Accies babe Hammy is Sam player
HAMILTON v ROSS C
BY EUAN MCLEAN OWAIN FON WILLIAMS watched kid defender Jamie Hamilton stand tall against Sam Cosgrove and knew he’s already man enough to be a big player for Accies.
The Hamilton keeper was impressed by how comfortably the 17-year-old took it in his stride when he was drafted into the midweek clash against Aberdeen at the last minute when Brian Easton failed a fitness test.
Taking on the hulking presence of Cosgrove – one of the most physical and clinical strikers in the league – would be a daunting enough prospect for any central defender, let alone a rookie making only his fourth top-team start.
But Hamilton handled the challenge well and certainly couldn’t be blamed for Accies’ 1-0 defeat to Dons.
Now he could be rewarded with another run-out today when Ross County come calling and Fon Williams would have no problem playing behind him or any of the other young guns in Hamilton’s squad of prodigies.
The Welshman said: “It’s no problem at all having these boys in front of you. They’re young but they’re ready for it and that’s the good thing about this place – if you’re ready and you’re good enough you’ll be given a chance. We saw that against Aberdeen. There were plenty of young boys out there but it’s up to them to play a man’s game, which they stepped up and did.
“They might be boys but when it comes to football they are real men and can step up to that.
“There was Jamie Hamilton playing as a centre-half in a back four up against Sam Cosgrove.
“You can’t be a boy then, you’ve got to be a man and Jamie showed he is one of those.
“Cosgrove is a real handful. He’s a big boy who puts himself about and can cause absolutely anyone problems, let alone a teenager.
“So fair play to Jamie, he did really well against him but again that shows he’s ready for it because he can deal with probably one of the most aggressive centre-forwards in this league. He handled him fantastically.
“It doesn’t matter what age you are. If you have that understanding of the game and the role you play within it that’s the most important thing.
“Positional play is everything, certainly when it comes to defending, and Jamie has that. He’s got an old head on young shoulders.”
As a former Inverness player Fon Williams knows plenty about today’s opponents – and not just from Highland derbies.
He added: “I know a few of the Ross County lads – good lads such as Iain Vigurs, Ross Draper, Joe Chalmers and Billy McKay when we played in that good Caley Thistle side with Yogi Hughes as manager and Brian Rice his assistant.
“We had a way of playing, a style and identity – a real good team.
“But that’s in the past. It will be great to see the lads but it will be all about football.
“I couldn’t care less if we’re friends, getting the result is all that matters.
“Obviously County had a good season last year in the Championship and since they’ve come up they’ve done quite well.
“But they are coming here on the back of a defeat to Rangers so we will be working on finding the best way of beating them.”