Hamilton Academical 2-1 Kilmarnock: Boy wonder McCarthy sinks Killie

Hamilton Academical 2

McCarthy 4, 55

Kilmarnock 1

Hamill 89 pen

TONIGHT PFA Scotland holds its annual awards in a Glasgow hotel and, if anyone other than James McCarthy collects the SPL's Young Player of the Year prize, then one could only suspect the involvement of a Malaysian gambling syndicate.

He was the main difference between the two sides here, his two goals worth the price of admission alone. Over and above that contribution, however, his game intelligence shone like a beacon.

McCarthy was an artist among artisans but, unlike many gifted players, he again proved that he isn't afraid of hard work. The standing ovation he received when he was replaced nine minutes from time was thoroughly merited.

Indeed, so prodigious is his talent that there should be an internal investigation at the SFA to discover exactly why the national team has been deprived of the services of this lad from Castlemilk.

Such considerations are of little interest to Billy Reid, who is on a shortlist of three to be named as Manager of the Year by his peers tonight.

This victory maintains Hamilton's six-point cushion over Falkirk at the bottom and could yet see the Lanarkshire club make history by remaining in the top flight for two successive seasons.

Accies, seeking their first win since 21 February, took the lead after just four minutes. Brian Easton's cross took a benign deflection, falling perfectly for McCarthy, who still had a lot to do. The 18-year-old, however, was up to the task. His first touch was superb, killing the ball and then taking it round David Lilley before beating Alan Combe with a low, left-footed drive from the corner of the six-yard box which went in off the left-hand post.

Lilley had been in some distress following an earlier clash of heads with Richard Offiong and the defender was replaced by Frazer Wright just five minutes later.

Killie's woes deepened when Danny Invincibile was forced to leave the field after only quarter of an hour with what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

McCarthy was giving Tim Clancy a torrid time and the full-back picked up the first caution of the meeting for a rash foul from behind on the Republic of Ireland Under-21 star midway through the first half.

Kilmarnock, who were already without the suspended Manuel Pascali and Kevin Kyle, took a while to emerge as an attacking force and even when Frazer Wright managed to get on the end of a Willie Gibson cutback, he could only direct it into the safe harbour of Tomas Cerny's arms.

Hamilton seemed to have taken their foot off the pedal but, like boxers, they were merely taking a breather and 10 minutes after the restart they caught the visitors with a sucker punch.

Unsurprisingly, McCarthy, the game's outstanding performer, was the executioner. Offiong delivered the cross from the right and the midfielder, this time with his right foot, swept the ball majestically behind Combe from 18 yards.

McCarthy relished his role in the hole behind the strikers and Killie found his pace and the timing of his runs impossible to counter and, when Clancy was removed just after the hour mark, it must have felt like a merciful release for him.

Killie couldn't be faulted for effort but, lacking in width and guile, they found it difficult to get behind the Accies rearguard. Even Mehdi Taouil, normally their prime source of invention, had an off day. However, they were handed an unlikely lifeline in the dying minutes when Easton needlessly used an arm to divert a cross and Jamie Hamill converted the penalty awarded by referee Mike Tumilty.

The three minutes of stoppage time seemed like an eternity for the home support as Kilmarnock laid siege to their goal but they held on for a victory which had been much more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.