Hanging on
Hamilton Accies hosted Inverness at New Douglas Park, the scene of the shoes-off protest a few years ago when we last tried to oust a failed manager. This time it's the Inverness board and Manager Duncan Ferguson who are under pressure to deliver. Sean McAllister was out but Charlie Gilmour started. Kevin O'Hara will be the main target man for the hosts and Euan Henderson likes a goal or two as well, with Lewis Smith an able provider. Accies were a bit of a bogey team for us at times and should consider themselves favourites for promotion against a team not noted for creativity, passion or scoring goals. It was on the Telly, and here's how it went.
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The weather was perfect, unfortunately it's still an artificial surface for this first leg encounter at NDP and it was Inverness that got the game underway. It didn't take long for Accies to get their noses in front after we gave the ball away seconds after pinching it off Hamilton. O'Hara looked up some forty-yards from goal, spotted Ridgers ten yards off his line and floated the ball over him. The keeper back pedalled, the ball hit the post, bounced out, hit Ridgers on the back then bounced into the net. Poor goal to concede, but not uncommon for us at the moment.
Billy Mckay was denied by the keeper as he headed goalwards but he could not get enough power on the header and Lyness gathered easily. Max Anderson brought out a save from keeper Lyness as we looked to get back on level terms fifteen minutes in and Accies broke down the left before Euan Henderson curled his shot over the bar. Charlie Gilmour went to ground twice within ten seconds inside the home box but nothing doing. After giving away a needless corner, Fergus Owens heads onto the bar and follows up to head the rebound behind Ridgers who was claiming he was being impeded yet still had four defenders on the line.
Absolute horror show from us so far with Hamilton looking like scoring everytime they go forward. Accies were denied a penalty when Wallace Duffy charged down a shot from Ben Williamson on the edge of the box. Looked clear cut for everyone watching except for Graham Grainger who was only five yards from the incident. What an omnishambles of a first half from the visitors who gave the ball away countless times and lacked any penetration. Accies fully deserve the advantage at the break.
HALF TIME: 2-0
Duffy and Gilmour were hooked at the interval with James Carragher and Samson Lawal replacing them. It almost paid off with Carragher heading just over from a Cammy Harper corner two minutes after the restart. Following an Accies corner, time stood still before we hoofed clear as the ball bounced awfully close to our goal line. Henderson got his shot away outside the box but we managed to block it at the expense of a corner. Morgan Boyes wasted a great chance from another corner as he half volleyed high over the bar from ten yards. Half an hour left in this one and we still look clueless and wasteful. Within a minute of coming on, Aribim Pepple drilled a cut-back from Harper low into the net from eight yards to give the away fans something to cheer. Inspired substitution and what a first touch.
Since the substitutions, Inverness were more dominant as they pushed Accies onto the back foot. Pepple spun in the box and got his shot away from 12 yards but Lyness was able to smother the low shot which was too close to him. With five minutes left Danny Devine looked like he rolled his ankle trying to clear the ball. Always a worry on these pitches, With Ferguson having used all his subs Devine limped back on for the final few moments, but looks likely to miss the return leg.
FULL TIME 2-1
A better showing from Inverness in the second half, especially with Lawal and Pepple on the park but it's Hamilton that take a one goal advantage up the A9 on Saturday. Lawal has been the standout performer in our last few games and surely he must start on Saturday. Pepple also did well, scored the goal, had an effort saved and got in a few balls across the box from tight positions.
Still, a shocker of a first half and we must be up for it from the start on Saturday.
The Messiah speaks>>> Devine will miss return leg. 90 minutes to get one goal.
Date: 15/05/2024 Venue: New Douglas Park Attendance: 1389 (317 away) Referee: Graham Grainger
Hamilton: 2
Manager: John Rankin
Lineup: Lyness; Tumilty (Hewit 74), Owens, McGowan, Longridge, Henderson (Winter 66), Martin (Rose 74),
Williamson, Barjonas (Redfern 46), L Smith, O'Hara (Hastie 90+6)
Subs (not used): J Smith; Kilday, Hendrie, Murray
Scorers: O'Hara (6), Owens (22)
Booked: O'Hara (43)
Sent Off: none
Inverness CT: 1
Manager: Duncan Ferguson
Lineup: Ridgers; Duffy (Carragher 46), Devine, Boyes, Longstaff (MacGregor 82), Kerr, Anderson,
Gilmour (Lawal 46), Harper, B Mckay (Brooks 81), Alex Samuel (Pepple 67)
Subs (not used): C Mackay; Ujdur, Savage, Austin Samuels
Scorers: Pepple (68)
Booked: Brooks (84)
Sent Off: none
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