HAMILTON ACADEMICAL 2 SHIRE 1

It could have been a lot worse. People not at New Douglas Park will look on the scoreline from this first round CIS Cup tie and think Shire had come within a quarter of an hour of a potential upset.

Those who were there would agree that was, strictly speaking, true. But it did not tell the whole story.

The final result said nothing of the first 45 minutes which were so one-sided it reminded you of nothing else than those exhibition basketball matches between the Harlem Globetrotters and the Washington Generals.

Hamilton gave Shire the runaround and, to be honest, totally outclassed them. Their failing was not turning that overwhelming superiority into an avalanche of goals.

By the interval their superiority was reflected in just a solitary goal scored just after the half hour when Richard Offiong headed home an Alex Neil corner kick.

And Hamilton paid a heavy price for their failings in front of goal. Because when they emerged from the dressing room after the half-time break they were a mere shadow of the team that had played some exciting and adventurous football in the first period.

On 57 minutes the sucker punch was duly delivered. Marc McKenzie went down inside the box under the challenge of Neil.

Ref Chris Boyle had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and although Accies' Czech keeper, Tomas Cerny, got a hand to Kevin McBride's spot kick he couldn't keep it out.

From that point on the home team's evening ran the risk of unravelling completely, and was only saved by the substitutions of manager Billy Reid.

Had he not sent on Paul McLeod and Mark Gilhaney they would have been facing at least the embarrassment of extra time, maybe much worse.

But the two substitutes combined nicely on the edge of the Shire box to send McLeod clear after 75 minutes. He beat Hill with a near post effort and the game was won with any potential blushes avoided.

In the first half, the home team's football was a joy to watch. Shire were at full stretch just to stem the tide of incessant Hamilton attacks.

The back line of Paul Doyle, Carl Thywissen Gordon Moffat and Kevin McBride worked wonders in holding it all together. But it seemed Shire would be buried under an avalanche of goals.

They were saved from that by a general wastefulness on the part of the Accies players, some decent defending and some good fortune.

Brian Wake was the most wasteful of the home players. He clocked up at least five good chances that he either sent wide or over the bar. Others in the red and white hoops tried their luck less often but found themselves unable to break down the visitors.

But strangely, Shire had two great clear-cut chances of their own. First when Graeme McLaren intercepted a midfield pass and bore down on goal. His effort was denied by Cerny's legs.

Minutes later the Shire striker went down under a challenge just outside the Hamilton box and Kevin McBride forced a fantastic save from the home keeper with his 20 yard free-kick.

There was little of the incessant pressure from the home team after the interval and Shire generally coped far better with things.

Thoughts must have been turning to extra-time when the two subs combined to put Hamilton back in front after 75 minutes. Their blushes were perhaps spared by McLeod's strike, but Shire's certainly were by Hamilton'si nability to find the net.

It was not a good night for Kevin Struthers, though. He replaced Joe Savage after 55 minutes but was sent-off four minutes from the end for swearing at the referee.

Hamilton Accies : Cerny, Paratt, Easton, McCarthy, Elebert, Wake(Gilhaney 55). McJimpsey(Gibson 55), McArthur, Offiong, Neil, Davison(McLeod 70).

Shire : Hill, Doylde, K. McBride, Moffat, Thywissen, Brownlie, McKenzie, Brand, Savage(Struthers 55), McLaren(Kelly 83), P. McBride.

Referee : Chris Boyle

Attendance : 554.

 

 

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