Russell 18
HAMILTON3
Offiong 12, Graham 31, Mensing 45
HAMILTON coasted to victory on the banks of the Clyde to ensure they start 2008 top of the First Division pile. Billy Reid’s men continue to impress, although they will have to clear tou
gher hurdles than Morton who, despite an attacking line-up, went down too easily and look to be in real danger of getting embroiled in a relegation issue they seemed to be clear off.
Accies settled any nerves with a 12th-minute opener as a perfectly worked training ground routine saw Richard Offiong plunder his 13th goal of the campaign on the back of David Elebert’s throw and a front-post flick from Simon Mensing. To their credit, Morton wasted little time in drawing matters level, Ian Russell ripping home an angled volley four minutes later.
Morton looked well in contention at this point only to be undone on the half-hour mark through a blend of brilliance and truly awful defending. David Graham powered through the midfield area and when faced with two central defenders backing off so much they were very nearly in Sinclair Street, the on-loan Gretna forward flashed a low shot past David McGurn to sign off from Accies with his first goal for the club.
It got worse for the Greenock strugglers as Mensing converted a Graham cutback with the last kick of the half to all but kill the game as a contest.
The second period was nondescript, with the home team huffing and puffing without looking like they had the gumption to force the issue. Accies, meanwhile, were delighted to take what they had and edge closer to the title.
The full article contains 290 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
