HAMILTON took another significant step towards promotion with a commanding performance against a Livingston side that cannot yet count themselves safe from the relegation play-offs.
This match may have been viewed as a potential banana skin for the league leaders, particularly after the home side's win here earlier in the season. However, Accies brushed their rivals aside with ease and, should they reproduce this form against Cl
yde on Saturday, will surely disappoint the neutrals who relish the prospect of a title decider at Dundee on the final day of the season.
Hamilton called on their assistant coach Stuart Taylor to join a five-man midfield from which those two talented Jameses – McArthur and McCarthy – were expected to support lone striker Richard Offiong.
If Hamilton were suffering from any pre-promotion nerves they were scarcely in evidence during a sprightly opening from Billy Reid's men. McCarthy and McArthur swapped early passes with the former driving purposefully into Livingston's box before Colin Stewart spotted the danger and moved from his line to gather.
Accies appeared to be winning the crucial battles in the middle of the park
and confirmed their superiority with a couple of well-worked goals before the break. They had gone close to breaking the deadlock in 24 minutes when David Elebert's raking long ball was controlled in an instant by McArthur who quickly spotted Taylor arriving at the edge of the box. However, the midfielder's low effort was well blocked by James McPake.
Visiting fans had only another 60 seconds to wait for the opener, though, as Hamilton carved their hosts open again. This time Livingston failed to pick up Alex Neil's run from deep and the Accies skipper drove at his rivals before releasing Offiong. The pass appeared to have pushed the striker too wide but Offiong's acute-angled shot left Stewart helpless with the aid of a slight deflection.
This setback briefly awaked Livingston to their plight and they were almost level immediately when talented teenage striker Leigh Griffiths darted into the Accies box only to see his firm left-foot shot crash off the the bar. The livewire attacker had another shot blocked by Chris Swailes before a third effort was blocked by Tomas Cerny.
Hamilton, having weathered this one-man onslaught from Griffiths, proceeded to double their lead with a goal that had the mark of champions. Simon Mensing embarked on a run down the right flank before putting a cross over the face of goal. Offiong eschewed his striking instincts and instead wrong-footed the last defender with a delightful dummy which allowed McArthur to beat Stewart from eight yards.
Hamilton returned from their tea break to further strengthen their position when Craig James failed to deal with a long ball into the box and Offiong pounced. Once again the striker turned provider with a simple ball to Mensing who had an equally straightforward task to find the net from eight yards.
Again Livingston responded with spirit and they almost threw themselves a lifeline through a Robert Snodgrass 20-yarder which Cerny athletically tipped over his bar, before Accies nearly increased their lead when McCarthy rattled the underside of Stewart's bar.
Livi stuck gamely to their task and were finally rewarded through MacKay's penalty after McCarthy impeded Craig.
The full article contains 559 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
