Hamilton Accies 1 Heart of Midlothian 2
New Douglas Park, Hamilton
Saturday, 30th August 2008
Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League
Pictures by Andy Clinton

Accies suffered their first home defeat in well over a year when they went down to a well organised Hearts team at NDP. Billy Reid sprang a surprise with his team selection, with Lucas Akins and Joel Thomas forming a front three with Richard Offiong and James McCarthy left on the bench. New signing Chris Casement was amongst the substitutes but the other new signings, Michael Videira and Stephen Ettien were in the stand. There was a large and noisy contingent in the Spice of Life stand and the visitors settled into the game pretty well. Billy Reid stated after the game that he thought that some of his key players took a while to get going and certainly it was Hearts who looked the better team in the early stages.

Richard Offiong is challenged by Christophe Berra

After about 15 minutes there was activity on the Accies bench with James McCarthy being told to get ready to come on. It became clear that Chris Swailes would be unable to continue. However, Accies still had a corner kick to defend. Andy Driver hit the corner kick to the back post, where Marius Zaliukas rose above David Elebert to head the ball past Tomas Cerny. the Czech 'keeper did his best but the ball squirmed away from him. Chris Swailes was now able to limp off, with James McCarthy coming into the midfield and Simon Mensing moving back to partner David Elebert.

Accies created a great chance to grab a quick equaliser shortly afterwards, with Richard Offiong sending a sublime pass into the path of James McCarthy inside the penalty area. James fired in a low shot but Hearts goalkeeper Marian Kello made a good save to preserve his team's lead. Accies had some good spells of pressure, forcing at least three consecutive corner kicks. The Hearts defence coped fairly well but David Elebert should have done better than head over the top when unmarked from one of Tony Stevenson's corner kicks. Accies had a fright not long before the interval when Tomas Cerny dived full length to palm clear a dangerous header from David Obua. So it was the visitors who held the advantage at the break but it was good to see that the Accies fans gave their team a decent ovation at the break. They hadn't played particularly well in the first half but had put in plenty of effort.

James McCarthy shows great determination

The first significant event of the second half came when James Mccarthy went down under a challenge at the edge of the area. Some of the Accies fans thought there had been a foul but referee Thomson was unimpressed. Accies had looked reasonably comfortable at the back but the game was to be decided by a howler from Simon Mensing after 59 minutes, when he made a loose pass to Andy Driver. The Hearts man took control and darted past Mensing into the area before shooting low past Cerny. Billy Reid made a quick double substitution, with Lucas Akins and Joel Thomas being replaced by Derek Lyle and Mark Corcoran.

Accies fought hard to get back into the game and played really well in spells, with Alex Neil, James McArthur and James McCarthy doing really well. However, chances were few and far between as the visitors began to sit back a little deeper to protect their two goal lead. Eventually, Accies did pull a goal back with 10 minutes remaining with a really well taken goal by substitute Derek Lyle. James McArthur created the chance with some fine play on the left wing before passing to David Elebert. Elebert's cross picked out Lyle about 12 yards out and his terrific header flew past Kello.

Derek Lyle grabs his first Accies goal

Accies pressed hard for an equaliser as the game drew to a close and almost grabbed it right at the end when Richard Offiong was sent clear on the left. But after controlling the ball he then missed it completely before staying on the deck with what appeared to be a hamstring injury as the referee blew for time up. It just wasn't Accies day.

So it was a narrow defeat against one of the better teams in the division. Accies played well in parts but those defensive lapses were to prove costly. Billy Reid said afterwards that some of his team just didn't justify their places in the team with their efforts and that there would be changes for the next game (at Aberdeen.) With Chris Swailes and possibly Richard Offiong sustaining fresh injuries, it may be that the club will seek to recruit further defensive cover before the transfer window closes on Monday night.

Best in the hoops were skipper Alex Neil, the tremendous McCarthy & McArthur and subs Corcoran and Lyle. Richard Offiong was yellow carded for a foul after being dispossessed and Alex Neil met the same fate for showing dissent after being penalised for what looked like a legal tackle. It would be difficult to argue that Hearts didn't deserve the points but Accies can and will play better this season. There's a lot to look forward to at Accies.

Billy Reid's Comments

BBC Match Report

Scotland on Sunday

The Sun

Hamilton: Cerny, Stevenson, Swailes (McCarthy 20), Elebert, Easton, Mensing, McArthur, Neil, Akins (Lyle 62), Offiong, Thomas (Corcoran 62).
Subs Not Used: Murdoch, Casement, Graham, Sorsa.

Booked: Neil, Offiong.

Goals: Lyle 80.

Hearts: Kello, Karipidis, Zaliukas, Berra, Lee Wallace, Kingston (Palazuelos 90), Jonsson, Stewart, Driver, Mole (Nade 73), Obua (Ksanavicius 77).
Subs Not Used: Balogh, Mikoliunas, Cesnauskis, Thomson.

Goals: Zaliukas 18, Driver 59.

Att: 4,210

Ref: C Thomson