Accies go through to Ramsden Cup semi-finals

Sep 8 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON Accies progressed through to the Ramsdens Cup semi-finals following a cracking cup tie against Morton at New Douglas Park on Sunday.

Accies just had the edge over their Greenock rivals, but for long spells the game could have gone either way.

Allan Moore’s side were well organised and good to watch in an open game full of chances at both ends.

Greig Spence – a loan signing from Celtic until January – looked the real deal on his first start for Hamilton.

He grabbed a superb equaliser for the New Douglas Park men, while Simon Mensing bagged the eventual winner.

Accies threatened first after just seven minutes when Imrie took possession on the left and played the ball straight back to Stephen Hendrie.

His inviting cross was glance-headed just past the right post by Mensing.

But Morton stunned their hosts three minutes later when Paul Di Giacomo latched onto a superb through-ball from David O’Brien and slammed an angled shot past Tomas Cerny from eight yards.

Matt Paterson then tested Colin Stewart with a fierce drive on 14 minutes which the visiting Morton keeper did well to punch clear.

But when Imrie was tripped just outside the left corner of the box, James Chambers sent in a curling free-kick for Spence to tuck into the bottom right corner with a flick of his head and open his account for Billy Reid’s side.

A rare McLaughlin slip-up let Peter MacDonald through on the right in 20 minutes, but the former St Johnstone striker sliced his shot well wide of the right post much to the relief of the Accies defender.

Di Giacomo and Spence had decent efforts saved at either end before Morton nearly regained the lead in 26 minutes.

When a free-kick was conceded just outside the left corner of the box, Darren McGeouch tried his luck with a shot that was cleared off the line by Mensing, with Andy Graham’s follow-up being well saved by the ever-alert Cerny.

Spence then released Dougie Imrie with a brilliant through-ball in 32 minutes, but with just Stewart to beat the winger fired past the left post and a real chance for Accies to take the lead was gone.

However, Accies did take the lead with their next attack in 33 minutes when Ali Crawford’s free-kick from wide left, just inside Hamilton’s half, was met with a powerful header by Mensing that seared into the bottom left corner.

Morton rallied after this setback and when Mensing tripped Michael Tidser 25 yards out, MacDonald saw a well-taken free-kick brilliantly pushed past the right post by Cerny.

Three minutes into the second half a good run by Spence sent Jim McAlister down the right and his cross was met with a powerful low shot by Chambers that struck the outside of the right post on its way past.

Two minutes later Spence was just unable to connect with a good ball from Hendrie, when a touch would have resulted in goal number three and given Accies breathing space.

Morton were given a let-off in 59 minutes when substitute Fouad Bachirou clearly handled a Crawford cross inside the box, but referee Stevie O’Reilly wasn’t interested.

Di Giacomo was unlucky to see a powerful shot parried by Cerny and hacked clear in 62 minutes as Morton searched for an equaliser.

Spence sent Imrie through on goal again in 63 minutes with a curling pass round the defence and this time he went closer, but struck the joint of right post and crossbar with Stewart a helpless onlooker.

Accies nearly grabbed a third in 68 minutes when Imrie sent sub Willie McLaren through on the right, he picked out Spence, and his shot was brilliantly palmed past the left post by Stewart.

Tidser sent a chip just over from 25 yards in 69 minutes, and fired just past the right seven minutes later.

Marc Smyth saw a shot take a wicked deflection and loop towards goal in 77 minutes, but it landed past the left post.

With three minutes left sub Archie Campbell could have forced extra-time when he was sent through on the right, but smashed his shot high and wide and Accies knew they had booked their place in the last four.

HAMILTON: Cerny, McAlister, Hendrie, Canning, Mensing, McLaughlin, Imrie, Chambers, Paterson (McLaren, 66), Spence (Lyle, 84), Crawford. Subs (not used): Hutton, Gordon, Gillespie.

Booked: Imrie.

MORTON: Stewart, McCann (Bachirou, 22), Forsyth, Evans, Graham, Tidser, Di Giacomo, McGeouch (Campbell, 54), MacDonald (Jackson, 70), Smyth, O’Brien. Subs (not used): Deans, Weatherson.

Booked: Forsyth, Evans.

Referee: Stevie O’Reilly.

Attendance: 1496.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Greig Spence – scored a good goal in his first start and the exciting prospect could have netted more.