Accies blow chance to reclaim top spot in the First Division

Oct 6 2011 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON blew the chance to go back on top of the First Division as Falkirk ran out deserved winners at New Douglas Park on Saturday.

Leaders Morton’s 5-0 thumping at the hands of Partick Thistle on Friday evening left the door wide open for Accies to reclaim top spot, but they blundered against the Bairns.

Such is the competitive nature of the First Division that rather than go back on top, Accies slipped down to third place, with Falkirk hot on their heels.

As a spectacle, this was a poor game played in miserable conditions, with Hamilton struggling to get going and Falkirk content to sit back on their lead.

The Bairns scored what proved to be the winner in 39 minutes when Mark Millar sent Kieran Duffie down the left and his curling cross was perfect for Farid El Allagui to bullet home a diving header into the bottom corner.

Falkirk could have taken the lead inside the opening two minutes when El Allagui’s cross from the left was just too far ahead of David Weatherston, sliding in at the front post.

Accies were nearly punished in the 20th minute when Kallum Higginbotham sent Weatherston through but, after taking the ball past Tomas Cerny the former Queen of the South hitman ran out of pitch and the ball went out harmlessly for a goal-kick.

Hamilton offered very little in return, with Dougie Imrie’s low effort skidding past the right post in 27 minutes while Derek Lyle headed a Stephen Hendrie cross past four minutes later.

El Allagui’s goal gave Bairns something to hold on to at half-time and their attacking ambition was limited during a second half which was, somehow, even worse than the opening 45 minutes.

Cerny, who had been ill during in the build up to the game, was forced off at the interval and he was replaced by David Hutton.

The first time the former Clyde man was forced into anything troubling was in 74 minutes when he held a low Millar shot.

Accies had huffed and puffed but with no real rewards as time and again the final ball was disappointing.

Midfielder Paul Currie had a low shot comfortably taken by Bairns goalkeeper Michael McGovern in 54 minutes, and should have done better 15 minutes later when he saw a fierce rebound effort blocked by the keeper after Rhys Bennett had thrown himself in front of the initial effort.

Inside stoppage time,Ali Crawford saw a dipping effort land just over from 20 yards, but a point would not have been deserved.

HAMILTON ACCIES: Cerny (Hutton, 46), McAlister, Hendrie, Canning, Mensing, Currie, Imrie, Gillespie, Paterson (Spence, 55), Lyle (Anderson, 55), Crawford. Subs (not used): Devlin, Gordon.

Booked: Mensing.

FALKIRK: McGovern, Duffie, Scobbie, Dods, Bennett, J. Fulton (Murdoch, 57), Weatherston (Alston, 67), M. Millar, El Allagui, Higginbotham, Sibbald. Subs (not used): Bowman, D. Fulton, R. Millar.

Referee: Euan Norris.

Attendance: 2367.

Advertiser Man of the Match: Jim McAlister – never stopped trying, even when suffering from cramp in the latter stages.