A RESOLUTE Brechin City side upset the odds to take First Division leaders Hamilton back to Glebe Park following their stalemate at New Douglas Park. It certainly wasn't played like a Scottish Cup tie at times, especially in the first half, and surpr
isingly Accies failed to find the net against the part-timers in a testing afternoon. There were some decent chances for both sides throughout and goalkeepers Tomas Cerny and Craig Nelson had to look lively on more than one occasion.
After only 60 seconds Gary Twigg nipped in following some poor Brechin defending but his snap shot from six yards was well parried by Nelson. Within moments, Brechin had broken up the field and Stuart Callaghan tested Cerny with two awkward crosses which the Czech shot-stopper dealt with. Shortly afterwards, Nelson denied the home side again. James McCarthy went on one of his trademark runs and his fine lay-off was met by James McArthur, but Nelson pulled off a tremendous stop.
It was a whirlwind start but after that the game went flat. Callaghan came close in 12 minutes when he fired in a low drive from 12 yards, after a corner was cleared, but Cerny was well placed to keep the ex-Accies player out.
McArthur then missed a great chance to open the scoring. A perfect cross from the right from American right back Tom Parratt was well met at the back post by McArthur, but his header was weak and straight at Nelson.
Cerny was at his best to keep out Kevin Byres' rasping shot in 19 minutes and Chris Swailes reacted well to deflect David Murie's shot away from the rebound. Twigg had a goal chalked off in 23 minutes before McCarthy came close with a fine run which lacked the end product of a decent strike.
After the interval. Swailes was first to come close with a close-range header flying just over following a corner kick in 51 minutes. Twigg then found some space in the box and managed an overhead kick which landed a yard short of the target.
Accies continued to be frustrated with Brechin content to sit in and hit on the break. The struggling Second Division side defended doggedly but were lucky not to be behind on the hour mark.
It was a controversial decision by referee Stevie Nicholls who made the final decision to disallow McCarthy's 'goal' after initially allowing play to go on. McCarthur's through ball did indeed find Mark Gilhaney in an offside position which assistant referee Derek Rose flagged for. However, McCarthy was making a bursting run through the middle onside and he coolly rounded Nelson before slotting home. Hamilton players celebrated while the visitors surrounded Nicholls. Eventually, after deliberating with Rose, the free kick was given much to Accies' dismay.
A Twigg header then almost counted only for Nelson to claw the ball out with inches to spare.
Michael O'Neill's men could hardly get out of their own half but when they did, Darren Smith should have nicked a goal in 74 minutes. The winger burst past Accies' defence but fluffed his shot when one-on-one with Cerny. It was a wake up call for Accies and Byers was unlucky not to beat Cerny moments later as the visitors piled the pressure on. Cerny then did well to palm away substitute Richard Walker's cross before Calum Smith missed a sitter in stoppage time.
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