Samaras, but Cerny instinctively blocked with his leg.

To be honest, that was pretty much it although Commons was sent through on goal in 50 minutes with a superb crossfield pass, only for Cerny to brilliantly block his shot at the expense of a corner, which Celtic ultimately wasted.

But the three points were wrapped up in 53 minutes when Commons pounced on Elebert’s slack pass across the face of goal and thundered a shot into the top corner.

Accies boss Billy Reid threw on youngsters Grant Gillespie and Ali Crawford for Carrington and Paixao in 64 minutes, but while both did well they couldn’t influence the game.

Crawford did send a neat chip just past the left post inside stoppage time, however, and will have enjoyed the experience.

In the end, there were no complaints as Celtic ran out comfortable winners, but Hamilton certainly didn’t disgrace themselves.

CELTIC: Forster, Izaguirre, Majstorovic (Rogne, 46), Wilson, Mulgrew, Brown, Sung Yeung, Kayal, Samaras, Commons (McCourt, 84), Stokes (Forrest, 69). Subs (not used): Zaluska, Ledley, Juarez, Murphy.

Booked: Kayal.

HAMILTON: Cerny, McLaughlin, Elebert, Mensing, Carrington (Gillespie, 64), McDonald, Routledge, Imrie, F. Paixao (Crawford, 64), Hasselbaink (Hopkirk, 46), McAlister. Subs (not used): Murdoch, Skelton, Graham, Antoine-Curier.

Booked: McLaughlin, Carrington, Elebert.

Referee: Stevie O’Reilly.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Gary McDonald – his hard work made sure Celtic didn’t have it all their own way in midfield.